Relationships between endometritis and metabolic state during the transition period in pasture-grazed dairy cows

The primary objective of this study was to identify relationships between endometritis and metabolic state during the calving transition and early lactation periods. A subset of mixed age and breed dairy cows (n = 78) from a seasonal, pasture-grazed herd of 389 cows was examined. The selected cows were grouped as having endometritis at d 42 postpartum or being unaffected by endometritis. Endometritis was defined as >6% (upper quartile) of uterine nucleated cells being polymorphonuclear cells (H-PMN; n = 38); unaffected by endometritis was defined as ≤1% of nucleated cells being polymorphonuclear (L-PMN; n = 40). Milk yield was determined at each milking, and milk composition (fat and protein) was determined at 2-wk intervals. Blood samples collected on d −14, 0 (d of calving), 4, 7, 14, 28, and 42 were analyzed for indicators of energy status (nonesterified fatty acids, glucose, and urea), liver function (albumin, globulin, glutamate dehydrogenase, and aspartate aminotransferase), inflammation (haptoglobin), and mineral status (Ca and Mg). Samples collected weekly from d 21 to 63 or 70 were analyzed for progesterone content. The postpartum anovulatory interval was defined to end on the first day postpartum that plasma progesterone concentration was ≥1 ng/mL. A greater percentage of H-PMN cows failed to ovulate before d 63 or 70 (34%) compared with L-PMN cows (10%), although the proportions of cows ovulating within either polymorphonuclear group was similar through d 56 postpartum. Plasma concentrations of albumin and the albumin:globulin ratio were consistently lower in H-PMN cows. Plasma Mg was lower, whereas glutamate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase were higher, in H-PMN cows during early lactation compared with L-PMN cows. Circulating metabolites indicative of energy status (nonesterified fatty acids, glucose, and urea) were not different between polymorphonuclear groups. Among 3- to 5-yr-old cows, daily milk yield for the first 42 d after calving was lower for H-PMN cows than for L-PMN cows. Among cows >5 yr old, protein percentage was lower in H-PMN cows compared with L-PMN cows. In summary, endometritis at 42 d postpartum in the herd studied was associated with an increased likelihood of remaining anovulatory. These cows had lower albumin concentrations throughout the calving transition period, perhaps indicating impaired liver function, with lower plasma Mg and evidence of hepatocellular damage in early lactation. Similar profiles of nonesterified fatty acids and glucose indicated that energy status was not a risk factor for endometritis.     

聚丙烯酰胺凝胶法制备Li2O-Al2O3-SiO2微晶玻璃超微粉

以丙烯酰胺、N,N′-亚甲基双丙烯酰胺、碳酸锂、硝酸铝和正硅酸乙酯为原料,首次采用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶法成功地制备出多组分氧化物Li2O-Al2O3-SiO2(LAS)微晶玻璃超微粉末。用TG-DTA,IR,XRD,TEM对热处理产物进行了表征。实验表明：热处理温度在800～1000℃时,LAS凝胶粉以六方晶系的β-石英固溶体结构析出;热处理温度在1100℃时,β-石英固溶体开始转变成稳定的四方晶系β-锂辉石固溶体,到1200℃时已经完全转变为β-锂辉石固溶体。900～1100℃热处理后所获得的LAS粉末晶粒大小为30～50 nm。与传统方法相比,聚丙烯酰胺凝胶法是一种在低温下廉价地快速制备多组分氧化物微晶玻璃超微粉末的理想方法。     

Detrended fluctuation analysis of intracranial pressure predicts outcome following traumatic brain injury

Detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) is a recently developed technique suitable for describing scaling behavior of variability in physiological signals. The purpose of this study is to explore applicability of DFA methods to intracranial pressure (ICP) signals recorded in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). In addition to establishing the degree of fit of the power-law scaling model of detrended fluctuations of ICP in TBI patients, we also examined the relationship of DFA coefficients (scaling exponent and intercept) to: 1) measures of initial neurological functioning; 2) measures of functional outcome at six month follow-up; and 3) measures of outcome, controlling for patient characteristics, and initial neurological status. In a sample of 147 moderate-to-severely injured TBI patients, we found that a higher DFA scaling exponent is significantly associated with poorer initial neurological functioning, and that lower DFA intercept and higher DFA scaling exponent jointly predict poorer functional outcome at six month follow-up, even after statistical control for covariates reflecting initial neurological condition. DFA describes properties of ICP signal in TBI patients that are associated with both initial neurological condition and outcome at six months postinjury.      

Influence of variable milk quality premiums on observed milk quality

The objective of this study was to evaluate a premium program for very high quality milk in a US cooperative. Data were available on a monthly basis from a large US milk cooperative from April 1998 through December 2005. The data set consisted of 36,930 observations representing producer-months. The actual amount of the low bulk tank somatic cell count (BTSCC) premium varied from $0.15 per hundred pounds (cwt.) of milk to $1.00/cwt. with steps in between of $0.50 and $0.60 per cwt. of milk during the data collection period. Data analysis was done to evaluate the impact of the premium program on average BTSCC and on the probability of a producer to ship milk with <100,000 cells/mL in a given month. The results showed a strong effect of the premium program on both the average BTSCC and the probability of producing milk with very low BTSCC. On average, the BTSCC of all the milk in the cooperative was reduced by 22,000 cells during the high premium period. The probability of producing milk with BTSCC <100,000 doubled during some months of the high premium period from 4 to 8%, and an associated 10% increase in probability to produce milk below 200,000 cells/mL was observed. The data clearly indicate that premium offerings for very high quality milk affect the overall milk quality in the population affected by the premium. Producers responded to the high premiums and the overall impact on milk quality was substantial. We argue that the combination of a penalty program for high BTSCC milk with a premium program for very high quality milk (low BTSCC) provides a strong incentive for improvement of milk quality.     

Influence of cross-linking functionality on the nonlinear optical properties of poled and cross-linked polymer films

We investigate the two potentially competing processes of molecular orientation and network formation in a functionalized guest-host system. We examine a pair of similar guest molecules, one difunctional, the other tetrafunctional. Using second-harmonic-generation data, we determine the average molecular orientation in each sample. At low concentrations of the guest molecules, the molecular orientation is well described by the oriented gas model. However, at concentrations high enough to permit the formation of a long-range network, the molecular orientation of the tetrafunctional molecules is seen to be compromised. This is in contrast with samples containing the difunctional molecules, which show no reduction in the induced orientation. However, the induced orientation is seen to relax more quickly in samples containing difunctional units than in those containing tetrafunctional units. Hence it would appear that increased stability in molecular orientation is achieved at the expense of the degree to which the molecules can be oriented.     

聚丙烯接枝衣康酸增容PA6／PP共混物性能及形态研究

采用反应型双螺杆挤出机和熔融接枝技术制备了一系列聚丙烯（PP）接枝物，包括单一单体接枝物PP接枝衣康酸（PP-g-ITA）和双单体接枝物PP接枝ITA和苯乙烯[PP-g-（ITA-co-St）]，通过红外光谱和热分析研究了PP接枝物的结构，并研究了PP接枝物的接枝率和熔体流动速率与单体和引发剂用量的关系。通过反应挤出制备了PP接枝物增容PA6／PP共混物，研究了增容共混物的力学性能和形态结构。结果显示：加入接枝物后，共混体系的冲击强度明显提高；SEM观察表明，接枝物的加入能明显改善增容共混物的两相界面结合状况，降低共混物的分散相尺寸，改善体系的分散状况，共混物的两相界面变得模糊，相容性得到明显提高；DSC测试表明，加入接枝物后，共混物中PA6组分的结晶度下降，PP组合的结晶度上升。表明PP-g-ITA是PA6／PP共混体系有效的增容剂兼增韧剂。     

PBA—OMMT／P（MMA—ITA）纳米复合材料的制备与表征

本文采用原位乳液聚合方法制备了聚丙烯酸丁酯一有机蒙脱土／聚（甲基丙烯酸甲酯-衣康酸）（PBA—OMMT／P（MMA-1TA）纳米复合材料。利用X-射线衍射仪（XRD）、差示扫描量热仪（DSC）、傅立叶变换红外光谱（FT-IR）和热重分析（TGA）对复合材料进行了表征。结果表明：单体已插层进人有机蒙脱土层间发生聚合反应,使有机蒙脱土片层间距由原来的0．59nm增加到0．88nm以上,且有机蒙脱土的加入能够显著提高纳米复合材料的玻璃化转变温度（Tg）和热稳定性能。     

The effect of depositional history on contaminated bed sediment stability

Experiments were conducted in an annular flume using a commercially available kaolinite clay as well as contaminated bed sediment from Hamilton Harbour (Ontario) to assess their stability against erosion. Critical shear stress for erosion was measured under different conditions of bed formation (quiescently deposited beds and shear deposited beds) as well as with and without the presence of a biostabilized bed. Results suggest that a biostabilized bed and a bed formed under a flowing condition, similar to a river scenario, will be more resistant against erosion than will a non-biostabilized bed and a bed formed under quiescent conditions. Up to three cycles of erosion and flocculation/deposition were observed to occur within one experiment. These results suggest that the depositional history and biostabilization of river bed sediments need to be seriously considered within sediment and contaminant transport models if meaningful estimates of sediment and contaminant source, fate and effect are to be generated and used for the management of our aquatic ecosystems.     

地震区填土地基的特殊问题与解决方法

本文详细讨论了震区软土土填上，当岩体运动增大产生液化时，在结构方面的减震设计和软土地基处理与基础支撑方面的问题及现有填土与结构物的抗震理论。概括了震时地基加强的表现，以实例分析了震区软土地基的几个特性。     

高温氧化对钛合金微弧氧化陶瓷膜组成与结构的影响

针对钛合金不耐高温氧化的问题,在铝酸钠电解液体系中,利用双相脉冲直流微弧氧化技术,在TC4钛合金表面原位生长以Al2TiO5为主晶相的复合氧化物陶瓷膜,研究了1000℃高温氧化对陶瓷膜试样的相组成、结构的影响及膜层增重特点.研究表明,陶瓷膜层试样的高温氧化过程包括Al2TiO5分解、基体氧化和膜层表面形貌变化3个方面.高温氧化后,膜层的主晶相由Al2TiO5变为α-Al2O3和金红石型TiO2,同时,膜层的表面形貌发生显著的变化;由于膜层和基体的热膨胀系数不同和基体钛的氧化,使得高温氧化后膜层在冷却过程中表面出现裂纹和脱壳.陶瓷膜层极大地减少了TC4钛合金在1000℃高温氧化时的增重,因此,陶瓷膜层可用于TC4钛合金的恒温氧化防护.