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Nano-particles of dicalcium phosphate anhydrous (DCPA) were synthesized for the first time. The objectives of this study were to incorporate DCPA nano-particles into resin for Ca-PO4 release to combat dental caries, and to investigate the filler level effects. Nano-DCPA and nano-silica-fused silicon nitride whiskers at a 1:1 ratio were used at filler mass fractions of 0–75%. The flexural strengths in MPa (mean ± SD; n = 6) of DCPA-whisker composites ranged from (106 ± 39) at 0% fillers to (114 ± 23) at 75% fillers, similar to (112 ± 22) of a non-releasing composite (TPH) (p > 0.1). The composite with 75% fillers in a NaCl solution (133 mmol/L, pH = 7.4, 37°C) yielded a Ca concentration of (0.65 ± 0.02) mmol/L and PO4 of (2.29 ± 0.07) mmol/L. Relationships were established between ion-release and DCPA volume fraction VDCPA: Ca = 4.46 VDCPA1.6, and = 66.9 VDCPA2.6. Nano-DCPA-whisker PO4 composites had high strength and released high levels of Ca-PO4 requisite for remineralization. These new nano-composites could provide the needed combination of stress-bearing and caries-inhibiting capabilities.

Background: To evaluate PSA levels and kinetic cutoffs to predict positive bone scans for men with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) from the Shared Equal Access Regional Cancer Hospital (SEARCH) cohort. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 531 bone scans of 312 clinically CRPC patients with no known metastases at baseline treated with a variety of primary treatment types in the SEARCH database. The association of patients’ demographics, pathological features, PSA levels and kinetics with risk of a positive scan was tested using generalized estimating equations. Results: A total of 149 (28%) scans were positive. Positive scans were associated with younger age (odds ratio (OR)=0.98; P =0.014), higher Gleason scores (relative to Gleason 2–6, Gleason 3+4: OR=2.03, P =0.035; Gleason 4+3 and 8–10: OR=1.76, P =0.059), higher prescan PSA (OR=2.11; P <0.001), shorter prescan PSA doubling time (PSADT; OR=0.53; P <0.001), higher PSA velocity (OR=1.74; P <0.001) and more remote scan year (OR=0.92; P =0.004). Scan positivity was 6, 14, 29 and 57% for men with PSA<5, 5–14.9, 15–49.9 and ⩾50 ng ml −1 , respectively ( P -trend <0.001). Men with PSADT ⩾15, 9–14.9, 3–8.9 and <3 months had a scan positivity of 11, 22, 34 and 47%, correspondingly ( P -trend <0.001). Tables were constructed using PSA and PSADT to predict the likelihood of a positive bone scan. Conclusions: PSA levels and kinetics were associated with positive bone scans. We developed tables to predict the risk of positive bone scans by PSA and PSADT. Combining PSA levels and kinetics may help select patients with CRPC for bone scans.

The osteoconductive and possibly osteoinductive characteristics of OCP increased the interest in preparation of bone graft materials that contain OCP in its composition. Calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) were prepared using a mixture of α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) and dicalcium phosphate anhydrous (DCPA), with α-TCP / DCPA molar ratio of 1/1 and distilled water or 0.5 mol / L phosphate aqueous solution (pH = 6.1 ± 0.1) as the cement liquid. Hardening time was (30 ± 1) min for the CPC mixed with water and (5 ± 1) min for the CPC mixed with phosphate solution. Diametral tensile strength (DTS), porosity (P), and phase composition (powder x-ray diffraction) were determined after the hardened specimens had been immersed in a physiological-like solution (PLS) for 1 d, 3 d, and 7 d. In CPC specimens prepared with water, calcium hydroxyapatite (HA) was formed and DTS and P were (9.03 ± 0.48) MPa and (37.05 ± 0.20) vol % after 1 d, respectively, and (9.15 ± 0.45) MPa and (37.24 ± 0.63) vol % after 3 d, respectively. In CPC specimens prepared with phosphate solution OCP and HA were formed and DTS and P were (4.38 ± 0.49) MPa and (41.44 ± 1.25) vol % after 1 d, respectively,(4.38 ± 0.29) MPa and (42.52 ± 2.15) vol % after 3 d, respectively, and (4.30 ± 0.60) MPa and (41.38 ± 1.65) vol % after 7 d, respectively. For each group DTS and P did not change with PLS immersion time. DTS was significantly higher and P was significantly lower for CPCs prepared with water. HA formation slightly increased with immersion time from 40 mass % after 1 d to 50 mass % after 3 d in CPCs prepared with water. OCP + HA formation increased with immersion time from 30 mass % after 1 d to 35 mass % after 3 d and to 45 mass % after 7 d in CPCs prepared with 0.5 mol / L phosphate solution.

Previous studies demonstrated that a Ca pre-treatment greatly increases salivary F from a subsequent NaF rinse. This study examines if these increases are found in plaque and plaque fluid F. Thirteen individuals accumulated plaque before rinsing with: (1) 12 mmol/L NaF (228 μg/g F), (2) 150 mmol/L Ca rinse, or (3) the Ca rinse followed by the F rinse. One hr later, plaque samples were collected, the plaque fluid was recovered, and the plaque residues were extracted 5 times with pH 6.8 or pH 4.8 buffers, and then by acid. The F in each extract after the Ca rinse/F rinse greatly exceeded the corresponding F from the NaF rinse. Consequently, the Ca rinse/F rinse increased the total plaque F and the plaque fluid F by 12x and 5x, compared with the NaF rinse alone. These and the previous salivary results suggest that a Ca pre-treatment may increase the cariostatic effects of topical F agents.

For electromechanical actuators (EMAs) and electronic devices cooling on aircraft, there is a need to study cooling fan performance at various altitudes from sea level to 12,000 m where the ambient pressure varies from 1 to 0.2 atm. As fan static pressure head is proportional to air density, the fan’s rotational speed has to be increased significantly to compensate for the low ambient pressure of 0.2 atm at the altitude of 12,000 m. To evaluate fan performance for EMA cooling, a high-rotational-speed, commercially available fan made by Ametek with a diameter of ~82 mm and ~3 m3/min zero-load open cooling flow rate when operating at 20,000 rpm was chosen as the baseline. According to fan scaling laws, this fan was expected to meet the cooling needs for an EMA when operating at 0.2 atm. Using a closed flow loop, the performance of the fan operating in the above ambient pressure range and at a rotational speed between 15,000 and 30,000 rpm was evaluated. Unexpectedly, at 0.2 atm, the Ametek fan was able to produce only about one-third of the static pressure head predicted by the fan scaling laws at a flow rate of 1 m3/min. The purpose of the present effort is to modify the Ametek design by using a standard optimization procedure with the aid of computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The final blade designs were manufactured by three-dimensional (3D) printing. The results and performances of these fan designs were confirmed experimentally which showed the new designs meet the cooling requirements by providing the necessary static pressure head and flow rates at the low ambient pressure of 0.2 atm. It is concluded that the new blade designs are able to yield a much better performance over the ranges of altitudes and rpm for aircraft EMA cooling. Thus, this study establishes a sound blade design method which can reduce the cost associated with expensive experimental investigation by using CFD tools.

In previous studies nano sized hydroxyapatite (HA) particles were prepared by solgel or precipitation methods, in which the products were washed by aqueous or non-aqueous liquids to remove impurities or undesired components. The washing is know to modify the surfaces of the cystalline particles. This study evaluated properties of nano HA materials prepared by a spray drying method in which the HA product was not exposed to any liquid after its formation. The spray drying apparatus consisted of a nozzle that sprayed an acidic calcium phosphate solution in the form of a fine mist into a stream of filtered air flowing through a heated glass column. The water and volatile acid were evaporated by the time the mist reached the end of the column, and the fine particles were collected by an electrostatic precipitator. Powder x ray diffraction patterns suggested the material was amorphous, exhibiting a single broad peak at 30.5° 2θ. However, high resolution transmission electron microscopic analysis showed that the particles, some of which were 5 nm in size, exhibited well ordered HA lattice fringes. Small area diffraction patterns were indicative of HA. Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy showed patterns of typical of HA with small amounts of HPO4 (2-). The thermodynamic solubility product of the nano HA was 3.3 × 10(-94) compared to 1 × 10(-117) for macro scale crystalline HA. These results showed that a spray drying technique can be used to prepare nanometer sized crystalline HA that have significantly different physicochemical properties than those of its bulk-scale counterpart.

The effects of different Ca-addition rates on calcium fluoride (CaF2) precipitation and deposition were investigated in 12 mmol/L sodium fluoride solutions to which 0.1 mol/L calcium chloride solution was continuously added at average rates of (5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15 or 20) mmol L(-1) min(-1). The changes in ionic fluoride and calcium concentrations, as well as turbidity, were continuously recorded by F and Ca electrodes, and a fiber optic based spectrophotometer, respectively. The F(-) concentration decreased and turbidity increased with time indicating precipitation of CaF2. For the systems with Ca-addition rates of (5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15, and 20) mmol L(-1) min(-1), the 1 min CaF2 depositions in the model substrate (cellulose filter paper, pores 0.2 µm) expressed as mean ± SD of deposited F per substrate surface area were (3.78 ± 0.31, 11.45 ± 0.89, 9.31 ± 0.68, 8.20 ± 0.56, 6.63 ± 0.43, and 2.09 ± 0.28) µg/cm(2), respectively (n = 10 for each group). The 1-min F depositions did not show positive correlation to Ca-addition rates. The lowest 1-min F deposition was obtained in the systems with the highest Ca-addition rate of 20 mmol L(-1) min(-1) for which CaF2 precipitation rate reached the maximum value of 0.31 mmol L(-1) s(-1) almost immediately after beginning of reaction (6 s). The largest 1-min F depositions were obtained from the systems with Ca addition rates of (7.5 to 12.5) mmol L(-1) min(-1) in which CaF2 precipitation rates continuously increased reaching the maximum values of (0.13 to 0.20) mmol L(-1) s(-1) after (18 to 29) s, respectively. The 1-min F depositions were greatly enhanced in comparison with the control F solutions that did not have continuous Ca-addition. This indicates that continuous Ca addition that controls the rate of CaF2 formation could be a critical factor for larger F depositions from F solutions. The efficacy of conventional F mouthrinses could be improved with addition of a substance that continuously releases Ca.

Research on calcium phosphate chemistry at NIST led to the discovery of the worlds first self-hardening calcium phosphate cements (CPC) in 1987. Laboratory, animal, and clinical studies were conducted to develop CPC into clinically useful biomaterials. The combination of self-hardening capability and high biocompatibility makes CPC a unique material for repairing bone defects. Near perfect adaptation of the cement to the tissue surfaces in a defect, and a gradual resorption followed by new bone formation are some of the other distinctive advantages of this biomaterial. In 1996 a CPC, consisting of tetracalcium phosphate and dicalcium phosphate anhydrous, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for repairing cranial defects in humans, thus becoming the first material of its kind available for clinical use. This paper will review the course of the development, the physical and chemical properties, and clinical applications of CPC.

The low concentration of available calcium (Ca) in oral fluids limits the formation of Ca-mediated fluoride deposits that maintain oral fluoride (F) after a topical F treatment. The purpose of this study was to examine if a high concentration of Ca would increase salivary F when used before a F rinse or dentifrice. We found that a Ca pre-rinse (150 mmol/l Ca lactate) or Ca dentifrice (0.084 g Ca glycerolphosphate per gram dentifrice) used immediately before a 60 s 228-ppm F rinse (12 mmol/l NaF) produced a 4.6× or 3.6× increase (p < 0.05) respectively in the 1 h salivary F concentrations over the F rinse alone. Reducing the post-Ca F rinse to 10 s still produced a significant 2.2× increase in salivary F compared to the 60 s F rinse alone. Used with a conventional 1,100 ppm F (i.e. 1,100 µg F per gram) NaF dentifrice (Crest), the above Ca pre-rinse increased 1 h salivary F levels by 2.3× over the F dentifrice alone. However, a F rinse given before a Ca rinse produced no increase in 1 h salivary F concentrations. Although the persistence of these increases requires further study, these results suggest that a moderately high concentration of Ca given shortly before a F rinse or F dentifrice may increase the cariostatic effect of the F product.