Controlling the Thermal Stability of a Bainitic Structure by Alloy Design and Isothermal Heat Treatment.

The aim of this work was to develop a novel bainitic steel that will be specifically dedicated to achieving a high degree of refinement (nano- or submicron scale) along with increased thermal stability of the structure at elevated temperatures. The material was characterized by improved in-use properties, expressed as the thermal stability of the structure, compared to nanocrystalline bainitic steels with a limited fraction of carbide precipitations. Assumed criteria for the expected low martensite start temperature, bainitic hardenability level, and thermal stability are specified.

Multicentre physiological reference values for the concentration of creatininium in plasma and diagnostic specificity of glomerular filtration rate estimated with the MDRD equation.

Background: The National Kidney Disease Education Program recommends that clinical laboratories, when asked for an estimation of glomerular filtration rate in a patient by means of the "four-variable" Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) Study equation, also provide the measurement result for creatininium concentration in plasma and the appropriate reference interval. On the other hand, clinical laboratories seeking accreditation for compliance with ISO 15189:2003 need to demonstrate that the physiological reference intervals communicated to all users of laboratory services are appropriate for the patient population served, and for their measurement systems.

Methods: Ten clinical laboratories in different regions of Spain collaborated in identifying reference individuals and producing reference values for the concentration of creatininium in plasma using RD/Hitachi Modular Analytics analysers, and for the volume rate of glomerular filtrate in kidneys (glomerular filtration rate), estimated with the "four-variable" MDRD Study equation.

Multicentre physiological reference intervals for serum concentrations of immunoglobulins A, G and M, complement C3c and C4 measured with Tina-Quant reagents systems.

Background: Clinical laboratories seeking accreditation for compliance with ISO 15189:2003 need to demonstrate that the physiological reference intervals communicated to all users of the laboratory service are appropriate for the patient population served and for the measurement systems used. In the case of immunological quantities, few articles have been published in peer-reviewed journals.

Methods: A total of 21 clinical laboratories in different regions of Spain collaborated in identifying reference individuals and determining adult reference intervals for some immunological quantities measured using RD/Hitachi Modular Analytics analysers and Tina-Quant reagent systems.