Insights into the In Vitro Formation of Apatite from Mg-Stabilized Amorphous Calcium Carbonate

A protein-free formation of bone-like apatite from amorphous precursors through ball-milling is reported. Mg²⁺ ions are crucial to achieve full amorphization of CaCO₃. Mg²⁺ incorporation generates defects which strongly retard a recrystallization of ball-milled Mg-doped amorphous calcium carbonate (BM-aMCC), which promotes the growth of osteoblastic and endothelial cells in simulated body fluid and has no effect on endothelial cell gene expression. Ex situ snapshots of the processes revealed the reaction mechanisms. For low Mg contents (<30%) a two phase system consisting of Mg-doped amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) and calcite “impurities” was formed. For high (>40%) Mg²⁺ contents, BM-aMCC follows a different crystallization path via magnesian calcite and monohydrocalcite to aragonite. While pure ACC crystallizes rapidly to calcite in aqueous media, Mg-doped ACC forms in the presence of phosphate ions bone-like hydroxycarbonate apatite (dahllite), a carbonate apatite with carbonate substitution in both type A (OH⁻) and type B (PO₄³⁻) sites, which grows on calcite “impurities” via heterogeneous nucleation. This process produces an endotoxin-free material and makes BM-aMCC an excellent “ion storage buffer” that promotes cell growth by stimulating cell viability and metabolism with promising applications in the treatment of bone defects and bone degenerative diseases.     

市售商品补钙制剂的补钙效果观察

本文以大鼠为模型，研究不同化学形式钙以及市售数种钙剂的补钙效果。１．不同化学形式钙的补钙效果：选用三周龄断乳Ｗｉｓｔａｒ大鼠５６只，雌雄各半，喂饲３周缺钙饲料后，按体重随机把大鼠分成４组，即缺钙饲料、补充碳酸钙、活性钙或乳酸钙饲料（３０００ｍｇＣａ／ｋｇ），实验期为１２周。２．市售补钙制剂的补钙效果：选用动物及实验期同实验１，动物数为８４只，按体重随机把大鼠分成７组，即缺钙饲料组，其它６组为补充碳酸钙、钙尔奇－Ｄ、盖天力、活性钙、壮骨宝、巨人补钙饲料（３０００ｍｇＣａ／ｋｇ）。补钙各组大鼠终体重和身长均非常显著高于对照组。补充不同化学形式钙或商品钙制剂组的血浆、红细胞和肝脏中钙含量均显著高于缺钙对照组，补钙各组间无显著差异。多数钙制剂对雄性肾脏钙存留的影响不显著，只有盖天力显著增加雄性肾脏钙存留；补钙对雌性肾脏钙存留的影响非常显著。补充的三种化学形式钙和商品钙剂均显著增加骨矿物质含量，但是碳酸钙和乳酸钙的效果优于活性钙，巨人补钙和活性钙的效果似不如其它钙制剂。按效果价格比，目前碳酸钙仍是最好的钙源。     

溶胶-凝胶法制备LED用Ca10(Si2O7)3Cl2∶Ce3+荧光粉

以硝酸钙、氯化钙、正硅酸乙酯为原料,采用溶胶凝胶法制备LED用Ca1(0Si2O7)3Cl2:Ce3+荧光粉。探讨了烧结温度,CaCl2的量对基质纯度的影响及Ce3+在此基质中的光谱性质。结果表明,溶胶-凝胶法可以得到纯相氯硅酸钙基质,在该基质中掺适量铈可以合成LED用的Ca1(0Si2O7)3Cl2:xCe3+荧光粉,该荧光粉在434 nm处有强发射峰,且最佳掺杂浓度x=0.02。     

岩石中硼等十四种元素的等离子光谱测定

文章介绍了用含有磷酸的混合酸(H_3PO_4-HF-HNO_3-HClO_4)分解硅腌盐样品,用等离子光谱仪测定硼、镁、钙、钛、钒、铬、锰、铁、镍、铜、锌、锶、钡和钇十四种毛素。通过对GSD标准参考样品的分析表明,此方法具有良好的准确度和精密度,相对标准偏差小于8.7％,适用于土壤及沉积岩中硼等元素的分析。     

In Situ Liquid-Cell TEM Observation of Multiphase Classical and Nonclassical Nucleation of Calcium Oxalate

Calcium oxalate (CaOx) is the major phase in kidney stones and the primary calcium storage medium in plants. CaOx can form crystals with different lattice types, water contents, and crystal structures. However, the conditions and mechanisms leading to nucleation of particular CaOx crystals are unclear. Here, liquid-cell transmission electron microscopy and atomistic molecular dynamics simulations are used to study in situ CaOx nucleation at different conditions. The observations reveal that rhombohedral CaOx monohydrate (COM) can nucleate via a classical pathway, while square COM can nucleate via a non-classical multiphase pathway. Citrate, a kidney stone inhibitor, increases the solubility of calcium by forming calcium-citrate complexes and blocks oxalate ions from approaching calcium. The presence of multiple hydrated ionic species draws additional water molecules into nucleating CaOx dihydrate crystals. These findings reveal that by controlling the nucleation pathways one can determine the macroscale crystal structure, hydration state, and morphology of CaOx.     

A new approach to assessing sweat production

Since 1916 when Stillians (1) first reported that excessive axillary sweating could be reduced by the application of 25% aqueous aluminium chloride, sales of antiperspirant products have increased dramatically. In spite of many studies, the mechanism of action of these compounds has not been clearly elucidated (2). In most cases, investigations have been performed on animal foot pads, excised human biopsy specimens and skin samples in vivo (3). A model which eliminated problems encountered in whole body investigations (for example, influence of blood flow) would be preferable. One such method, introduced in part by Sato (3), has been investigated. Preliminary investigations suggest that this method could become useful in the evaluation of the mode of action of antiperspirants.
Sweat production was induced using carbachol and methacholine in isolated rat plantar sweat glands. These were maintained in a suitable environment (modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate at 38°C containing 30% w/v fresh rat serum). The output of sweat was measured every 5 minutes for 85 minutes and the maximal final volume obtained with any one gland was 23 nanolitres.
Sweat production ceased on administration of appropriate concentrations of atropine or the withdrawal of calcium ions from the bathing fluid.
Une nouvelle approche pour évaluer la transpiration     

液相施主及高钙添加对PTC材料性能的影响

采用液相施主掺杂和高钙添加相结合的方法,制得性能优良,适合程控电话交换机防雷击、防过流用的耐强电限流器件的PTC材料。在液相施主Y(NO3)3的添加量(摩尔分数)为0.4%,CaCO3添加量(摩尔分数)为15%时,得到了室温电阻率为140?·cm,居里点tC为74℃,阻温系数α为13.9%℃–1,升阻比lg(ρmax/ρmin)为7.2,耐压强度Vb≥260V/mm的PTC材料。     

A Novel Approach to BaTiO3-based X8R Ceramics by Calcium Borosilicate Glass Ceramic Doping

High-performance X8R dielectric materials could be sintered at 1150°C by doping calcium borosilicate (CBS) glass ceramic into the BaTiO₃-Nb₂O₅-ZnO system, with a dielectric constant greater than 1800 and a dielectric loss lower than 1.0%. The effects of CBS, Nb₂O₅, and ZnO on the dielectric properties were discussed in this article. The X8R specification was achieved with the content of CBS ≥ 4 wt.%, Nb₂O₅ ≥ 1.0 mol%, and ZnO ≤ 2.0 mol%. The sample doped with 4 wt.% CBS exhibited the highest density and lowest dielectric loss in our experiment. A reduction in grain size was observed in the specimens with 4 and 7 wt.% CBS as compared with CBS-free specimen, whereas the abnormal growth of rectangle-shaped grains took place in the 10 wt.% CBS-doped specimen. The Curie point progressively moved to higher temperatures with CBS content up to 7 wt.%. However, T _c of the sample decreased slightly in the case when 10 wt.% CBS was doped. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated that the crystal structure of sintered ceramics changed from tetragonal to pseudocubic symmetry as increasing CBS content.     

功能性双歧因子钙奶复合冰淇淋的开发研制

本文简述了功能性食品──双歧因子钙奶复合冰淇淋的营养成份及其对人体的作用,并对该工艺和配方进行研究,研制出风味佳,具有一定营养保健功能新型冰淇淋制品,并提出了宜于工业化生产的工艺参数和数据。     

Laminated aluminum thin-films as low-cost opaque moisture ultra-barriers for flexible organic electronic devices

Flexible aluminum moisture barrier films are shown to meet ultra-barrier requirements with water vapor transmission rates as low as 1*10⁻⁴ g/m²/day at 38 °C and 90% R.H. These low transmission rates are achieved by lamination of two films that are independently processed on individual substrates. The integration in organic electronic devices like organic solar cells or OLEDs is particularly easy in a single lamination step, since an existing aluminum electrode can be utilized as one half of the moisture barrier. The resulting laminate maintains flexibility of the device and improves the barrier quality by an order of magnitude compared to conventional stacking of two barriers. Organic solar cells with this type of encapsulation are manufactured and aged in controlled climate. They do not exhibit significant extrinsic degradation.