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The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the increase in fracture toughness of a fluorcanasite-based glass-ceramic is a linear function of crystal volume fraction.A total of 60 specimen bars (20 x 5 x 2 mm(3)) were cut from parent glass blocks, polished, annealed, randomly divided into six groups, nucleated at 680 degrees C/4 hr, and crystallized at the following temperatures and times: (1) 850 degrees C/0.5 hr, (2) 850 degrees C/1 hr, (3) 850 degrees C/3 hr, (4) 750 degrees C/6 hr, (5) 800 degrees C/6 hr, or (6) 850 degrees C/6 hr. Indentation flaws were produced by a microhardness indenter at the center of one surface, and the prepared specimens were subjected to three-point flexure loading with the severely flawed surface under tension at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. Flexural strength and fracture toughness (K(IC)) were calculated based on the indentation-strength technique. Crystal volume fraction (V(c)) was determined by quantitative stereology of scanning electron images of each group of ceramic specimens. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and Duncan's multiple comparison test (alpha= 0.05).The mean K(IC) and V(c) values ranged from 2.7 to 3.9 MPa m(1/2) and 37% to 71% within the crystallization temperature range of 750 to 850 degrees C. Five statistical subsets of groups 1, 2/4, 3, 5, and 6 were determined as a function of crystallization temperature and holding time (Duncan's multiple comparison analysis; alpha= 0.05). The lowest and highest K(IC) and V(c) values were associated with Groups 1 (850 degrees C/0.5 hr) and 6 (850 degrees C/6 hr), respectively. Fracture toughness increased linearly as a function of crystal volume fraction (correlation coefficient R(2)= 0.67). The fracture toughness increased by 45% when the crystal volume fraction increased by 92%.Mean K(IC) values increased as a linear function of crystal volume fraction in a fluorcanasite-based glass-ceramic within the crystallization temperature range of 750 to 850 degrees C and at isothermal crystallization time range of 0.5 to 6 hours. The control of crystallization temperature and isothermal holding time should be optimized to generate tougher, more reliable ceramic prostheses in the shortest period of time.

The influence of crystal volume fraction on fracture toughness (K IC ) and indentation strength was analyzed for Li 2 O-Al 2 O 3 -CaO-SiO 2 (LACS) and LACS glass-ceramics containing 0.58 mmol% AgNO 3 (LACS-0.58Ag) or 0.78 mmol% AgNO 3 , (LACS-0.78Ag). The mean flexure strength, indentation strength, and K IC values of the LACS-0.78Ag groups increased with volume fraction of crystallinity. To achieve the greatest strength and K IC in LACS-Ag specimens, a high volume fraction of crystallinity (95%) had to be produced. However, the relationship between volume fraction of crystal phase and translucency had to be analyzed to determine the influence of crystallization on the potential esthetic results that are essential for dental applications. Addition of AgNO, to LACS glass produced a change from surface crystallization to bulk crystallization.

The influence of alumina content (0-15 wt% Al2O3) on the indentation strength, fracture toughness (KIc), and crystal structure of fluorcanasite (Al2O3-CaO-F-K2O-Na2O-SiO2) glass-ceramics was analyzed. Increasing the Al2O3 content from 0 wt% (CAN0) to 8 wt% (CAN8) caused the mean indentation strength and KIc values to decrease from 213 ± 14 MPa and 2.7 ± 0.1 MPa·m1/2, respectively, for the CAN0 glass-ceramic to 78 ± 16 MPa and 1.3 ± 0.2 MPa·m1/2, respectively, for the CAN8 glass-ceramic. Increased Al2O3 concentrations (0-15 wt%) significantly affected the crystal size, crystal shape, aspect ratio, and crystal aggregation characteristics of the fluorcanasite glass-ceramics. The addition of greaterthan equal to8 wt% of Al2O3 to fluorcanasite glass caused a transformation from canasite to leucite.

Introduction Epidemiological studies of rheumatic diseases have been conducted during the past 20 years in China. The aim of this study was to clarify prevalence rates of common rheumatic diseases in China. Methods Relevant reports of population-based surveys conducted from 1980 to 2006 were retrieved. Studies using the World Health Organization-International League of Associations for Rheumatology COPCORD (Community Oriented Program for Control of Rheumatic Diseases) protocol and those that did not employ this protocol but were published in recognized journals were identified and analyzed. Results Thirty-eight surveys including 241,169 adults from 25 provinces/cities were pooled for analysis. The prevalence of rheumatic complaints ranged from 11.6% to 46.4%, varying by locality, study protocol and age of the people surveyed. Prevalence of symptomatic osteoarthritis (OA) varied from 5.1% to 20.8%, with common sites of involvement being the lumbar spine, knee joint and cervical spine. Compared with rates of radiographic and symptomatic knee OA in the USA, elderly men in Beijing exhibited similar prevalence rates and elderly women exhibited a higher prevalence. The prevalence of hip OA and hand OA was much lower in Chinese than in Caucasian populations, but both kinds of OA were more common in coal miners. The prevalence of ankylosing spondylitis ranged from 0.2% to 0.54% among Han ethnic Chinese and were lower among mixed ethnic populations. The prevalence of psoriatic arthritis ranged from 0.01% to 0.1%, and that of reactive arthritis was 0.02%; undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy was identified in 0.64% to 1.2% of the individuals included in the surveys. The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) ranged from 0.2% to 0.93%, with the highest rate being reported from a Taiwan urban area. In mainland China there were no significant differences in prevalence of RA between the northern and southern parts of China, or between different ethnic groups. The prevalence of hyperuricemia increased after the 1980s. The prevalence of gout was found to have increased in recent decades from 0.15% to 1.98%, apart from in the Taiwan aborigines, among whom the highest prevalence rate of 11.7% was recorded. The prevalence of primary Sjögren's syndrome in Beijing was 0.77% by the Copenhagen criteria and 0.33% by the San Diego criteria. The prevalence of soft tissue rheumatism was 2.5% to 5.7%. Fibromyalgia was seldom observed in China. Conclusion Rheumatic diseases are common in China. The prevalence of rheumatic complaints varied with the locality surveyed. The prevalence of OA is comparable with that in Western countries but varies in terms of joint involvement. The prevalence of ankylosing spondylitis is similar to that in Caucasians. Except in Taiwan, the prevalence of RA in China is lower than that in developed countries. The prevalence of hyperuricemia and gout increased after the 1980s, but it remains lower than that in developed countries. More studies are required to evaluate prevalence rates among minority groups in the west and northwest parts of China, and further study is needed to address fibromyalgia in China.