Assessment of different diagnostic methods for the identification of subclinical endometritis in dairy cows with pathological puerperium and their reliability to conceive

The aim of study was to evaluate different methods for subclinical endometritis (SCE) diagnoses and their accuracy to predict pregnancy. The study was performed on 51 postpartum cross breed dairy cows with pathological puerperium. Artificial insemination (AI) was done in spontaneous estrus. Endometrium samples were taken by cytotape (CT), cervical mucus (CM) samples by Metricheck and smears for crystallization degree were obtained at AI day. Blood serum samples for progesterone (P4) concentration determination were taken at AI day and 17 days later. Cows were examined by ultrasound 35 days after AI to confirm pregnancy. Percent (%) of polymorphnuclear leukocytes (PMNs) taken by CT were expressed by ROC curve (with cut-off point set at 1%). Out of the total of 51 cows involved in the study, 13.73% true positive and 41.17% true negative cows were found (54.90%). The content of CM sampled with Metricheck was altered in 11 cows (21.57%), and one of them was pregnant (1.96%). An average macroscopic CM value for pregnant cows was 0.06±0.24 vs. 0.39±0.79 for non-pregnant (p<0.05). An average value of CM crystallization in pregnant cows was 2.50±1.04 vs. 1.85±1.15 in non-pregnant (p<0.05). P4 concentration was not statistically different at AI day, but was statistically significantly higher 17 days later in pregnant cows (p = 0.002). CT alterations may be a reliable diagnostic tool for SCE diagnosis, while macroscopic CM alterations may be used for CE detection. P4 determination is beneficial in pregnancy diagnosis while CM crystallization degree is helpful in determination of best time for AI.

Effect of crystallization degree on optical characteristics of NB2O5 by sol–gel process

In this study, Nb2O5 was prepared by the sol–gel method. Crystallization process was investigated by thermal analysis (TG–DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–vis spectra and Raman spectra. TG–DSC results indicated that amorphous Nb2O5 appeared at 460[Formula: see text]C. XRD results indicated that amorphous Nb2O5 transformed into pseudo-hexagonal phase and crystallization degree has an increasing trend with an increase of temperature. UV–vis and Raman spectra results reflected the significant variations of optical property and atomic structure in this process. Nb2O5 atomic arrangement transforms from short-range order to medium-range order, then to long-range order. Atoms transform into long-range ordered structure through connection of structural units with increasing temperature. Additionally, crystallization degree, optical property and atomic arrangement all are mutually connected in the crystallization process.

Preparation of xLi2MnO3·(1-x)(LiMn1/3Co1/3Ni1/3)O2 cathode material and its electrochemical properties for Li-ion batteries

The layered xLi2MnO3·(1-x)(LiMn1/3Co1/3Ni1/3)O2 (x = 0.15, 0.3, 0.45) as cathode materials in Li-ion batteries were prepared by co-precipitation of hydroxides. The effects of sintering duration, chemical composition and temperature on the structure and electrochemical performance were studied. The results show that the 0.3Li2MnO3·0.7(LiMn1/3Co1/3Ni1/3)O2 material prepared at 800 °C for 20 h has higher crystallization degree and better electrochemical performance. The charge capacity in the first circle was 359.8 mAh·g-1, the discharge capacity was 240.3 mAh·g-1, the discharge efficiency was 66.8% and the capacity retention was also 97.6% after 20 cycles.

Study of Deep-Ocean Ferromanganese Crusts Ore Components

A complex layer-by-layer morphology and phase analysis of a ferromanganese crust aged about 70 million years, extracted from the rise of the Magellan Mountains of the Pacific Ocean, was carried out using several physics methods: digital optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with high resolution, X-ray fluorescence and diffraction analysis and Mossbauer spectroscopy. This analysis showed that the crust is an association of several minerals with various dispersion and crystallization degree, between which fossilized bacterial mats with Fe- and Mn- oxides are located. These phenomena indicate the biogenic nature of the crust. Changes in the crusts phase composition from the lower layer to the upper layer indicate changes in the external environmental conditions during their formation.

Synthesis of Modifiers in the System Cao-Sio2-H2O and their Influence on the Non-Autoclave Silicate Materials’ Properties Using Aluminosilicate Binder

Improving the hydration hardening building materials’ operational properties is possible due to the stable macro-, micro-and nanostructures’ creation by the cementing material crystalline aggregate directed modification, which can be achieved through the use of various additives acting as crystallization centers. In the course of the studies, the synthesized modifier effect nature represented by the system was revealed CaO-SiO2-H2O (CSH) on the properties of non-autoclave silicate materials using aluminosilicate binder of various compositions. It has been established that the use of an aluminosilicate binder together with the addition of a CSH modifier increases the presence of a crystalline phase at all stages of hardening, as well as intensifies the synthesis of low-basic calcium hydro silicates with a higher crystallization degree in the system CaO-SiO2(Al2O3)-H2O represented by lime and clay rocks. This contributes to the micro-reinforced crystalline framework formation of the neoplasms with increased strength. Due to this, the pore space decreases and the amount of synthesized crystalline substance increases, which helps to increase the water resistance of the samples in all compositions. The samples using an aluminosilicate binder and the addition of a CSH modifier achieve maximum strength with a CaO content of not more than 10 wt. % The optimal CSH modifier addition is up to 1.5 wt. %, with 7 wt. %, CaO content in a mixture increase in strength is up to 6%.

Effect of morphology and temperature treatment control on the photocatalytic and photoluminescence properties of SrWO4 crystals

This work reports the combined effect of the morphology and crystallization degree of the strontium tungstate (SrWO4) scheelite structure on its photocatalytic and photoluminescence properties.

Efficient Autoclaved Silicate Concretes with the Use of Steelmaking Slag

The article presents the findings of the research concerning the usage of slowly cooled crystallized steelmaking slags, taken from slag disposal area, in the raw mix for autoclaved silicate materials. By means of dry milling and with the use of this slag the slag-containing binders of various compositions and basicity were prepared. The application of steelmaking slags in the raw mix allows intensifying the process of new formations synthesis and increasing the amount and crystallization degree of low-basic calcium silicate hydrates of the tobermorite group, which provides more than twofold increase of strength characteristics of the obtained materials as compared to the control sample.

Spark Plasma Sintering and Characterization of Mixed h-BN Powders with Different Grain Sizes

Mixtures of two grades of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) powder differing in their grain size and crystallinity were spark plasma sintering in a vacuum. The influences of the mixing ratio of h-BN powders on the densification, microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated in detail. The results show that the smaller grain size, the lower crystallization degree and the higher density and mechanical properties. While the orientation degree of flake h-BN grains can be greatly enhanced by using h-BN powder with larger particle size. As the increasing of nanometer h-BN powder adding amount, the relative density has the same “V” shape changing trends with mechanical properties. In addition, the orientation of boron nitride grains varied widely, and a nearly isotropic material was prepared from a mixture containing 90wt.% nanometer powder.