OBJECTIVE: In order to find whether there is the correlation between the non-oil particle filtration efficiency(PFE) and the bacterial filtration efficiency(BFE) of medical surgical masks. METHODS: Non-oil particle filtration efficiency and bacterial filtration efficiency were compared and analyzed through the test data of medical surgical masks from 2012 to 2018. RESULTS: When the non-oil particle filtration efficiency of medical surgical mask is over 80%, the bacterial filtration efficiency can reach 95%. CONCLUSIONS In order to reach the requirement of 95% bacterial filtration efficiency, surgical medical mask must improve the limit of non-oil particle filtration efficiency. The results of data analysis can provide reference for emergency inspection and filter material rapid inspection, and also provide reference for the revision of YY 0469 standard.
Filtration ; Masks ; Particle Size

BACKGROUND: Shipbuilding involves intensive welding activities, and welders are exposed to a variety of metal fumes, including manganese, that may be associated with neurological impairments. This study aimed to characterize total and size-fractionated manganese exposure resulting from welding operations in shipbuilding work areas. METHODS: In this study, we characterized manganese-containing particulates with an emphasis on total mass (n = 86, closed-face 37-mm cassette samplers) and particle size-selective mass concentrations (n = 86, 8-stage cascade impactor samplers), particle size distributions, and a comparison of exposure levels determined using personal cassette and impactor samplers. RESULTS: Our results suggest that 67.4% of all samples were above the current American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists manganese threshold limit value of 100 μg/m3 as inhalable mass. Furthermore, most of the particles containing manganese in the welding process were of the size of respirable particulates, and 90.7% of all samples exceeded the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists threshold limit value of 20 μg/m3 for respirable manganese. CONCLUSION: The concentrations measured with the two sampler types (cassette: total mass; impactor: inhalable mass) were significantly correlated (r = 0.964, p < 0.001), but the total concentration obtained using cassette samplers was lower than the inhalable concentration of impactor samplers.
Humans ; Manganese* ; Particle Size ; Welding

The purpose of this study were to investigate the chemical composition, mean particle size, linear thermal expansion coefficient and metal-bonding strength of the regular opaque powder and core powder. In this study, 4 types of ceramic powders, namely Duceram Jacket Opaque powder, Duceram Opaque powder, Vita Hi-Ceram powder, Vita VMK Paint On-88 powder were used. Chemical composition was evaluated by EDS(Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrophotometer, Oxford QX-2000, England), particle size was measured by MALVERN Instruments(MALVERN Instruments SB. OC., U.S.A.) ad linear thermal expansion coefficient was measured by dilatometer(Motoyama, Japan). Bond strength was measured by the Universal tsting machine(Istron Co., Ltd., U.S.A.). The Results were as follows : 1. Through recognition of the relative difference in chemical composition between the core powder and the regular opaque powder, the difference in the proportion of Al2O3 in each type of material is demonstrated ; Duceram Jaket Opaque powder : 30.16%, Duceram Opaque powder : 16.60%, Vita Hi-Ceram : 63.64%, Vita VMK Paint-On 88 : 16.16%. 2. There was no significant difference in the proportion of metal-bonding materials between the core powder and the regular opaque powder. 3. In the regular opaque powder, alkaline materials were incoporated in order to increase the coefficient of thermal expansion. 4. In the particle size analysis, there was no significant difference in mean particle size or in the particle size distribution between the core powder and the regular opaque powder. 5. In the thermal expansion test for temperature range of 25~600degrees C, the regular opaque powder had higher coefficient of thermal expansion than that of core powder. 6. In the 4 point flexural bending test, there was no statistically significant difference in the mean bond strength between the core powder and the opaque powder among the Duceram products.
Ceramics ; Paint ; Particle Size ; Powders

This study was mainly based on the compatibility of Puerariae Lobatae Radix and Chuanxiong Rhizoma to prepare submicron emulsion and evaluated its physical and pharmaceutical properties. Firstly, pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were drawn by dripping method which took Chuanxiong oil as the oil phase and the area of microemulsion region as the index. On this basis, suitable emulsifier and co-emulsifier were screened for the preparation of Chuanxiong oil submicron emulsion. Then, the formula realizing the largest oil loading was selected. Finally, puerarin substituted part of emulsifier and co-emulsifier to lower their content, so as to form puerarin-Chuanxiong oil submicron emulsion featuring the combination of medicine and adjuvant. Its particle size, zeta potential, centrifugal stability and storage stability were determined, and the in vitro drug release behavior was investigated by dialysis bag method, based on which the quality of the as-prepared submicron emulsion was evaluated comprehensively. The proposed method was proved feasible for the preparation of Chuanxiong oil submicron emulsion, which adopted polyoxyethylene castor oil(EL-40) as the emulsifier and was free from co-emulsifier. The formula of the maximum oil loading was found as Chuanxiong oil∶EL-40∶water 3∶7∶90. Further, puera-rin successfully replaced up to 10% of the emulsifier in submicron emulsion. Eventually, the optimal drug-loading formula was determined as puerarin∶Chuanxiong oil∶EL-40∶water 7∶30∶63∶900. The quality evaluation results of the as-prepared submicron emulsion demonstrated that the average emulsion droplet size was 333.9 nm, the PDI 0.26, and the zeta potential-10.12 mV. The submicron emulsion had a good centrifugal stability and did not present any instable phenomena such as delamination and precipitation during its standing still for 50 days. The evaluation of in vitro drug release behavior indicated that the submicron emulsion was capable of releasing the drug completely. The puerarin-chuanxiong oil submicron emulsion prepared in this study possessed a stable quality and to some extent increased the solubility of puerarin along with a sustained-release effect. This study provided ideas for the clinical application of puerarin.
Emulsions ; Isoflavones ; Particle Size ; Solubility

Targeting the deficiencies of Lingzhu Powder, this study introduced the particle design technology to improve its quality. Based on the mechanism of particle design for powder and the characteristics of solvent evaporation method, composite particles consisting of Succinum, Cinnabaris, and artificial Bovis Calculus were prepared. And the powder properties of composite particles and physical mixtures as well as the content uniformity of toxic components were investigated for exploring the technological advantages of particle design in improving the quality of Lingzhu Powder. The results showed that the composite particles prepared using solvent evaporation method and particle design technology were micro-particles, and the stable agglomerate structure could be observed under SEM. Composite particles exhibited better fluidity and compliance in oral intake than physical mixtures. The differences in chromatism, bulk density, and content uniformity of the composite particles were smaller than those of physical mixtures, and the corresponding RSD values \[4.8%, 1.8%, 3.4%(bilirubin), and 0.63%(HgS), respectively\] were smaller. The solvent evaporation combined with particle design technology can be utilized to significantly improve the quality of Lingzhu Powder, which has provided new ideas for the optimization of the quality of traditional Chinese medicinal powder.
Particle Size ; Powders ; Solvents ; Technology

PURPOSE: We assessed the dynamic characteristics of 16 nebulizer/compressor combinations currently available in Korea. METHODS: The 16 nebulizer/compressor combinations(Pariboy Type 38/Long life, Pariboy Type N/ Long life, Pariboy Type N/Salter 8900, Pariboy Type N/LC, Devilbiss pulmoaid-LT/Hudson, Devilbiss pulmoaid/Hudson, Mesmed neb-300/Own, San-up 3040/Hudson, Midas(Basic)/Own, AirJolie 2/ Hudson, Thomas 1127/Salter 8900, Noel NE-2000/Salter 8900, Omron CX3/Hudson, Chang Woo CWN-100/Salter 8900, Voyage/Mefar, Chang Woo ASI-Pro/Medel jet pulse) were evaluated in terms of particle size and mass output. In addition, we determined the effects of nebulizer fill volume on mass output. RESULTS: Pariboy Type N/Long life has the highest respirable mass of 0.184 mg/min and Mesmed Neb-300/Own has the lowest 0.019 mg/min. Pariboy Type N/Long life has the highest mass output of 0.68 mg/min and the shortest mass median aerodynamic diameter(MMAD) of 3.76 m. All combinations other than Pariboy Type N/Long life produced a MMAD of over 5 m. MMAD over a 5 min nebulization ranged 3.76 to 9.83 m. There were no significant effects of fill volume on mass output. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that there is a wide variation in performance of nebulizer/compressor combinations. The characteristics of nebulizer/compressor combinations should be considered in selecting products.
Korea* ; Nebulizers and Vaporizers ; Particle Size ; Respiratory Therapy

There are a lot of units used in Anesthesiology field. Sometimes, we could not compare two units describing the same physical category. For example, I cannot find reference materials explaining whether a 7 French catheter is larger than a 16 Gauge catheter. Furthermore, I would like to know why there are so many differences of blood calcium levels between regular check and intraoperative emergency reports. As for liquid drug concentrations, we usually use the mg/ml during a clinical practice, however, basic researchers report it as mole/liter (molarity, M). I would like to answer these questions. So, I have searched some references and have summarized them to explain length, concentration, temperature, particle size, pressure, and ratio units commonly used in our clinical practice, Anesthesiology.
Anesthesiology* ; Calcium ; Catheters ; Emergencies ; Particle Size

Targeting the poor powder characteristics of the contents in Hewei Jiangni Capsules, this study characterized the powder properties of the contents and employed particle design technique for improving the content quality. The content composite particles of Hewei Jiangni Capsules prepared by the particle design technique were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy(SEM), followed by infrared ray(IR), content uniformity, and in vitro dissolution detection. It was found that there was a good correlation between the crushed particle size of slices and the crushing time, and the calcined Haematitum was responsible for the poor content uniformity. After the fine powder of calcined Haematitum was super-finely ground for 8.5 min and those of the other contents in the capsule for 1 min, they were prepared into the composite particles, whose property characterizations were compared with those of the physical mixtures. The content uniformity of the prepared composite particles was significantly improved, and the preparation process was stable and reliable. The adoption of particle design technology to correct the poor uniformity of the physical mixture, solve the pharmaceutical defects of Hewei Jiangni Capsules, and improve the quality of prescriptions has provided important reference for the clinical application and development of Chinese medicinal preparations.
Capsules ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Particle Size ; Powders

Based on the defects in powder properties of the contents of Ziyin Yiwei Capsules, this study screened out the main medicinal slice powders causing the poor powdery properties, and introduced the powder modification process to improve the powdery properties of these slice powders, the pharmaceutical properties of the capsule contents, and the content uniformity of Ziyin Yiwei Capsules, so as to provide a demonstration for the application of powder modification technology to the preparation of Chinese medicinal solid preparations. Through the investigation on the powder properties of the contents of Ziyin Yiwei Capsules, it was clarified that the pulverized particle size of the capsule contents had a good correlation with the pulverization time. According to the measurement results of the powder fluidity and wettability, the quality defects of the capsule contents were caused by the fine powders of Taraxaci Herba and Lungwortlike Herba. "Core-shell" composite particles were prepared from medicinal excipients magnesium stearate and fine powders of Taraxaci Herba and Lungwortlike Herba slices after ultra-fine pulverization to improve the powder properties of the problematic fine powders. Powder characterization data including fluidity and wettability were measured, followed by scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and infrared ray(IR) detection. It was determined that the optimal dosage of magnesium stearate was 2%, and the compositing time was 3 min. The composite particles were then used as content components of the Ziyin Yiwei Capsules. The powder characteristics between the original capsule and the modified composite capsule including the particle size, fluidity, wettability, uniformity of bulk density, and uniformity of chromatism as well as the content uniformity and in vitro dissolution were compared. The results showed that the powder characteristics and content uniformity of the prepared composite capsule were significantly improved, while the material basis of the preparation was not changed before and after modification. The preparation process was proved to be stable and feasible. The powder modification technology solved the pharmaceutical defects that were easy to appear in the preparation of traditional capsules, which has provided experimental evidence for the use of powder modification technology for improving the quality of Chinese medicinal solid preparations and promoting the secondary development and upgrading of traditional Chinese medicinal dosage forms such as capsules.
Capsules ; Excipients ; Particle Size ; Powders ; Wettability

In this study, the effects of surface pre-treatment and adhesive type on the shear bond strength between PEKK (polyetherketoneketone) and zirconia were analyzed by means of shear bond test and fracture aspect analysis. RI group (sand blasted with 110 µm Rocatec + silane primer applied + Premier implant cement) showed the highest shear bond strength value (9.01 MPa), followed by AI (7.94 MPa), NI (5.62 MPa), RT (2.71 MPa), AT (2.25 MPa), and NT (non-treated + Hy-bond, 1.96 MPa) groups showed the lowest values. Analysis of shear bond strength according to the type of cement showed that the group using resin cement for implant was higher than the group bonded with polycarboxylate cement regardless of the surface treatment (p < 0.05). As a result of analysis of shear bond strength according to the surface treatment, the silane primer applied to the surface of 110 µm particle size Rocatec showed the highest value (p < 0.05). The fracture patterns of the specimens were analyzed by surface treatment and cement type. Polycarboxylate cement showed better bond strength with zirconia specimen and resin cement showed higher bond strength with PEKK specimen.
Adhesives ; Particle Size ; Polycarboxylate Cement ; Resin Cements