Explore the vast range of titles available.

Context: Berberine is an active alkaloid isolated from Rhizoma coptidis [Coptis chinensis Franch. (Ranunculaceae)] that is widely used for the treatment of diabetes, hyperlipidemia and hypertension. However, the pharmacokinetics of berberine in normal rats and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) model rats are not clear.Objective: This study compares the pharmacokinetics of berberine between normal and T2DM model rats.Materials and methods: The T2DM model rats were fed with high fat diet for 4 weeks, induced by low-dose (30 mg/kg) streptozotocin for 72 h and validated by determining the peripheral blood glucose level. Rats were orally treated with berberine at a dose of 20 mg/kg and then berberine concentration in rat plasma was determined by employing a sensitive and rapid LC-MS/MS method.Results: The significantly different pharmacokinetic behaviour of berberine was observed between normal and T2DM model rats. When compared with the normal group, Cmax, t1/2 and AUC(0–t) of berberine were significantly increased in the model group (17.35 ± 3.24 vs 34.41 ± 4.25 μg/L; 3.95 ± 1.27 vs 9.29 ± 2.75 h; 151.21 ± 23.96 vs 283.81 ± 53.92 μg/h/L, respectively). In addition, oral clearance of berberine was significantly decreased in the model group (134.73 ± 32.15 vs 62.55 ± 16.34 L/h/kg).Discussion and conclusion: In T2DM model rats, the pharmacokinetic behaviour of berberine was significantly altered, which indicated that berberine dosage should be modified in T2DM patients.

This study targets key challenges in ameliorating the plow-layer soil of coastal saline soils. A field experiment under a wheat–maize rotation was established with six treatments: CK, control with no organic inputs; A1, 45 t ha−1 organic manure; A2, 45 t ha−1 organic manure + microbial inoculant; A3, 45 t ha−1 organic manure + microbial inoculant + plastic-film mulching; A4, 90 t ha−1 organic manure; and A5, 135 t ha−1 organic manure. By applying high rates of organic manure alone or in combination with microbial inoculation and mulching, we aimed to strengthen soil water–salt regulation, improve plow-layer soil quality, and ultimately promote crop growth and yield formation. We further quantified treatment-induced shifts in soil physicochemical properties and linked them to crop growth and yield responses. The results indicated that, compared with CK, plow-layer soil organic carbon increased by 45.56% and 107.91% under A3 and A4, respectively, while soil salinity decreased by 70.57% and 67.42%. All manure-based treatments increased yield relative to CK, with the highest yields achieved under A3 and A4: wheat yield reached 7628.16 and 7888.01 kg ha−1, and maize yield reached 8828.29 and 8716.01 kg ha−1, respectively. Overall, high-rate organic manure—especially when integrated with microbial inoculation and plastic mulching—substantially enhanced soil fertility while alleviating salinity stress, resulting in an integrated “fertility build-up–salinity reduction–yield enhancement” amelioration effect. This technology package offers a feasible pathway for improving coastal saline farmland and stabilizing productivity under rotation systems, with strong potential for further on-farm demonstration and wider adoption.

Bandsaw blades are typical band-shaped cutting tools that are characterized by their low stiffness and micro-level cutting depth, resulting in distinct wear mechanisms compared to rigid cutting tools. In this study, the wear curve and wear mechanisms of the bandsaw tooth during the bandsawing of Cr12MoV cold-working steel were investigated. The tool life was divided into two stages: a rapid wear stage (Stage I) and a homogeneous wear stage (Stage II). In Stage I, the wear was dominated by chipping, although multiple wear mechanisms were found due to their relatively low manufacturing accuracy compared to rigid cutting tools, which resulted in remarkable differences in the cutting depth of each tooth. In Stage II, abrasive and adhesive wear were the primary wear mechanisms instead of chipping, which was related to the microstructure of Cr12MoV. Furthermore, methods for increasing bandsaw performance were proposed, based on the tooth wear mechanisms.

To study the effect of reprocessing on the microstructure and corrosion resistance of Zr-Sn-Nb alloy, the original plates of Zr-Sn-Nb alloy were hot-rolled, cold-rolled and recrystallized to obtain the reprocessed plates. The microstructure of both plates was observed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a transmission electron microscope (TEM) and electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD). The original plates and reprocessed plates were put into a static autoclave for 300 days in 360 °C/18.6 MPa water. The relationship between the microstructure and corrosion resistance of the Zr-Sn-Nb alloy was discussed. The coarse deformation grains with twins and fine recrystallized grains were obtained, and grain sizes became smaller. The Ostwald ripening of second phase particles (SPPs) happened, and the average size of SPPs increased. Some SPPs changed from an HCP structure to an FCC structure. Reprocessing made the transition advance, which is related to the accelerated evolution of cracks in the oxide film and the increase in metal-oxide film interface roughness. The deterioration of corrosion resistance is closely related to the change of grain size, SPP size and SPP structure.

In this work, the hot deformation behavior of 30Cr4MoNiV ultra-high-strength steel is investigated by isothermal compression tests using the Gleeble-3500 thermal simulation machine (Dynamic Systems Inc., New York, NY, USA) at a temperature range of 1173–1373 K under the strain rate of 0.01–10 s−1. A constitutive equation with strain-dependent constants and processing maps suitable for 30Cr4MoNiV ultra-high-strength steel are established. The results show that the combination of the hyperbolic sine function and the Zener-Hollomon parameter can accurately represent the influences of deformation temperature, strain rate, and strain on the flow stress of the 30Cr4MoNiV ultra-high-strength steel. The applicability of plastic instability criteria such as m, m˙, S, S˙ and the instability parameter ξ are analyzed, the stability and instability regions are clarified accurately, and the optimized processing regions are given in the stability regions. The optimized regions are verified by the uniform equiaxed grains, and the plastic instability is validated by dynamic strain aging and the microstructure of the voids.

Picea asperata, a common tree species in the subalpine areas of Li County, Sichuan Province, China, is susceptible to Lophodermium piceae. Remote sensing has the advantages of large-scale, fast information acquisition, and low cost, which can overcome the shortcomings of ground survey. Hence, we used Landsat 8 satellite multi-spectral images and forest resource distribution data to investigate and analyze this forest disease at a large scale. Firstly, we extracted the spatial distribution information of Picea asperata and chose a temporal sequence indicator to establish a regression model and obtained a significantly negative correlation between the damage degree of plants and the change rate of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Accordingly, the investigation results of the disease have good consistency with the ground survey data in spatial distribution and damage degree. On this basis, a temporal regression analysis was performed by combining the remote sensing investigation results with climate variables, and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was utilized in the spatial comprehensive analysis of Lophodermium piceae with terrain, soil and forest stand factors. Conclusively, this study effectively coped with the difficulties in full investigation and analysis of Lophodermium piceae in ecologically fragile subalpine areas of Western Sichuan. It is of important reference value in the early warning and monitoring of this disease, and also provides objective and reliable information support for ecological restoration and management planning in the Wenchuan earthquake-stricken areas.

Lead-based halide perovskite semiconductors have demonstrated considerable potential in optoelectronic applications. However, the lack of high-quality crystals suitable for research has led to rare reports on CsPbF3 single crystals. Good quality CsPbF3 single crystals were successfully grown using the Bridgman method. The structure, luminescence, and electrical properties of crystals were investigated. At room temperature, the crystal structure was determined to be cubic perovskite, with a calculated bandgap of 3.68 eV. The measured emission spectrum showed one broad emission peak at approximately 400 nm. Three decay time constants were obtained from a sum of exponential functions fit to the fluorescence decay curve: 0.4 ns, 2.4 ns, and 15.0 ns for fast, middle, and slow decay times, respectively. The decay times excited by pulsed X-ray were measured to be 2.2 ns and 10.2 ns, indicating that CsPbF3 is an ultrafast scintillator. Furthermore, the electrical properties demonstrated that CsPbF3 exhibits high ion mobility, which is approximately 20 times that of electron mobility.

In this work, a new multi-component (CrFeMoNbZr)Ox system was developed. The thin films presented dual-phase amorphous structures, comprising a dominant amorphous alloy phase and a small amount of an amorphous oxide phase. The thin films showed higher hardness and better corrosion resistance than a commercial Zr-based alloy. The combined properties of high hardness and superior corrosion-resistance make the amorphous thin film a candidate for coating materials on commercial Zr-based alloys for engineering applications.

Sawing is a commonly utilized undercutting process for machining in the steel and forging industries. With the continuous improvement of modern processing requirements and increasing demands for higher sawing efficiency, accuracy, and surface quality of workpieces, bi-metal band saw blades are facing greater challenges. In addition, the development of new and difficult-to-cut materials such as nickel-based alloys, titanium alloys, and other heterogeneous alloys has presented novel challenges to band sawing technology. However, the wear of the band saw blade has become a major hindrance to the application and development of sawing processing technology for new materials, high efficiency, high precision, etc. Based on the principle of metal cutting using a band saw blade and considering the wear process of teeth, this paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the impact of cutting parameters, cutting fluid, heat treatment, and surface treatment technology on tooth wear. Additionally, measures to enhance wear resistance are summarized. Furthermore, an overview is presented regarding the latest advancements in monitoring wear for bi-metal band saw blades. Finally, the future direction of research on wear in bi-metal band saw blades is anticipated.

A novel aptamer-based sensor was developed using the signal amplification strategy of ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) and polyethyleneimine modified graphene oxide to achieve trace detection of carbendazim (CBZ). The dual identification of aptamer and antibody was used to avoid false positive results and improve the selectivity. Polyethyleneimine modified graphene oxide (GO-PEI), as a substrate material with excellent conductivity, was modified on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) to increase the grafting amount of aptamer on the electrode surface. Moreover, a large number of cyclopentenyl ferrocene (CFc) was aggregated to form long polymer chains through ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP), so as to significantly improve the detection sensitivity of the biosensor. The linear range of this sensor was 1 pg/mL–100 ng/mL with a detection limit as low as 7.80 fg/mL. The sensor exhibited excellent reproducibility and stability, and also achieved satisfactory results in actual sample detection. The design principle of such a sensor could provide innovative ideas for sensors in the detection of other types of targets. Graphical abstract