Iron and Steel History

The article presents results of a static tensile test of standardized machined test pieces of round cross-section made of 32CrB3 alloy steel, quenched and tempered in the production process, subjected to environmental actions simulating an extraordinary fire situation. The tests were aimed at assessing the impact of simulated fire conditions on the residual mechanical properties of the analysed steel used to produce grade 8.8 steel construction bolts. The tests involved variants of the maximum temperature applied in the soaking process, exposure time to specific thermal conditions, and the cooling method. The specimens were soaked at temperatures of 600 • C, 650 • C, 700 • C, 750 • C, 800 • C, 900 • C, and 1000 • C for periods of 30 , 60 , 120 and 240 , respectively, and varied cooling methods were applied during the tests. The first batch of specimens, after soaking, was cooled naturally, left to cool down freely at ambient temperature. In the case of the second batch, the specimens were rapidly cooled by immersion in water until they cooled completely, thus simulating the effect of an intensive firefighting operation. The analysis relates to variability of values of the following post-fire parameters obtained in the static tensile test: ultimate tensile strengthf u, θ,post , yield pointf y, θ,post , modulus of elasticity-E a, θ,post , ultimate strain at maximum force-ε u, θ,post , strain at fracture-ε f , θ,post , percentage elongation after fracture-A 5, θ,post , and percentage reduction of area-Z θ,post , depending on the temperature and soaking time, as well as the cooling method applied. The results were compared with those reported in the literature. The values of retention factors and recovery factors were determined.

Cast iron cannon balls excavated from the wreck of King Henry VIII flagship, the Mary Rose, have been actively corroding on mixed material display at 55% relative humidity (RH). A Cardiff University study has examined corrosion rates of cannon balls treated by hydrogen reduction, alkaline sulfite and Hostacor IT. Oxygen consumption of six cannon balls has been measured at five relative humidities between 20% and 60% RH as proxy corrosion rate. Results show a noticeable increase in corrosion rate at 50% to 60% RH and also returned differences in corrosion rates of cannon balls based on previous treatment. Display RH of 55% for showcases containing organic materials and cast iron is found to be unsuitable for the cannon balls and their display in these conditions is not recommended. This has implications for contextual display at the Mary Rose Trust and elsewhere. Further study with greater sample numbers is providing statistical evidence of the effect of treatment regime on corrosion...

During summer 1966 global attention turned to the manufacturing centre of Sheffield as "Steel City" played host to a number of FIFA World Cup matches. The tournament has been romanticised by the press as a key national triumph following England's victory, whilst sport historians have critiqued the event's cultural, economic, political and social impact. This article contends that this major sporting event served as a platform for articulating and experiencing the provincial north of England by highlighting how postwar Sheffield utilised the 1966 World Cup to promote multiple identities spanning that of a traditional, northern industrial centre to one of a modern, forward-thinking city.

Writing in Urban History in the spring of 1991, Peter Borsay considered how the gap between the ‘popular presentations of the urban past’ produced by the growing heritage industry and ‘the booming academic study of urban history’ might be bridged. Heritage, he argued, was ‘deeply bound up with the meanings and functions of towns’ and urban historians should play a crucial role within communities ‘engaged in a complex discourse with the past . . . that for many was fundamental to their livelihood and identity’. Borsay's concerns 27 years later continue to be mirrored in academic discussions surrounding heritage and materiality, echoing wider questions that surround the relevance of urban history beyond the academy. Recent conferences have also demonstrated the continued salience of Borsay's argument, considering the potential of the study of cities to shape approaches to their management through work with local communities, heritage partners, cultural institutions and profess...

The Tees (Newport) Bridge officially opened in February 1934 to much fanfare and public celebration, the event receiving extensive local, regional and national media attention. The bridge provided a crucial link across the River Tees to the emerging industrial works on ...

Received: 14/Jan/2008, Accepted: 14/Jun/2008 Objective: The present retrospective study aims at identifying the prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities in a population of couples who are candidates for assisted reproductive techniques. Materials and Methods: Cytogenetic analysis was performed according to the standard methods on cultured cells from the patients’ peripheral blood. The culture, was harvested after 72 hours. At least 20 metaphases were examined by GTG banding. Results: The analyses of the Karyotypes of 1726 candidate patients (863 men and 863 women) revealed a total of 107 aberrant karyotypes, The frequencies of abnormalities were 3.6% (31/863) for men and 8.8% (76/863) for women. The following frequencies of abnormalities were observed for women: 6%(n=52) for sex chromosome mosaicism, 1.4%(n=12) for translocations, 0.3%(n=3) for inversions and 1%(n=9) for other abnormalities. Whereas, the frequencies of abnormalities for men were: 0.9%(n=8) for sex chromosome mosaicis...

The medieval iron market in Ariège (French Pyrenees) is characterised by its complexity leading to many questions regarding the ore used in relation to the artefacts encountered in archaeological settings. Despite the conclusive study of the treaty that regulated iron vs. coal exchanges from the 14th to the 19th c. by Verna et al., many questions remain unanswered concerning provenance and circulation of ores and products. Based on a combination of trace elemental analysis and multivariate statistical methods (discriminant analysis, hierarchical clustering analysis), we propose to follow an elementalbased signature from ore to artefacts, suited to the direct iron process, to clarify provenance hypotheses. We define the chemical signature of the Ariège area and compare it to that of slag inclusions in artefacts uncovered in several main archaeological sites from the Ariège area but also outside of this region. The results from this study are consistent with prior knowledge from historical sources. In the Ariège region, results highlight the multiple origins of products encountered at Montréal-de-Sos, a site close to known trade routes, whereas the isolated Castel-Minier site primarily contained objects from local ores and most objects retrieved from the Mirabat castle (Couserans) are coming from outside Ariège, possibly an indirect consequence from the exchange treaty. The presence of pins made of Ariegean ores is also demonstrated in the far more distant Capestang collegiate (near Narbonne, outside Ariège). This opens the way to finer studies in the politico-economical control of the iron supply for the building of medieval monuments in Southern France.

Iron working in Aegean Thrace during Classical and Roman times was based on different choices of raw materials from a variety of available ores, possibly determined by cultural criteria. The precursors to selective ore procurement can be seen in earlier evidence from Thasos in the form of a few iron smelting waste remains found at the cemeteries of Kastri dating to the Early Iron Age. More substantial evidence for smelting and smithing activities has been noted in the Archaic city of Thasos, but their interdisciplinary investigation is pending. So far, the only comprehensive study on smelting and smithing slag and iron objects that has provided crucial information on the differential techniques employed in iron production of the 5 th century BC across this region has focused on finds from Abdera and Zone. More recently, iron slag has been collected from the northern enclosure of Abdera in the framework of an ongoing survey project (APAX) as well as during excavation at the Thasian colony of Pistyros, yet study is ongoing and only information on spatial distributions is currently available. This paper aims to briefly review the existing research data and to present new results from a recent instrumental analysis on iron working slag recovered in the framework of the Molyvoti, Thrace, Archaeological Project (MTAP). The finds derive from contexts of the 4 th century BC, excavated between 2013 and 2019, and their analysis with optical microscopy and SEM/EDS offers valuable data on the smelting and smithing practices prevalent on site that display similarities with some of the other colonies of Aegean Thrace. Based on the current results limonite and/or hematite were the most commonly used ores and a Ti-rich iron source of lesser significance as suggested by the chemical composition of a single sample. The bloomery process could be characterized as efficient with minor losses of metal into the slag. The use of fluxes to lower the melting point of iron during smelting has been also confirmed. Such findings are important as they complement previous data on the technology of smelting local ores to supply the iron industries in Aegean Thrace.

Bidirectional cytokine interactions in the maternal-fetal relationship: Is successful ... [10] Aberrant cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in ... [11] Th1/Th2/Th17 and regulatory T-cell paradigm in ... [12] TH17 cells in development: An updated view of their molecular ... [13] The biological functions of T helper 17 cell effector cytokines ... [14] Kuchroo VK. IL-17 and Th17 ... [15] The impact of Th17 cells on transplant rejection and the induction of ... [16] Inflammation and the balance of Treg and Th17 cells in transplant ... [17] Anti-type V collagen lymphocytes that express IL-17 and IL-23 induce ... [18] How do regulatory T ... [19] The balance of the immune system between T cells and NK cells in ... [20] Accumulation of IL-17-positive cells in decidua of inevitable ... [21] Th17 and regulatory T cells in women with ... [22] TH17 cells in human recurrent pregnancy loss and ... [23] Induction of MLR-Bf and protection of fetal ... [24] Lymphocyte immunotherapy and its probable mechanism ... [25] Possible mechanisms of immunotherapy for maintaining pregnancy ... [26] Association of human leucocyte antigen sharing with ... [27] Diagnosis and treatment of recurrent miscarriage ... [28] The influence of paternal lymphocyte ... [29] Alteration of Th17 and Treg cells in patients with unexplained ... [30] Correlation between serum zinc levels and successful immunotherapy ... [31] Cytokines in recurrent pregnancy ... [32] Characteristics of immune cell changes ... [33] Natural killer cells promote immune ... [34] Alteration of TH1 and TH2 cells by intracellular cytokine ... [35] The deregulation of regulatory T cells on interleukin-17-producing T ... [36] Proportional change of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in ... [37] An imbalance in interleukin-17producing T and ... [38] Intravenous immunoglobulin G modulates peripheral ... [39] The basis and value of currently used ... [40] Effect of leukocyte therapy ... [41] Comprehensive analysis of peripheral blood ... [42] Study on the relationship between Th17 cells ... [43] Genetic variations in the interleukin-21 ... [44] Th17 cells and related cytokines in unexplained ... Aims Alterations of Th17 cells during pregnancy have a crucial role in maintenance of fetus and the high level of these cells has been observed in women with recurrent spontaneous abortion. Immunotherapy with paternal lymphocytes is one of the effective therapeutic methods for this complication. The aim of this study was to evaluate the alteration in Th17 cytokine levels in patients with recurrent abortion after lymphocyte immunotherapy. Materials & Methods In this semi-experimental study, 30 patients referred to Sarem hospital with a history of at least three recurrent abortions in 2013 were evaluated. The levels of IL-17and IL-21 in patient serum and supernatant of cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells were assayed before and after this treatment by using ELISA. Statistical analysis was performed with Wilcoxon test by SPSS 22. Findings The levels of IL-17and IL-21 in patient serum after immunotherapy were significantly decreased (p<0.05). Supernatant of cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells after immunotherapy showed a low level of IL-21 (p<0.04), while this change was not significant for interleukin 17 (p=0.13). Conclusion Lymphocyte immunotherapy reduces the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines of Th17 cells in women with recurrent spontaneous abortion.

The medieval iron market in Ariège (French Pyrenees) is characterised by its complexity leading to many questions regarding the ore used in relation to the artefacts encountered in archaeological settings. Despite the conclusive study of the treaty that regulated iron vs. coal exchanges from the 14th to the 19th c. by Verna et al., many questions remain unanswered concerning provenance and circulation of ores and products. Based on a combination of trace elemental analysis and multivariate statistical methods (discriminant analysis, hierarchical clustering analysis), we propose to follow an elementalbased signature from ore to artefacts, suited to the direct iron process, to clarify provenance hypotheses. We define the chemical signature of the Ariège area and compare it to that of slag inclusions in artefacts uncovered in several main archaeological sites from the Ariège area but also outside of this region. The results from this study are consistent with prior knowledge from historical sources. In the Ariège region, results highlight the multiple origins of products encountered at Montréal-de-Sos, a site close to known trade routes, whereas the isolated Castel-Minier site primarily contained objects from local ores and most objects retrieved from the Mirabat castle (Couserans) are coming from outside Ariège, possibly an indirect consequence from the exchange treaty. The presence of pins made of Ariegean ores is also demonstrated in the far more distant Capestang collegiate (near Narbonne, outside Ariège). This opens the way to finer studies in the politico-economical control of the iron supply for the building of medieval monuments in Southern France.

The causes and treatment of recurrent pregnancy ... [4] Induction of MLR-Bf and protection of fetal loss: A current double blind randomized trial of paternal lymphocyte immunization for women with recurrent ... [5] Characterization of bifurcating structure of blood vessels using fractal ... [6] Lymphocyte immunotherapy and its probable mechanism in the maintenance of pregnancy in women with recurrent spontaneous ... [7] Diagnosis and treatment of recurrent miscarriage associated with immunologic disorders: Is paternal lymphocyte immunization ... [8] Mixed lymphocyte reaction blocking factors (MLR-Bf) as potential biomarker for indication and efficacy of paternal lymphocyte immunization in recurrent ... [9] Detailed analysis of peripheral blood natural killer (NK) cells in women with recurrent ... [10] Uterine natural killer cells, implantation failure ... [11] Th1/Th2/Th17 and regulatory T-cell paradigm in ... [12] Natural killer cells and pregnancy outcomes in women with recurrent miscarriage and infertility: A systematic ... [13] An imbalance in interleukin-17-producing T and Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells in women with idiopathic recurrent ...[14] Th17 and regulatory T cells in women with recurrent pregnancy ... [15] The role of T-helper cytokines in human ... [16] Questioning the Th1/Th2 paradigm in reproduction: Peripheral levels of IL-12 are down-regulated in miscarriage ... [17] Comprehensive analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes in 76 women with recurrent miscarriage before and after ... [18] Adverse effects of intradermal allogeneic lymphocyte immunotherapy: Acute reactions and role ... [19] Immunization by paternal leukocytes for prevention of primary habitual abortion: Results of a ... [20] trial Factors influencing success rate of leukocyte immunization and anti-paternal antibodies in spontaneous ... [21] Role of anti-human lymphocyte culture cytotoxic antibodies in recurrent spontaneous pregnancy ... [22] Serotyping for homotransplantation. 18. Refinement of ... [23] Microdroplet assay of human ... [24] Intralipid therapy for recurrent implantation failure: New hope or ... [25] Intravenous immunoglobulin treatment increased live birth rate in a Spanish cohort of women with ... [26] Correlation between serum zinc levels and ... Aims The normal architecture of bone marrow apparently is simple; however, there is an important feature that immature elements of bone marrow are never seen in peripheral blood of normal subjects and we can find these elements only in special conditions such as metastasis or leukemia. The aim of this study was to investigate the physical structure of bone marrow regarding fractal model and diffusion limited growth phenomenon. Materials & Methods This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted on 704 volunteer subjects with RSA history referred to Sarem women's hospital (Tehran, Iran) from 2009 to 2013. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from their husband or a third donor and were injected into the patients, two or three times. Two weeks after the last immunization, the patients' sera were tested for anti-paternal cytotoxic antibodies (APCAs) by leukocyte cross-match test. The leukocyte cross-match percentages were considered as positive if its values were more than 35% and vice versa. Findings A positive result of leukocyte cross-match test was found in 319 (45.31%) patients with RSA that received paternal PBMCs two times. Immunization was repeated for the patients with negative tests using paternal or third donor PBMCs and positive result were observed in 219 (31.11%) patients. Totally, positive results were found in 538 (76.42%) patients. Conclusion Lymphocyte therapy can enhances the production of APCAs in patients with RSA. It can increase the possibility of positive cross match test in these patients when it is repeated for three times.

Background: The Y-chromosome azoospermic factor (AZF) regions consist of genes whose specific roles and functions in spermatogenesis have not been completely clarified. Hence, recognition of the association between AZF microdeletions and male infertility has suggestions for the diagnosis, treatment, and genetic counseling among infertile patients. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 47 infertile men with non-obstructive azoospermic and normal karyotypes referred to infertility center of Alzahra hospital in Tabriz. Molecular AZF screening technique was performed on the genomic DNA from peripheral blood samples. Multiplex PCR and two different sets of sequence-tagged sites (STS) were used to detect the microdeletions in Y-chromosomal AZF regions and the Y specific sequences. Results: Seventeen (36.17%) out of 47 infertile men had deletions in the AZFc and AZFd regions (P&lt;0.05). Among the 17 azoospermic subjects harbouring Y chromosome microdele...

Post excavation corrosion of archaeological iron can cause severe damage to iron artifacts, particularly due to the formation of akaganéite. In this study, powder test samples of a 1:1 mixture of iron and iron(II) chloride tetrahydrate were stored at -23°C (± 3°C) and at room temperature, 21°C (± 3°C), to test whether storage at low temperature could inhibit corrosion. The oxidation of a synthetic iron and iron(II) chloride tetrahydrate mixture to form akaganéite, β-FeO(OH), mimics the reactions that take place during post excavation corrosion of archaeological iron. The formation of akaganéite was observed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy on the test samples over a period of two and a half years. Compared to the test samples that were stored at room temperature, the conversion of the initial compounds appears to be delayed at -23°C (± 3°C), but slow conversion is clearly visible. This study demonstrates that storage of archaeological iron artifacts at -23 °C (± 3°C...

At previous CAA conferences we have reported on the use of Kernel Density Estimates (KDEs) for data display in up to three dimensions. Issues of sample size and the associated "curse of dimensionality" have influenced much of our previous work. However, in this paper we investigate the possibilities of the methodology in cases where there is no shortage of data. In particular, we present a method of cluster identification based upon contouring two-or three-dimensional KDEs. If desired, this approach can be used as the starting point for more formal methods of cluster analysis. Our main application involves the analysis of data generated using image spectroscopy on works of art, though the utility of the technique for archaeological applications should be clear. Our aim is to identify non-homogeneity, represented by clusters, which could possibly be explained by forgery or earlier restoration.

Background and Objective: Consanguinity is defined as the marriage between close relatives. The deleterious effects associated with consanguinity may be caused by the expression of rare recessive genes inherited from common ancestors. Consanguineous marriage is significantly higher in many genetic diseases leading to prenatal, neonatal, child morbidity or mortality. Consanguineous marriage is a common practice in the Middle East including Iran with a rate of 30-85%. The present study was undertaken to analyze the prevalence of chromosomal abnormality (CA) in patients with consanguineous marriages. Material & Methods: Standard Cytogenetics techniques were carried out on the peripheral blood of 1055 patients with consanguineous marriage. Chromosome analysis was carried out using GTG-banding technique. The patients were referred to the Cytogenetics laboratory of Sarem Women's hospital during 2006-2021. 969 patients were due to genetic counseling for consanguineous marriage and 86 patients with a referral of consanguineous marriage and other reasons comprising of the previous history of recurrent abortions, infertility, intellectual disability, expired child, stillbirth, and a child with chromosome abnormality. Findings: Chromosomal abnormalities were found in 34 patients (3.22%) out of a total of 1055 patients. Most of the abnormalities were structural (97 %). Chromosomal abnormalities were found in 15 females (44.1%) and 19 males (55.9%). Inversions were the most common chromosomal abnormalities (64.7 %) diagnosed in this study. Pericentric inversion around the centromere of chromosome 9 was observed in 18 cases (1.70 %). Chromosomal inversions were found in the heterochromatin region of chromosome 1 in one case and chromosome 2 in one other case. Paracentric inversion of chromosome 14 was found in one case. One patient had a pericentric inversion of large size in one chromosome 9. Robertsonian translocation was found in three patients. Five patients had reciprocal translocation between two chromosomes. One patient had insertion of an unknown chromosome material within the short arm of chromosome 3. Amongst patients with consanguineous marriage and other reasons, only those with recurrent abortions (3 abnormals) and infertility (1 abnormal) had chromosome abnormalities. Chromosome abnormality rate in individuals referred for consanguineous marriage genetic counseling was 3.09% compared to 4.65% in those referred for consanguineous marriage and recurrent abortions or infertility. Conclusion: Compared to the rate of chromosome abnormality in the general population of less than 1%, the 3.09% of chromosomal abnormalities rate in consanguineous marriages in this study is high. However, this rate is even higher in individuals with consanguineous marriage and a history of recurrent abortion or infertility, with 4.65%. Due to the high rate of consanguineous marriages in the Iranian population, genetic counseling and chromosome analysis in couples with consanguineous marriage is highly recommended.

Background and Objective: Infertility is a major health problem affecting 10-15% of couples globally. Genetic factors such as chromosomal abnormalities are one of the major causes of infertility and spontaneous abortions. The aim of this study was to establish the chromosome abnormality and chromosomal variants' rate amongst couples referred for reasons of infertility and subfertility to the Cytogenetics laboratory of Sarem Women's hospital in Tehran between 2006 and 2017. Material and methods: In this study, a total number of 6514 patients were referred for chromosomal investigation. The mean age of referral female and male patients were 30 and 34 years, respectively. Referral reasons included infertility, recurrent abortions, and unsuccessful Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs). Heparinized peripheral blood was obtained. Cytogenetic investigation was carried out using standard techniques. GTG high resolution banding technique was used and 20-50 metaphase spreads were studied. CBG, NOR banding, and FISH investigation were carried out if necessary. Results: The overall chromosome abnormality rate was 5.28 percent (344 out of 6514). The cytogenetic results for these referral couples are as follows: 66 (19.1%) patients had a numerical chromosome abnormality including sex chromosomes and marker chromosomes. 120 (34.9%) patients had structural chromosome abnormalities. 158 (46%) patients had mosaicism with different cell lines.70 (1.07%) patients had an inversion of chromosome 9. Discussion and Conclusion: Cytogenetic investigation in patients with infertility and subfertility is critical as a first line genetic investigation. The findings of chromosome abnormality are of great value in the better management of the patients.

The usual damage on archaeological iron finds caused by corrosion are outlined in this paper. For a better understanding of these phenomena and the resulting consequences for iron conservation a short literature summary is given regarding actual corrosion models for archaeological iron finds. The desalination of chloride-contaminated iron finds is the demand to be derived from this synopsis. Therefore, the desalination with the alkaline sulphite reduction method is applied at Landesamt für Denkmalpflege Baden-Württemberg recently, which allows the long-term stabilization of many iron finds. Finally, the research project 'Investigations into the alkaline sulphite treatment for conservation of large quantities of archaeological iron objects' is introduced.

Background and Objective: Consanguinity is defined as the marriage between close relatives. The deleterious effects associated with consanguinity may be caused by the expression of rare recessive genes inherited from common ancestors. Consanguineous marriage is significantly higher in many genetic diseases leading to prenatal, neonatal, child morbidity or mortality. Consanguineous marriage is a common practice in the Middle East including Iran with a rate of 30-85%. The present study was undertaken to analyze the prevalence of chromosomal abnormality (CA) in patients with consanguineous marriages. Material & Methods: Standard Cytogenetics techniques were carried out on the peripheral blood of 1055 patients with consanguineous marriage. Chromosome analysis was carried out using GTG-banding technique. The patients were referred to the Cytogenetics laboratory of Sarem Women's hospital during 2006-2021. 969 patients were due to genetic counseling for consanguineous marriage and 86 patients with a referral of consanguineous marriage and other reasons comprising of the previous history of recurrent abortions, infertility, intellectual disability, expired child, stillbirth, and a child with chromosome abnormality. Findings: Chromosomal abnormalities were found in 34 patients (3.22%) out of a total of 1055 patients. Most of the abnormalities were structural (97 %). Chromosomal abnormalities were found in 15 females (44.1%) and 19 males (55.9%). Inversions were the most common chromosomal abnormalities (64.7 %) diagnosed in this study. Pericentric inversion around the centromere of chromosome 9 was observed in 18 cases (1.70 %). Chromosomal inversions were found in the heterochromatin region of chromosome 1 in one case and chromosome 2 in one other case. Paracentric inversion of chromosome 14 was found in one case. One patient had a pericentric inversion of large size in one chromosome 9. Robertsonian translocation was found in three patients. Five patients had reciprocal translocation between two chromosomes. One patient had insertion of an unknown chromosome material within the short arm of chromosome 3. Amongst patients with consanguineous marriage and other reasons, only those with recurrent abortions (3 abnormals) and infertility (1 abnormal) had chromosome abnormalities. Chromosome abnormality rate in individuals referred for consanguineous marriage genetic counseling was 3.09% compared to 4.65% in those referred for consanguineous marriage and recurrent abortions or infertility. Conclusion: Compared to the rate of chromosome abnormality in the general population of less than 1%, the 3.09% of chromosomal abnormalities rate in consanguineous marriages in this study is high. However, this rate is even higher in individuals with consanguineous marriage and a history of recurrent abortion or infertility, with 4.65%. Due to the high rate of consanguineous marriages in the Iranian population, genetic counseling and chromosome analysis in couples with consanguineous marriage is highly recommended.

The medieval iron market in Ariège (French Pyrenees) is characterised by its complexity leading to many questions regarding the ore used in relation to the artefacts encountered in archaeological settings. Despite the conclusive study of the treaty that regulated iron vs. coal exchanges from the 14th to the 19th c. by Verna et al., many questions remain unanswered concerning provenance and circulation of ores and products. Based on a combination of trace elemental analysis and multivariate statistical methods (discriminant analysis, hierarchical clustering analysis), we propose to follow an elementalbased signature from ore to artefacts, suited to the direct iron process, to clarify provenance hypotheses. We define the chemical signature of the Ariège area and compare it to that of slag inclusions in artefacts uncovered in several main archaeological sites from the Ariège area but also outside of this region. The results from this study are consistent with prior knowledge from historical sources. In the Ariège region, results highlight the multiple origins of products encountered at Montréal-de-Sos, a site close to known trade routes, whereas the isolated Castel-Minier site primarily contained objects from local ores and most objects retrieved from the Mirabat castle (Couserans) are coming from outside Ariège, possibly an indirect consequence from the exchange treaty. The presence of pins made of Ariegean ores is also demonstrated in the far more distant Capestang collegiate (near Narbonne, outside Ariège). This opens the way to finer studies in the politico-economical control of the iron supply for the building of medieval monuments in Southern France.

The medieval iron market in Ariège (French Pyrenees) is characterised by its complexity leading to many questions regarding the ore used in relation to the artefacts encountered in archaeological settings. Despite the conclusive study of the treaty that regulated iron vs. coal exchanges from the 14th to the 19th c. by Verna et al., many questions remain unanswered concerning provenance and circulation of ores and products. Based on a combination of trace elemental analysis and multivariate statistical methods (discriminant analysis, hierarchical clustering analysis), we propose to follow an elementalbased signature from ore to artefacts, suited to the direct iron process, to clarify provenance hypotheses. We define the chemical signature of the Ariège area and compare it to that of slag inclusions in artefacts uncovered in several main archaeological sites from the Ariège area but also outside of this region. The results from this study are consistent with prior knowledge from historical sources. In the Ariège region, results highlight the multiple origins of products encountered at Montréal-de-Sos, a site close to known trade routes, whereas the isolated Castel-Minier site primarily contained objects from local ores and most objects retrieved from the Mirabat castle (Couserans) are coming from outside Ariège, possibly an indirect consequence from the exchange treaty. The presence of pins made of Ariegean ores is also demonstrated in the far more distant Capestang collegiate (near Narbonne, outside Ariège). This opens the way to finer studies in the politico-economical control of the iron supply for the building of medieval monuments in Southern France.

During summer 1966 global attention turned to the manufacturing centre of Sheffield as "Steel City" played host to a number of FIFA World Cup matches. The tournament has been romanticised by the press as a key national triumph following England's victory, whilst sport historians have critiqued the event's cultural, economic, political and social impact. This article contends that this major sporting event served as a platform for articulating and experiencing the provincial north of England by highlighting how postwar Sheffield utilised the 1966 World Cup to promote multiple identities spanning that of a traditional, northern industrial centre to one of a modern, forward-thinking city.

The Tees (Newport) Bridge officially opened in February 1934 to much fanfare and public celebration, the event receiving extensive local, regional and national media attention. The bridge provided a crucial link across the River Tees to the emerging industrial works on ...

The medieval iron market in Ariège (French Pyrenees) is characterised by its complexity leading to many questions regarding the ore used in relation to the artefacts encountered in archaeological settings. Despite the conclusive study of the treaty that regulated iron vs. coal exchanges from the 14th to the 19th c. by Verna et al., many questions remain unanswered concerning provenance and circulation of ores and products. Based on a combination of trace elemental analysis and multivariate statistical methods (discriminant analysis, hierarchical clustering analysis), we propose to follow an elementalbased signature from ore to artefacts, suited to the direct iron process, to clarify provenance hypotheses. We define the chemical signature of the Ariège area and compare it to that of slag inclusions in artefacts uncovered in several main archaeological sites from the Ariège area but also outside of this region. The results from this study are consistent with prior knowledge from historical sources. In the Ariège region, results highlight the multiple origins of products encountered at Montréal-de-Sos, a site close to known trade routes, whereas the isolated Castel-Minier site primarily contained objects from local ores and most objects retrieved from the Mirabat castle (Couserans) are coming from outside Ariège, possibly an indirect consequence from the exchange treaty. The presence of pins made of Ariegean ores is also demonstrated in the far more distant Capestang collegiate (near Narbonne, outside Ariège). This opens the way to finer studies in the politico-economical control of the iron supply for the building of medieval monuments in Southern France.

Background: The Y-chromosome azoospermic factor (AZF) regions consist of genes whose specific roles and functions in spermatogenesis have not been completely clarified. Hence, recognition of the association between AZF microdeletions and male infertility has suggestions for the diagnosis, treatment, and genetic counseling among infertile patients. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 47 infertile men with non-obstructive azoospermic and normal karyotypes referred to infertility center of Alzahra hospital in Tabriz. Molecular AZF screening technique was performed on the genomic DNA from peripheral blood samples. Multiplex PCR and two different sets of sequence-tagged sites (STS) were used to detect the microdeletions in Y-chromosomal AZF regions and the Y specific sequences. Results: Seventeen (36.17%) out of 47 infertile men had deletions in the AZFc and AZFd regions (P&lt;0.05). Among the 17 azoospermic subjects harbouring Y chromosome microdele...

This paper develops new reflections regarding the provenance of iron artefacts, by defining the trade networks that might have supplied the building yard of the Metz city belfry at the end of the 15th century. Regional field surveys were carried out in Lorraine in order to constitute a chemical repository, including ironmaking zones considered as the most probable metal providers. The chemical characterization-both major and trace elements-of slag inclusions entrapped in the metallic matrix of iron reinforcements was performed in order to compare their chemical signature to the reference set. A statistical approach based on the combined use of descriptive multivariate analyses was developed to infer the origin of the metal supplied to the building yard. As the multiplicity of potential metal providers was assessed from former studies, the results obtained underline the place taken by local workshops in the supply strategy developed by the builders. This study thus provides crucial information supporting a discussion about the scale and the organization of such networks at the end of the Middle Ages.

detected on the gel obviously. It means that none of the samples neither the fifty fertile men nor the ninety-two patient men had complete micro deletions in their Y chromosome. Conclusion: This study suggests that there is no correlation between Y chromosome micro deletions and occurrence of recurrent pregnancy loss in Iranian population.

In West Africa, as in other parts of the Atlantic world, the eighteenth century was an age of exuberant consumerism. The West African coast was a burgeoning marketplace to which goods from all points of the compass were rushed: Indian cottons, Brazilian tobacco, brassware from Aachen, New England rum, glass from Venice and Bohemia, and much else besides. Trashy gewgaws would not do. Traders from Europe and the Americas knew that African consumers were discerning; only articles that matched African tastes and met local quality standards would find a market. African buyers, much like their prosperous counterparts in Paris or Philadelphia, were 'moved by prestige, fancy, changing taste, and a desire for variety'. 1 Consumer demand in West Africa was therefore dynamic. Sub-Saharan consumption patterns varied from place to place and changed markedly over time. 2 * Our debts are many. A large number of people have provided us with references, supplied us with unpublished material, or commented on our arguments. We are grateful to Doug Armstrong,

Although desalination of archaeological iron reduces its chloride concentration and enhances object stability, the reduction in corrosion rate has never been quantified. This study measures post-treatment corrosion rates in accelerated corrosion environments using either weight change or oxygen consumption to identify how removing chloride ions affects corrosion rate. Archaeological iron nails, treated individually in either alkaline sulphite or nitrogen-deoxygenated sodium hydroxide, were exposed to 75°C and 75% relative humidity (RH) together with untreated objects from the same archaeological sites. Weight change of the objects was used to monitor corrosion. Iron nails treated for two weeks in alkaline sulphite to extract chloride were placed in individual sealed containers controlled to 80% RH and the oxygen consumption within the jars was measured. Digestion determined the chloride content of each object. 77% of the treated objects showed no weight gain and no visible signs of corrosion, whereas only 13% of the untreated objects displayed no signs of corrosion behaviour. There was a significant correlation between chloride content and weight gain; treated objects with <400 ppm chloride content showed no corrosion behaviour. Corrosion of treated objects was attributed to incomplete treatment: 93% of objects treated to <5 ppm in the final solution bath displayed no corrosion behaviour. The two-week alkaline sulphite treatment significantly reduced chloride content and corrosion rate, suggesting that removing the most soluble chloride has the largest impact on reducing corrosion rates. Based on these results, desalination of iron objects to enhance their stability offers a valuable option for reducing corrosion rates which should increase object lifespan.

Chloride-contaminated archaeological iron is unstable and problematic to store and display within museum collections. Reducing its chloride ion content using aqueous desalination followed by storage in controlled relative humidity offers one treatment option. This study reports a quantitative assessment of chloride extraction by aqueous deoxygenated alkaline desalination solutions from 120 individual archaeological iron nails. The three treatment methods comprised alkaline sulphite solution (0.1 M NaOH/0.05 M Na 2 SO 3) at room temperature and at 60°C and sodium hydroxide solution (0.1 M) deoxygenated using a nitrogen gas positive pressure system at room temperature. Chloride extraction was monitored using a specific ion meter. The nails were digested after treatment to measure their residual chloride content. A wide range of extraction patterns emerged, with the majority of individual treatments extracting 60-99% of the chloride present. Residual chloride levels for 87% of the objects fell below 1000 ppm and 42% were below 200 ppm. Although no treatment extracted 100% of the chloride in the object, alkaline desalination produced very significant reductions in chloride content. The impact of this on future corrosion of the objects is discussed. This quantitative and statistically viable assessment of deoxygenated desalination treatments provides evidence to support their use in conservation practice, which will impact on procedures for the preservation and management of archaeological heritage.

Background: Iron deficiency anemia is a micronutrient problem and the prevalence is still high. Catfish oil (Pangasius hypophthalmus) is a natural source of heme iron which can improve body iron levels.Objectives: This study was aimed to examine and analyze the effect of catfish oil on ferritin and sTfR levels in male wistar rats with iron deficiency anemia models.Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on male wistar rats which were divided into groups C- (standard feed), C+ (standard feed but had the iron removed), X1 (standard feed without iron but was supplemented with catfish oil), X2 (standard feed without iron but was supplemented with ferrous sulfate) for 14 days. Ferritin and sTfR levels were measured before and after intervention using ELISA.Results: The study showed an increase ferritin levels in X1 (21.87 ng/ml ±0.76), X2 (24.47 ng/ml ±0.54) and there was no significant difference between the two (p=0.069; p&gt;0.05); a decrease in C- (0.25 ng/ml ±0.43), C+ (0.32...

This reviews Men of Iron, M.W. Flinn's 1962 analysis of Swalwell Ironworks and the Crowley organisation of which it formed part, in the light of new information and a different approach. Ambrose Crowley III (1658-1713) developed a major mercantile iron business, supplied by his factories on Tyneside. The fi rst major works, at Winlaton Mill, was started in the 1690s. Swalwell was set up by a separate company, but acquired by Crowley in 1707; he added a forge, Grand Warehouse, and workshops to the pre-existing slitting mill, and his son John (1689-1728) added steel furnaces and a foundry. Further workshop ranges were added until the mid-18th century. The works declined from the later 18th century under the Millington family; an increased emphasis on steel-making from the 1810s heralded conversion into a steelworks and specialist engineering works after buy-out by the fi nal manager for the Millingtons. This works in turn was rebuilt in the 1880s, using gas furnaces and producing alloy steels. The processes of growth and decline were longer and more complex than believed by Flinn, and less completely centred on the achievements of Sir Ambrose Crowley.

Background and Objective: Infertility is a major health problem affecting 10-15% of couples globally. Genetic factors such as chromosomal abnormalities are one of the major causes of infertility and spontaneous abortions. The aim of this study was to establish the chromosome abnormality and chromosomal variants' rate amongst couples referred for reasons of infertility and subfertility to the Cytogenetics laboratory of Sarem Women's hospital in Tehran between 2006 and 2017. Material and methods: In this study, a total number of 6514 patients were referred for chromosomal investigation. The mean age of referral female and male patients were 30 and 34 years, respectively. Referral reasons included infertility, recurrent abortions, and unsuccessful Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs). Heparinized peripheral blood was obtained. Cytogenetic investigation was carried out using standard techniques. GTG high resolution banding technique was used and 20-50 metaphase spreads were studied. CBG, NOR banding, and FISH investigation were carried out if necessary. Results: The overall chromosome abnormality rate was 5.28 percent (344 out of 6514). The cytogenetic results for these referral couples are as follows: 66 (19.1%) patients had a numerical chromosome abnormality including sex chromosomes and marker chromosomes. 120 (34.9%) patients had structural chromosome abnormalities. 158 (46%) patients had mosaicism with different cell lines.70 (1.07%) patients had an inversion of chromosome 9. Discussion and Conclusion: Cytogenetic investigation in patients with infertility and subfertility is critical as a first line genetic investigation. The findings of chromosome abnormality are of great value in the better management of the patients.

The appraisal of existing riveted metal structures generally involves the understanding of their connection details. Unfortunately, it is tough to decipher how historical riveted connections were designed given the obsolescence of the hot-riveting technique. The design of riveted connections has to be analyzed to support the structural assessment and potential interventions. Practicing engineers, architects and heritage care specialists need to gain insight into the original design philosophy of the connection details to preserve both the service life and heritage value of iron and steel structures. Therefore, we unraveled the design of riveted connections by referring to historical literature and carrying out on-site surveys. This paper reveals the design philosophy of structural riveted connections of the end of the nineteenth century in Belgium. Belgian educator-engineers mainly referred to the findings of French, German and English investigators but two to three decades after th...

The internationally acknowledged Art Nouveau architect Victor Horta built remarkable artifacts of public iron architecture in Brussels. His projects display an innovative philosophy based on apparent iron frameworks used in a very efficient manner. As a supplement to the ample historical and architectural studies on Belgium’s most famous Art Nouveau architect, this paper puts Horta’s innovative structural practice of iron into the picture. To reach this goal, a structural analysis of four of Horta’s most interesting projects is carried out, going into the following topics: conceptual philosophy (structural typology), building techniques (shapes, connection details) and the coherence of the structural logic (structural usefulness).

Writing in Urban History in the spring of 1991, Peter Borsay considered how the gap between the ‘popular presentations of the urban past’ produced by the growing heritage industry and ‘the booming academic study of urban history’ might be bridged. Heritage, he argued, was ‘deeply bound up with the meanings and functions of towns’ and urban historians should play a crucial role within communities ‘engaged in a complex discourse with the past . . . that for many was fundamental to their livelihood and identity’. Borsay&#39;s concerns 27 years later continue to be mirrored in academic discussions surrounding heritage and materiality, echoing wider questions that surround the relevance of urban history beyond the academy. Recent conferences have also demonstrated the continued salience of Borsay&#39;s argument, considering the potential of the study of cities to shape approaches to their management through work with local communities, heritage partners, cultural institutions and profess...

The medieval iron market in Ariège (French Pyrenees) is characterised by its complexity leading to many questions regarding the ore used in relation to the artefacts encountered in archaeological settings. Despite the conclusive study of the treaty that regulated iron vs. coal exchanges from the 14th to the 19th c. by Verna et al., many questions remain unanswered concerning provenance and circulation of ores and products. Based on a combination of trace elemental analysis and multivariate statistical methods (discriminant analysis, hierarchical clustering analysis), we propose to follow an elementalbased signature from ore to artefacts, suited to the direct iron process, to clarify provenance hypotheses. We define the chemical signature of the Ariège area and compare it to that of slag inclusions in artefacts uncovered in several main archaeological sites from the Ariège area but also outside of this region. The results from this study are consistent with prior knowledge from historical sources. In the Ariège region, results highlight the multiple origins of products encountered at Montréal-de-Sos, a site close to known trade routes, whereas the isolated Castel-Minier site primarily contained objects from local ores and most objects retrieved from the Mirabat castle (Couserans) are coming from outside Ariège, possibly an indirect consequence from the exchange treaty. The presence of pins made of Ariegean ores is also demonstrated in the far more distant Capestang collegiate (near Narbonne, outside Ariège). This opens the way to finer studies in the politico-economical control of the iron supply for the building of medieval monuments in Southern France.

Cast iron beams were extensively used in many 19th century structures, especially in fireproof flooring systems (such as jack arch). Many such structures are still in use today and it is important that they fulfil the current requirements of fire resistance when there is a change of use. These structures are out of scope of modern design codes and old design codes do not provide guidance for fire resistance design. Furthermore, cast iron is a brittle material weak in tension, and there are many uncertainties in its mechanical properties at ambient and elevated temperatures due to material flaws. It is necessary to quantify the probability of structural failure and to introduce safety factors to reduce the probability of structural failure in fire to an acceptable level. This paper presents the results of a detailed study whose purpose is to derive appropriate safety factors to achieve different levels of reliability, for fire safety design of cast iron beams. In this study, a fibre analysis method has been used to calculate the moment capacity of four different types of cast iron cross section. Using randomized stressstrain-temperature relationships, based on variability of the different governing parameters (under tension: maximum stress, 0.2% proof stress, corresponding strains at maximum stress (strength) and failure; under compression: Young's modulus, proportional limit, 0.2% proof stress and the maximum stress), the probability distribution of moment capacity has been calculated. Based on the criterion of cast iron beam failure not exceeding probabilities of 10 −1 , 10 −2 and 10 −3 , material safety factors of 1.5, 3.0 and 5.0 respectively have been obtained.

Cast-iron girders were used in many nineteenth century structures, especially in fireproof flooring systems (such as jack arches). Many such structures are still in use today and it is important that they fulfil the current requirements on fire resistance when there is a change of use. Cast iron has limited ductility so it is not possible for cast-iron beams to achieve total plasticity as for modern steel beams. Furthermore, cast iron has different mechanical properties in tension and compression and there is often a severe non-uniform temperature distribution in cast-iron beam sections. This paper presents the development of a simplified method to calculate the bending moment capacity of cast-iron beams in a jack arched system exposed to a standard ISO 834 fire. The method is based on an assumed strain distribution in the cross-section. A comparison of the results calculated using the simplified method with those using the fibre method, validated by Abaqus simulation results, indicates that the proposed simplified method is sufficiently accurate as the basis of a design method. 1 Structures and Buildings Moment capacity of cast-iron beams exposed to fire Maraveas, Wang and Swailes Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers

Cast iron columns were used in many 19th century structures. Many such structures are still in use today and it is important that they fulfill the current requirements on fire resistance. This paper presents the results of a comprehensive study of the behavior and fire resistance of cast iron columns based on extensive numerical simulations using ABAQUS. The ABAQUS simulation model was validated against six fire tests performed in the USA in 1917. The validated model was then used to investigate the effects of several parameters (column slenderness, load factor, load eccentricity, imperfections of column and cross section, axial restraint) on the behaviour of cast iron columns in fire. The parametric study results indicate that the fire resistance is governed by the applied load and these columns are sensitive to load eccentricity. Based on a comparison between the numerical simulation results and predictions of the EN 1993-1-2 method which is for modern steel structures, it has been found that the EN 1993-1-2 method can give safe and reasonably accurate estimate of the strength and fire resistance of cast iron columns.

Cast iron beams were used in many 19th century structures, especially in fireproof flooring systems (such as jack arch). Many such structures are still in use today and it is important that they fulfil the current requirements on fire resistance when there is a change of use. These structures are out of scope of the modern design codes and the old design codes do not provide guidance for fire resistance design. Furthermore, cast iron is a brittle material weak in tension, and there are many uncertainties in its mechanical properties at ambient and elevated temperatures due to material flaws. Based on extensive literature survey and fresh test data, the authors have proposed elevated temperature stress-strain temperature relationships for cast iron, based on the EC3-1-2 reduction factors for carbon steel. Although the proposed relationships are reasonably close to the gathered data, there are considerable scatters and it is necessary to quantify the probability of structural failure ...

The quest for suitable data, data treatments and statistical methods for identifying the provenance of iron artifacts has led to a variety of analytical strategies. Researchers working on the problem have been slow to develop or adopt the use of multivariate statistical techniques, despite their successful implementation in other archaeomaterials sourcing frameworks. This paper explores the analytical potential of a comprehensive multivariate statistical strategy for identifying the primary production origins of bloomery iron artifacts using bulk chemical analyses of bloomery smelting slag and slag inclusions in iron artifacts. This strategy includes a multivariate model for identifying distinct slag inclusion types introduced during smelting and refining. Principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis are then applied to smelting slag training sets to create multivariate provenance fields, the chemical distributions of which are defined by kernel density estimation. Single and multi-group evaluation methods are examined. Appropriate data transformations are discussed to facilitate the projection of the chemistry of "unknown" slag inclusions into the multidimensional space generated by the smelting slag groups of known provenance. The efficacy of this strategy is demonstrated through its application to a previously examined data set derived from three iron production experiments and a published archaeological example. Results indicate that an appropriately designed multivariate strategy can be an effective tool for evaluating provenance hypotheses for bloomery iron artifacts.

An analytical protocol was designed for the analysis of chloride ions in treatment solutions as well as in solids after desalination to avoid chloride loss during the digestion process. The alkaline sulphite method originally suggested by North and Pearson (North and Pearson 1975) was tested with varying concentrations of sodium hydroxide and sulphite under nitrogen. The excellent desalination efficiency of sodium hydroxide solutions under de-aerated conditions reported by Al Zahrani (1999) could not be confirmed, but this technique seems to be more efficient than alkaline sulphite. Results suggest the use of oxygen-free sodium hydroxide as a desalination technique should be more suitable for mass treatment of terrestrial iron.

In the Middle Ages, the iron market within the Ariège (French Pyrenees), and nearby, is difficult to make restitution since it was dynamic and complex. Numerous iron objects discovered on archaeological sites (13 th-15 th c.) within this area but also construction irons found in medieval buildings were studied by INAA, ICP-MS, LA-ICP-MS to determine their origin. Due to the complexity of the high dimensional data set acquired, an ad-hoc multivariate statistical method was developed. This procedure was applied to determine the compatibility of the artefacts of unknown origin with a provenance from Ariège. Provenance results allowed to supply a crucial complementary data of historical sources and to better apprehend the Ariegean market.