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The efficiency of herbivore exclusion by ants on the vetch Vicia angustifolia L. (Leguminosae) with extrafloral nectary, mediated by ant attraction to aphids was investigated in a field census and laboratory experiments. In the field, workers of Lasius japonicus Santschi and Tetramorium tsushimae Emery frequently visited plants of the vetch parasitized by aphids of Aphis craccivora Koch, but only a few workers visited plants without aphids. An increase in the number of ants visiting a plant with increasing numbers of aphids caused a decrease in the number of larvae of the weevil, Hypera postica Gyllenhal. Therefore, the efficiency of herbivore exclusion by ants was higher on plants parasitized by Ap. craccivora aphids than that on plants unparasitized by aphids. In the laboratory experiments, L. japonicus workers frequently patrolled not only shoots with Ap. craccivora aphids but also shoots without them. However, T. tsushimae workers visited mainly shoots with Ap. craccivora aphids but less frequently on shoots without aphids. Therefore, L. japonicus workers excluded herbivores more efficiently on plants of the vetch than T. tsushimae workers. Consequently, the efficiency of herbivore exclusion by ants on the vetch can be influenced directly by differences in ant species and indirectly by the presence of aphids on plants. The present study highlights the significance of indirect interactions between ants and plants with extrafloral nectary, mediated by ant attraction to aphids for herbivore exclusion of plants.

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Synopsis : Remarkable deviation of metal fraction in the liquid drained out of blast furnace tap hole has been occasionally observed between the operated tap holes and/or tapping time stages. Introducing the concept of low permeability zone whose wall, due to the difference in two liquid phases' viscosity and/or wettabilitiy to coke particle, allows for metal to permeate freely but for slag not to permeate, the liquid drainage behaviors are examined by furnace hearth mathematical model simulations.The deviation of metal fraction between two operated tap holes is materialized under the hypothesis that furnace heath is divided into two sections by planar vertical low permeability wall (VLPW). While, the variation of time series change in liquid metal fraction during tapping operation is reproduced by hypothesizing the formation of cylindrical low permeability wall (CLPW) which concentrically parts the furnace hearth into center and peripheral area.Since the results of calculation for VLPW or CLPW formation indicate the notable raise of liquid level in furnace which could influence on abrupt increase of blowing pressure, the effectiveness of several operational optimization is assessed, resulting in suggestive conclusion that increasing the initial tap hole diameter is the most effective.

Masakazu IIDA, Kazuhiro OGURA and Tetsui HAKONE Synopsis : Despite its importance in practical blast furnace (BF) operation, the dominant factors to control drainage rate or tapping time have not been well studied. In most cases, short tapping time has been attributed to rapid tap hole diameter enlargement. On the other hand, the experiential tendency about positive correlation between furnace hearth bottom temperature and drainage rate has been widely recognized.In order to examine the dominant factors to control the liquid drainage rate or tapping time at BF, a simulative calculation model is introduced, where the liquid drainage path consists of coke particles packed layer (coke filter) and tapping hole and the overall drainage rate is determined as one of smaller fluid rate in coke filter or tapping hole. For calculating the fluid rate in coke filter, a hypothesis that liquid iron and slag in coke filter is driven toward the tap hole entry point consuming the coke particles, whose extent depends on molten iron C saturation degree and FeO fraction in molten slag, was introduced.The calculation results present good matches with the observed tapping operation. This result can be explained by the two influences of low permeability zone formation or elimination at furnace hearth. Considering the two influences of low permeability zone formation, (1) to lower hearth bottom temperature and (2) to induce low C saturation of pig iron due to short traveling time in liquid pool to tap hole entry point, the simulation result conforms to the above mentioned experiential tendency.