Vitamin D Is Required for IFN- -Mediated Antimicrobial Activity of Human Macrophages

Fabri, M.,Stenger, S.,Shin, D.-M.,Yuk, J.-M.,Liu, P. T.,Realegeno, S.,Lee, H.-M.,Krutzik, S. R.,Schenk, M.,Sieling, P. A.,Teles, R.,Montoya, D.,Iyer, S. S.,Bruns, H.,Lewinsohn, D. M.,Hollis, B. W.,Hew American Association for the Advancement of Scienc 2011 Science translational medicine Vol.3 No.104

<P>Control of tuberculosis worldwide depends on our understanding of human immune mechanisms, which combat the infection. Acquired T cell responses are critical for host defense against microbial pathogens, yet the mechanisms by which they act in humans remain unclear. We report that T cells, by the release of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), induce autophagy, phagosomal maturation, the production of antimicrobial peptides such as cathelicidin, and antimicrobial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in human macrophages via a vitamin D-dependent pathway. IFN-γ induced the antimicrobial pathway in human macrophages cultured in vitamin D-sufficient sera, but not in sera from African-Americans that have lower amounts of vitamin D and who are more susceptible to tuberculosis. In vitro supplementation of vitamin D-deficient serum with 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 restored IFN-γ-induced antimicrobial peptide expression, autophagy, phagosome-lysosome fusion, and antimicrobial activity. These results suggest a mechanism in which vitamin D is required for acquired immunity to overcome the ability of intracellular pathogens to evade macrophage-mediated antimicrobial responses. The present findings underscore the importance of adequate amounts of vitamin D in all human populations for sustaining both innate and acquired immunity against infection.</P>

Tailoring the defects and carrier density for beyond 10% efficient CZTSe thin film solar cells

Li, J.,Kim, S.,Nam, D.,Liu, X.,Kim, J.,Cheong, H.,Liu, W.,Li, H.,Sun, Y.,Zhang, Y. North-Holland ; Elsevier Science Ltd 2017 Solar energy materials and solar cells Vol.159 No.-

The defects states and carrier density of CZTSe absorber layers are two of the crucial factors that decide the photovoltaic performance of CZTSe thin film solar cells. Fine tailoring the defects and carrier density is a key to push the power conversion efficiency of CZTSe solar cells to a more competitive level. In this work, the phase properties, defect states, and carrier density of CZTSe thin film are well controlled by fine tuning the ratio of Zn/Sn in the range from 0.75 to 1.27. Capacity-Voltage measurements and Admittance Spectroscopy are used to characterize the carrier density, depletion region width, and defect states of the CZTSe solar cells. The results indicate that the defects states and carrier density of CZTSe layer are very sensitive to the ratio of Zn/Sn. Combining experimental results and numerical simulation, the statistic regularities of the photovoltaic parameters of the CZTSe solar cells with different ratios of Zn/Sn is well explained. The increase of V<SUB>OC</SUB> of CZTSe solar cells with the ratio of Zn/Sn is related to both the increased carrier density and the decreased deep level defects states. The decline of J<SUB>SC</SUB> of the Zn-rich solar cells is caused by both the shrunken depletion region width and a large barrier caused by ZnSe phase. This barrier is the cause for a low fill factor in the Zn-rich solar cells. Overall, the CZTSe solar cells with a stoichiometric ratio of Zn/Sn=1.02 have favorable defects property and carrier density, thus resulting in the highest photovoltaic efficiency of 10.21%.

Enhanced energy storage properties in PbZrO3 thin films via the incorporation of NiO

Wang X.W.,Chen J.Y.,Hu S.Y.,Yu K.X.,Yang F.,Shi Y.J.,Li J.H.,Hou M.Z.,Liu A.D.,Zheng M.M.,Yin S.Q.,Hu Y.C.,Shang J. 한국물리학회 2023 Current Applied Physics Vol.52 No.-

In this study, NiO–PbZrO3 composite films were deposited on SiO2/Si substrates buffered with LaNiO3 films via the sol-gel coating technique. The effects of NiO addition in PZO thin films on the microstructure, dielectric properties, leakage mechanism, ferroelectric properties and energy storage properties have been discussed. The dielectric constant increased with the addition of NiO, while the leakage current density decreased. Compared with pure PZO films, the maximum polarization of the composite films was improved. For the composite films prepared using the NiO precursor solution with 0.05 mol/L, the recoverable energy storage density of the NiO-PZO composite film is up to 19.6 J/cm3 under the electric field of 1038 kV/cm, which is 30% higher than that of the pure PZO film under the same conditions. Also, the energy storage efficiency of the composite film reaches 48%. Accordingly, we demonstrate a simple and convenient method by adding NiO to fabricate thin films with high energy storage performance.

Dietary plant extracts modulate gene expression profiles in ileal mucosa of weaned pigs after an <i>Escherichia coli</i> infection

Liu, Y.,Song, M.,Che, T. M.,Lee, J. J.,Bravo, D.,Maddox, C. W.,Pettigrew, J. E. American Society of Animal Science 2014 Journal of Animal Science Vol.92 No.5

<P>This study was conducted to characterize the effects of infection with a pathogenic F-18 <I>Escherichia coli</I> and 3 different plant extracts on gene expression of ileal mucosa in weaned pigs. Weaned pigs (total = 64, 6.3 ± 0.2 kg BW, and 21-d old) were housed in individual pens for 15 d, 4 d before and 11 d after the first inoculation (d 0). Treatments were in a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement: with or without an F-18 <I>E. coli</I> challenge and 4 diets (a nursery basal, control diet [CON], 10 ppm of capsicum oleoresin [CAP], garlic botanical [GAR], or turmeric oleoresin [TUR]). Results reported elsewhere showed that the plant extracts reduced diarrhea in challenged pigs. Total RNA (4 pigs/treatment) was extracted from ileal mucosa of pigs at d 5 post inoculation. Double-stranded cDNA was amplified, labeled, and further hybridized to the microarray, and data were analyzed in R. Differential gene expression was tested by fitting a mixed linear model in a 2 × 4 factorial ANOVA. Bioinformatics analysis was conducted by DAVID Bioinformatics Resources 6.7 (<B>DAVID;</B> National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases <B>[</B>NIAID, NIH<B>],</B> http://david.abcc.ncifcrf.gov). The <I>E. coli</I> infection altered (<I>P</I> < 0.05) the expression of 240 genes in pigs fed the CON (148 up- and 92 down-regulated). Compared with the infected CON, feeding CAP, GAR, or TUR altered (<I>P</I> < 0.05) the expression of 52 genes (18 up, 34 down), 117 genes (34 up- and 83 down-regulated), or 84 genes (16 up- and 68 down-regulated), respectively, often counteracting the effects of <I>E. coli</I>. The <I>E. coli</I> infection up-regulated (<I>P</I> < 0.05) the expression of genes related to the activation of immune response and complement and coagulation cascades, but down-regulated (<I>P</I> < 0.05) the expression of genes involved in protein synthesis and accumulation. Compared with the CON, feeding CAP and GAR increased (<I>P</I> < 0.05) the expression of genes related to integrity of membranes in infected pigs, indicating enhanced gut mucosa health. Moreover, feeding all 3 plant extracts reduced (<I>P</I> < 0.05) the expression of genes associated with antigen presentation or other biological processes of immune responses, indicating they attenuated overstimulation of immune responses caused by <I>E. coli</I>. These findings may explain why diarrhea was reduced and clinical immune responses were ameliorated in infected pigs fed plant extracts. In conclusion, plant extracts altered the expression of genes in ileal mucosa of <I>E. coli</I>-infected pigs, perhaps leading to the reduction in diarrhea reported previously.</P>

Effects of stale maize on growth performance, immunity, intestinal morphology and antioxidant capacity in broilers

Liu, J.B.,Yan, H.L.,Zhang, Y.,Hu, Y.D.,Zhang, H.F. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2020 Animal Bioscience Vol.33 No.4

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the effects of stale maize on growth performance, immunity, intestinal morphology, and antioxidant capacity in broilers. Methods: A total of 800 one-day-old male Arbor Acres broilers (45.4±0.5 g) were blocked based on body weight, and then allocated randomly to 2 treatments with 20 cages per treatment and 20 broilers per cage in this 6-week experiment. Dietary treatments included a basal diet and diets with 100% of control maize replaced by stale maize. Results: The content of fat acidity value was higher (p<0.05) while the starch, activities of catalase and peroxidase were lower (p<0.05) than the control maize. Feeding stale maize diets reduced (p<0.05) average daily feed intake (ADFI) throughout the experiment, feed conversion ratio (FCR) during d 0 to 21 and the whole experiment as well as relative weight of liver, spleen, bursa of Fabricius and thymus (p<0.05) on d 21. Feeding stale maize diets decreased jejunum villus height (VH) and VH/crypt depth (CD) (p<0.05) on d 21 and 42 as well as ileum VH/CD on d 42. The levels of immunoglobulin G, acid α-naphthylacetate esterase positive ratios and lymphocyte proliferation on d 21 and 42 as well as lysozyme activity and avian influenza antibody H₅N₁ titer on d 21 decreased (p<0.05) by the stale maize. Feeding stale maize diets reduced (p<0.05) serum interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-2 on d 21 and interleukin-6 on d 21 and 42. Broilers fed stale maize diets had lower levels of (p<0.05) total antioxidative capacity on d 42, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase on d 21 and 42, but higher (p<0.05) levels of malondialdehyde on d 21 and 42. Conclusion: Feeding 100% stale maize decreased ADFI and FCR, caused adverse effects on immunity and antioxidant function and altered intestinal morphology in broilers.

Effects of oral administration of various essential oils on blood metabolites, intestine development, microbial enumeration and meat quality in broilers

Liu, S.D.,Song, M.H.,Yun, W.,Lee, J.H.,Lee, C.H.,Kwak, W.G.,Oh, H.J.,Kim, H.B.,Cho, J.H. Agricultural Research Communication Centre 2019 Indian Journal of Animal Research Vol.53 No.-

<P>A total of eighty 21-day-olds (1.1±0.01kg) ROSS 308 broilers were randomly allocated into 4 groups, with 20 replicates per group and 1 chicken per replicate per cage. Three experimental groups (CAR, THY, ORE group) were given oral administration of 200ìL essential oils (carvacrol, thyme and oregano) at 18:00h every day. The results showed no significant differences on blood metabolites among each group (P>0.05). The villus height of the small intestines in the CAR group increased significantly (P less than 0.05) from 1360.10 to 1552.54ìm as compared to the control group, the goblet cell counts in the THY and ORE groups significantly increased by 20.91% (P less than 0.05) and 31.82% (P less than 0.05), respectively, compared to the control group. The E.coli and Salmonella in ORE group significantly decreased by 11.16% (P less than 0.05) and 9.54% (P less than 0.05), respectively, compared to the control group. The Redness (a*) values of the muscles of the CAR and ORE groups were observed to increase significantly (P less than 0.05) from 3.58 to 7.95 and 6.86, respectively, compared to the control group. In conclusion, oral administration of the essential oils carvacrol, thyme, and oregano promoted intestinal development, improved the intestinal environment and the meat quality of broilers.</P>

The Memory-Ameliorating Effects of Artemisia princeps var. orientalis Against Cholinergic Dysfunction in Mice

Liu, X.,Kim, D.H.,Kim, J.M.,Park, S.J.,Cai, M.,Jang, D.S.,Ryu, J.H. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE INC 2012 The American journal of Chinese medicine Vol.40 No.5

High-Efficient Conversion of CO2 in AC-Pulsed Tornado Gliding Arc Plasma

Liu, J. L.,Park, H. W.,Chung, W. J.,Park, D. W. Springer Science + Business Media 2016 Plasma chemistry and plasma processing Vol.36 No.2

<P>An AC-pulsed tornado gliding arc plasma was employed for CO2 conversion via CO2 decomposition and dry reforming reactions. A stable and high-efficient constant arc length discharge mode was obtained in this plasma reactor. And then, CO2 conversion was studied under this discharge mode. In the case of CH4/CO2 = 0, CO2 was converted to CO and O-2 via the CO2 decomposition reaction. Energy efficiency of 29 % was attained at CO2 conversion of 6 %. With strong reducing agent CH4 added into CO2, the main contributor of CO2 conversion changed from CO2 decomposition to dry reforming of CH4. Conversions of CH4 and CO2, energy efficiency and energy cost changed sharply at CO2/CH4 ratios lower than 1/4, while they changed slowly at CH4/CO2 ratios above 1/4. In the case of CH4/CO2 = 2/3, energy efficiency of 68 % and syngas energy cost of 1.6 eV/mole were achieved at CH4 conversion of 29 % and CO2 conversion of 22 %.</P>

Effects of capsicum oleoresin, garlic botanical, and turmeric oleoresin on gene expression profile of ileal mucosa in weaned pigs

Liu, Y.,Song, M.,Che, T. M.,Bravo, D.,Maddox, C. W.,Pettigrew, J. E. American Society of Animal Science 2014 Journal of Animal Science Vol.92 No.8

<P>This study was conducted to characterize the effects of feeding 3 plant extracts on gene expression in ileal mucosa of weaned pigs. Weaned pigs (<I>n</I> = 32, 6.3 ± 0.2 kg BW, and 21 d old) were housed in individual pens for 9 d and fed 4 different diets: a nursery basal diet as control diet, basal diet supplemented with 10 mg/kg of capsicum oleoresin, garlic botanical, or turmeric oleoresin. Results reported elsewhere showed that the plant extracts reduced diarrhea and increased growth rate of weaning pigs. Total RNA (4 pigs/treatment) was extracted from ileal mucosa of pigs at d 9. Double-stranded cDNA was amplified, labeled, and further hybridized to the microarray. Microarray data were analyzed in R using packages from the Bioconductor project. Differential gene expression was tested by fitting a mixed linear model equivalent to ANOVA using the limma package. Bioinformatics analysis was conducted by DAVID Bioinformatics Resources. Three pairwise comparisons were used to compare each plant extract diet with the control diet. Quantitative real time PCR was applied to verify the mRNA expression detected by microarray. Compared with the control diet, feeding capsicum oleoresin altered (<I>P</I> < 0.05) the expression of 490 genes (280 up, 210 down), and feeding garlic botanical altered (<I>P</I> < 0.05) the expression of 64 genes (33 up, 31 down), while feeding turmeric oleoresin altered (<I>P</I> < 0.05) the expression of 327 genes (232 up, 95 down). Compared with the control diet, feeding capsicum oleoresin and turmeric oleoresin increased [Expression Analysis Systematic Explorer (<I>EASE</I>) < 0.05] the expression of genes related to integrity of membranes and tight junctions, indicating enhanced gut mucosa health, but decreased (<I>EASE</I> < 0.05) the cell cycle pathway. Feeding each of the 3 plant extracts enhanced (<I>EASE</I> < 0.05) the expression of genes associated with immune responses, indicating that feeding these plant extracts may stimulate the immune responses of pigs in the normal conditions. In conclusion, plant extracts regulated the expression of genes in ileal mucosa of pigs, perhaps providing benefits by enhancing the gut mucosa health and stimulating the immune system.</P>

Effects of absorbents on growth performance, blood profiles and liver gene expression in broilers fed diets naturally contaminated with aflatoxin

Liu, J.B.,Yan, H.L.,Cao, S.C.,Hu, Y.D.,Zhang, H.F. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2020 Animal Bioscience Vol.33 No.2

Objective: The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the absorbent (a mixture of activated carbon and hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate) on growth performance, blood profiles and hepatic genes expression in broilers fed diets naturally contaminated with aflatoxin. Methods: A total of 1,200 one-day-old male chicks were randomly assigned to 6 treatments with 10 replicate cages per treatment. The dietary treatments were as follows: i) control (basal diets); ii) 50% contaminated corn; iii) 100% contaminated corn; iv) control+1% adsorbent; v) 50% contaminated corn+1% absorbent; vi) 100% contaminated corn+1% absorbent. Results: During d 1 to 21, feeding contaminated diets reduced (p<0.05) body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), and average daily feed intake (ADFI), but increased (p<0.05) feed-to-gain ratio (F/G). The absorbent supplementation increased (p<0.05) BW, ADG, and ADFI. There were interactions (p<0.05) in BW, ADG, and ADFI between contaminated corn and absorbent. Overall, birds fed 100% contaminated diets had lower (p<0.05) final BW and ADG, but higher (p<0.05) F/G compared to those fed control diets. The absorbent addition increased (p<0.05) serum albumin concentration on d 14 and 28 and total protein (TP) level on d 28, decreased (p<0.05) alanine transaminase activity on d 14 and activities of aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase on d 28. Feeding contaminated diets reduced (p<0.05) hepatic TP content on d 28 and 42. The contaminated diets upregulated (p<0.05) expression of interleukin-6, catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), but downregulated (p<0.05) glutathione S-transferase (GST) expression in liver. The absorbent supplementation increased (p<0.05) interleukin-1β, CAT, SOD, cytochrome P450 1A1 and GST expression in liver. There were interactions (p<0.05) in the expression of hepatic CAT, SOD, and GST between contaminated corn and absorbent. Conclusion: The results suggest that the naturally aflatoxin-contaminated corn depressed growth performance, while the adsorbent could partially attenuate the adverse effects of aflatoxin on growth performance, blood profiles and hepatic genes expression in broilers.