Diffusion Length in Nanoporous Photoelectrodes of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells under Operating Conditions Measured by Photocurrent Microscopy

We determined the carrier diffusion lengths in nanoporous layers of dye-sensitized solar cells by using scanning photocurrent microscopy. The diffusion lengths were found to be 60–100 μm for the conventional cells. In addition, we found a correlation between the carrier diffusion lengths and the cell efficiency, which proved that improvement in the diffusion length is one of the crucial factors for optimizing device performance. The diffusion length was measured for various operating conditions by varying parameters such as solar light intensity and applied electrical voltage. In particular, we observed electric-field-driven, carrier transport phenomena (i.e., drift current) in modified cells. Fitting with the drift-diffusion model enabled us to extract the electric field strengths present in the TiO₂ nanoporous layer

Presentation_1_Myeloid- and epithelial-derived RELMα contribute to tissue repair following lung helminth infection.pptx

Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections impact billions of individuals globally; however, there is a need to clarify the long-term impacts of these infections on pulmonary health owing to their transient migration and subsequent damage to the lungs. In mouse models of these infections using Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, lung pathology persists at later time points post single infection. These studies also indicate the persistent transcriptional expression of resistin-like molecule α (RELMα), an immunomodulatory protein induced in type 2 immunity and alternatively activated macrophages. Using constitutive and tamoxifen-inducible cell-specific RELMα knockout mouse strains, we identified that epithelial- and myeloid-derived RELMα protein remained elevated at 30 days post infection and altered the immune cell signature and gene expression in lung compartments. Histopathological assessment of alveolar damage revealed a role for RELMα in tissue repair, suggesting the importance of sustained RELMα expression for lung recovery from helminth infection. Acellular three-dimensional (3D) lung scaffolds were prepared from the lungs of wild-type (WT), RELMα KO-naive, or 30 days post N. brasiliensis-infected mice to assess their ability to support epithelial cell growth. N. brasiliensis infection significantly altered the scaffold and impaired epithelial cell growth and metabolic activity, especially in the RELMα KO scaffolds. These findings underscore a need to identify the long-term impacts of helminth infection on human pulmonary disease, particularly as alveolar destruction can develop into chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which remains among the top global causes of death. Translation of these findings to human protein resistin, with sequence homology to RELMα therapeutic opportunities in lung repair.</p

Fully Solution-Processed Transparent Conducting Oxide-Free Counter Electrodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Spray-Coated Single-Wall Carbon Nanotube Thin Films Loaded with Chemically-Reduced Platinum Nanoparticles

We report fully solution-processed fabrication of transparent conducting oxide-free counter electrodes (CEs) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by combining spray-coating of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and chemical reduction of chloroplatinic acid precursor to platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) with formic acid. The power conversion efficiency of a semitransparent DSSC with such SWCNT-based CE loaded with Pt NPs is comparable to that of a control device with a conventional CE. Quantification of Pt loading shows that network morphology of entangled SWCNTs is efficient in forming and retaining chemically reduced Pt NPs. Moreover, electron microscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results show that mainly Pt NPs, which are tens of nanometers in diameter and reside at the surface of SWCNT CEs, contribute to electrocatalytic activity for triiodide reduction, to which we attribute strong correlation between power conversion efficiency of DSSCs and time constant deduced from equivalent-circuit analysis of impedance spectra

Table_1_Trickle infection with Heligmosomoides polygyrus results in decreased worm burdens but increased intestinal inflammation and scarring.xlsx

IntroductionIntestinal roundworms cause chronic debilitating disease in animals, including humans. Traditional experimental models of these types of infection use a large single-dose infection. However, in natural settings, hosts are exposed to parasites on a regular basis and when mice are exposed to frequent, smaller doses of Heligmosomoides polygyrus, the parasites are cleared more quickly. Whether this more effective host response has any negative consequences for the host is not known.ResultsUsing a trickle model of infection, we found that worm clearance was associated with known resistance-related host responses: increased granuloma and tuft cell numbers, increased levels of granuloma IgG and decreased intestinal transit time, as well as higher serum IgE levels. However, we found that the improved worm clearance was also associated with an inflammatory phenotype in and around the granuloma, increased smooth muscle hypertrophy/hyperplasia, and elevated levels of Adamts gene expression.DiscussionTo our knowledge, we are the first to identify the involvement of this protein family of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in host responses to helminth infections. Our results highlight the delicate balance between parasite clearance and host tissue damage, which both contribute to host pathology. When continually exposed to parasitic worms, improved clearance comes at a cost.</p

Table_2_Trickle infection with Heligmosomoides polygyrus results in decreased worm burdens but increased intestinal inflammation and scarring.csv

IntroductionIntestinal roundworms cause chronic debilitating disease in animals, including humans. Traditional experimental models of these types of infection use a large single-dose infection. However, in natural settings, hosts are exposed to parasites on a regular basis and when mice are exposed to frequent, smaller doses of Heligmosomoides polygyrus, the parasites are cleared more quickly. Whether this more effective host response has any negative consequences for the host is not known.ResultsUsing a trickle model of infection, we found that worm clearance was associated with known resistance-related host responses: increased granuloma and tuft cell numbers, increased levels of granuloma IgG and decreased intestinal transit time, as well as higher serum IgE levels. However, we found that the improved worm clearance was also associated with an inflammatory phenotype in and around the granuloma, increased smooth muscle hypertrophy/hyperplasia, and elevated levels of Adamts gene expression.DiscussionTo our knowledge, we are the first to identify the involvement of this protein family of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in host responses to helminth infections. Our results highlight the delicate balance between parasite clearance and host tissue damage, which both contribute to host pathology. When continually exposed to parasitic worms, improved clearance comes at a cost.</p

Image_1_Trickle infection with Heligmosomoides polygyrus results in decreased worm burdens but increased intestinal inflammation and scarring.eps

IntroductionIntestinal roundworms cause chronic debilitating disease in animals, including humans. Traditional experimental models of these types of infection use a large single-dose infection. However, in natural settings, hosts are exposed to parasites on a regular basis and when mice are exposed to frequent, smaller doses of Heligmosomoides polygyrus, the parasites are cleared more quickly. Whether this more effective host response has any negative consequences for the host is not known.ResultsUsing a trickle model of infection, we found that worm clearance was associated with known resistance-related host responses: increased granuloma and tuft cell numbers, increased levels of granuloma IgG and decreased intestinal transit time, as well as higher serum IgE levels. However, we found that the improved worm clearance was also associated with an inflammatory phenotype in and around the granuloma, increased smooth muscle hypertrophy/hyperplasia, and elevated levels of Adamts gene expression.DiscussionTo our knowledge, we are the first to identify the involvement of this protein family of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in host responses to helminth infections. Our results highlight the delicate balance between parasite clearance and host tissue damage, which both contribute to host pathology. When continually exposed to parasitic worms, improved clearance comes at a cost.</p

Choline uptake and phosphorylation is required for normal IL-4 signaling and M[IL-4] phenotype.

A-D) Macrophages were treated with vehicle (DMSO) or HC3 (250 μM) for 24 h, washed, then treated with IL-4 (20 ng/mL) for 24 h. Relative expression of M[IL-4] hallmark genes Arg1, Mrc1, Chil3, or Retnla normalized to Actb and compared to M[0]. n = 3–4, representative of 3–5 experiments. Unpaired t test (*** p Retnla normalized to Actb and compared to M[0]. n = 3, representative of 1 experiment. Two-way ANOVA with Tukey’s test for multiple comparisons (* p + macrophages. n = 3, representative of >4 experiments. One-way ANOVA with Tukey’s test for multiple comparisons (* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01). I) Macrophages were treated with vehicle (DMSO), HC3 (250 μM), or RSM-932a (5 μM) for 24 h, washed, then treated with IL-4 (20 ng/mL) for 24 h. Detection of supernatant RELMα by ELISA. n = 5 (vehicle, HC3, IL-4) or n = 2 (RSM). Unpaired t test (** p < 0.01). Schematics were created using BioRender.</p

IL-4 up-regulates choline metabolism in macrophages.

A) Saturation curves showing rate of 3H-choline uptake at increasing concentrations of unlabeled choline. n = 8. Michaelis-Menten least squares fit regression (**** p 3H-choline uptake by HC3. n = 4 (M[0]) or 5 (M[IL-4]). Four parameter log(inhibitor) vs. response regression F test (** p (TIF)</p

Reactome pathway analysis.

A-D) Reactome pathway analysis of genes up-regulated by HC3 (A) or RSM (C) in M[IL-4] or down-regulated by HC3 (B) or RSM (D), sorted by gene count enrichment for each Reactome pathway. (TIF)</p

Mitochondrial changes induced by inhibiting choline metabolism.

A) Densitometry of complex III and I from Fig 4B. Two-way ANOVA with Dunnett’s test for multiple comparisons. B) Bioenergetics analysis of ATP produced through oxidative phosphorylation (ATPOXPHOS) or glycolysis (ATPGlyco). Macrophages were treated for 1 h or 5 min with RSM (0.2, 1, or 5 μM) prior to Mito Stress Test assay as in Fig 4C–4F. Measurements (n = 3 in triplicate) were normalized per 103 cells. Mixed-effects analysis with Tukey’s test for multiple comparisons (ATPOXPHOS: # p Glyco: ** p (TIF)</p