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The spindle is the key working part of the horizontal cotton picker, and the wear resistance of its surface directly affects the service life of the spindle. Improving the surface performance of the spindle is fundamental for improving the performance of cotton pickers. To enhance the wear resistance of the spindle surface, this study used the physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique to prepare TiN coating on the spindle substrate surface of the cotton-picking machine to improve the spindle surface rather than the original electroplated chromium coating. The microscopic morphology of the spindle was analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), the mechanical and frictional properties of the spindle were tested by a nanoindentation tester and a friction wear tester, and the morphology of the worn spindle was observed by a portable microscope and a 3D surface profiler. The test results indicated that after the PVD treatment, the surface hardness of the spindle was about 2.5 times that of the electroplated chromium spindle, and the H/E value was 2.2 times that of the electroplated chromium spindle. PVD-TiN spindle showed better mechanical properties. In the friction test, under the same conditions, the wear rate of the PVD-TiN spindle was less than that of the chrome plating spindle. In a field test of 100 hm2, the average wear area of the second tooth tip surface of the electroplated chromium spindle was about 2.17 times that of the PVD-TiN spindle. It was verified that the PVD-TiN spindle surface had better wear resistance than the electroplated chromium spindle. This study has certain research significance for the performance optimization of cotton pickers. Also, it is indicated that PVD-TiN coating can effectively improve the wear resistance of the spindle surface and provides a new method for enhancing the service life of the spindle.

BACKGROUND Time in range (TIR), as a novel metric for glycemic control, has robust relevance with diabetic complications. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is characterized by sudomotor dysfunction. AIM To explore the relationship between TIR obtained from continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and sudomotor function detected by SUDOSCAN in subjects with type 2 diabetes. METHODS The research enrolled 466 inpatients with type 2 diabetes. All subjects underwent 3-d CGM and SUDOSCAN. SUDOSCAN was assessed with electrochemical skin conductance in hands (HESC) and feet (FESC). Average feet ESC < 60 µS was defined as sudomotor dysfunction (+), otherwise it was sudomotor dysfunction (-). TIR refers to the percentage of time when blood glucose is between 3.9-10 mmol/L during 1 d period. RESULTS Among the enrolled subjects, 135 (28.97%) presented with sudomotor dysfunction. Patients with sudomotor dysfunction (+) showed a decreased level of TIR (P < 0.001). Compared to the lowest tertile of TIR, the middle and the highest tertiles of TIR was associated with an obviously lower prevalence of sudomotor dysfunction (20.51% and 21.94% vs 44.52%) (P < 0.001). In addition, with the increase of TIR, HESC and FESC increased (P < 0.001). Regression analysis demonstrated that TIR was inversely and independently linked with the prevalence of sudomotor dysfunction after adjusting for confounding values (odds ratio = 0.979, 95%CI: 0.971-0.987, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION The tight glycemic control assessed by TIR is of vitally protective value for sudomotor dysfunction in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background and aims:To explore the relationship between serum cystatin C and sudomotor function produced by the SUDOSCAN in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods:The research incorporated 917 Chinese individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus from May 2017 to May 2019. All patients underwent SUDOSCAN and examined cystatin C. SUDOSCAN was evaluated with electrochemical skin conductance in hands (HESC) and feet (FESC), asymmetry ratio in hands (HASYM) and feet (FASYM). Average FESC Results:The total prevalence of sudomotor dysfunction was 13.74%. Patients with sudomotor dysfunction had a higher level of cystatin C (PPr=-0.143, Pr=-0.178, Pr=0.169, Pr=0.174, PB=-14.657, PB=-10.015, P=0.022) levels after controlling for potential confounders. Conclusions:Serum cystatin C is inversely linked with sudomotor function detected by SUDOSCAN in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective. The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between time in range (TIR), a new metric of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods. A total of 349 individuals with T2DM were enrolled in this study. Evaluating by the standard cardiac autonomic reflex tests (CARTs), there were 228 diabetic individuals without cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (without confirmed CAN) including absent CAN (n=83 cases) and early CAN (n=145 cases) and 121 diabetic individuals complicated with cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) including definite CAN (n=109 cases) and severe CAN (n=12 cases). All patients underwent 3-day CGM. TIR is defined as the time percent during a 24-hour period when the glucose is in the range of 3.9-10 mmol/L. The Spearman analysis was used to analyze the correlation between TIR and CART parameters, total CAN score. The logistic regression was applied to analyze the relationship between TIR and CAN by adjusting for the age, duration of diabetes, sex, lipid situation, serum creatinine, body mass index, blood pressure, HbA1c (%), and other glycemic variability (GV) metrics. Results. The total presence of CAN was 34.67% (definite CAN 31.23% and severe CAN 3.44%). Patients with more severe CAN had lower TIR (P<0.001). With increasing quartiles of TIR, the presence of CAN by severity declined (P<0.05). TIR is inversely correlated with total score of CAN (P<0.001) and positively associated with heart rate variation during the lying to standing, Valsalva maneuver, and deep breathing (P<0.05). The logistic regression found a robust association between TIR and CAN independent of HbA1c and GV metrics. Conclusion. TIR is associated with the presence of CAN independent of HbA1c and GV metrics in Chinese type 2 diabetes.

Due to the natural non-volatility and distinctive plasticity, memristors are considered as ideal devices to mimic biological synapses. In this study, an autapse which is implemented with a locally active memristor, is introduced into Fitzhugh–Nagumo neuron and thus a new neuron model is established. The local stability of the neuron model with and without time delay is analyzed, respectively. Four coexisting firing patterns, including chaotic spiking, periodic spiking, periodic bursting and chaotic bursting, dependent on the memristor initial values, are explored. We find that the neuron has four regular attraction basins and its firing pattern can be regulated by choosing appropriate initial values. The time delay has an important effect on firing activities and the neuron model transits from periodic spiking, to chaotic bursting, and then to chaotic spiking with the increase of the time delay. Furthermore, the influence of the autaptic intensity on firing activities of the neuron is also revealed. In order to verify the complex firing activities, a neuron circuit is constructed and circuit simulations are performed.