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Let H denote the quaternion algebra. This paper investigates the generalized complementary covariance, which is the ϕ -Hermitian quaternion matrix. We give the properties of the generalized complementary covariance matrices. In addition, we explore the unitary diagonalization of the covariance and generalized complementary covariance. Moreover, we give the generalized quaternion unitary transform algorithm and test the performance by numerical simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was conducted to study effect of mixed proportion silage of corn straw and Broussonetia papyrifera on fermentation quality of silage. Using corn straw and Broussonetia papyrifera as raw materials, the silage was divided into seven groups, with four replicates in each group, and 200 g in each replicate. No addition of B. papyrifera (group C), 9: 1 (group C9P1), 8 : 2 (group C8P2), 7 : 3 (group C7P3), 5 : 5 (group C5P5), 3 : 7 (group C3P7), and no addition of corn straw (group P). After 45 d of silage, samples were taken to analyze the silage quality and nutritional components. The results showed that mixed with B. papyrifera could improve the dry matter, water soluble carbohydrates content, buffering capacity and fermentation coefficient of the original materials. Compared with group P, pH value, acetic acid, butyric acid, dry matter and crude protein content of group C3P7, group C5P5, group C7P.3, group C8P2, C9P1 group and group C were significantly decreased (P<0.05), sensory score, lactic acid content, lactic acid/acetic acid and Fleig score were significantly increased (P<0.05). The sensory scores of group C and group C9P1 were excellent, while those of group C8P2 and group C7P3 were good. There was no significant difference in ammonia nitrogen/total nitrogen and Fleig score between group C, group C9P1 and group C8P2 (P>0.05), and butyric acid was not detected in above groups. There was no significant difference in dry matter content among group C, group C9P1, group C8P2 and group C7P.3 (P>0.05), and no significant difference in crude protein content between group C8P2 and group C7P.3 (P>0.05). The experiment indicates that considering the fermentation quality and nutrient content, 8 : 2 mixing proportion of corn stalk and B. papyrifera is optimal for silage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Environmental hypoxia exposure causes fertility problems in human and animals. Compelling evidence suggests that chronic hypoxia impairs spermatogenesis and reduces sperm motility. However, it is unclear whether paternal hypoxic exposure affects fertilization and early embryo development. In the present study, we exposed male mice to high altitude (3200 m above sea level) for 7 or 60 days to evaluate the effects of hypoxia on sperm quality, zygotic DNA methylation and blastocyst formation. Compared with age-matched controls, hypoxia-treated males exhibited reduced fertility after mating with normoxic females as a result of defects in sperm motility and function. Results of in vitro fertilization (IVF) experiments revealed that 60 days' exposure significantly reduced cleavage and blastocyst rates by 30% and 70%, respectively. Immunohistochemical staining of pronuclear formation indicated that the pronuclear formation process was disturbed and expression of imprinted genes was reduced in early embryos after paternal hypoxia. Overall, the findings of this study suggested that exposing male mice to hypoxia impaired sperm function and affected key events during early embryo development in mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

0.65CaTiO3–0.35LaAlO3 (CTLA) ceramic powder was synthesized by polymeric precursor method, using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as a complexing agent and glycol (EG) as an esterifying agent in complexing reaction. The process principle of polymer precursor method was analyzed and the effect of reaction conditions on polymer stability was studied. The results show that single CTLA with perovskite structure was synthesized when EDTA:metal-ion mole of ratio 1:1, EDTA:EG mole of ratio 1:2, and precursor solution pH was 6. Synthesis temperature reduced from 1200 °C of traditional solid-state reaction method to 700 °C, and the particle size of the powder is between 30 and 70 nm. Using the powder calcined at 950 °C as raw materials, the as-obtained CTLA ceramics were prepared sintered at 1325 °C for 3 h exhibited optimal microwave dielectric properties as εr = 41.8, Q × f = 34,151 GHz, and τf = − 5.8 × 10− 6/°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]