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Introduction: T cells play a critical role in inflammatory diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of Majie cataplasm (MJC) on asthma and to propose a possible mechanism involved in this process. Methods: Airway inflammation, infiltration of inflammatory cells, levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, IL-17, and interferon (IFN)-γ, levels of Th2, Treg, Th17, and Th1 cells, and the expressions of IL-4, IL-10, IL-17, IFN-γ, GATA binding protein 3 (GATA-3), Foxp3, RAR-related orphan receptor gamma (RORγt), and T-bet were detected. Result: MJC treatment reduced lung airway resistance and inflammatory infiltration in lung tissues. MJC treatment also reduced the numbers of eosinophils and neutrophils in the blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The levels of IL-4 and IL-17 in the blood, BALF, and lungs were suppressed by MJC, and IFN-γ and IL-10 were increased. Furthermore, MJC suppressed the percentage of Th2 and Th17 and increased the percentage of Th1 and Treg in spleen cells. In addition, MJC can inhibit asthma by increasing expressions of IFN-γ, IL-10, T-bet, and Foxp3, as well as decreasing expressions of IL-4, IL-17, GATA-3, and RORγt. Conclusion: MJC may improve airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation by regulating Th1/Th2/Treg/Th17 balance in ovalbumin-induced rats. And MJC may be a new source of anti-asthma drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SnO2 is a wide-band gap N-type semiconductor material with a higher electron transfer rate than TiO2. Therefore, SnO2 has broad application prospects in the photoanode composite materials of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). In this study, SnO2–TiO2 composite nanofibers with different molar ratios (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) were prepared by double-needle electrospinning technology, and the nanofibers were characterized after adjusting the solution composition. Different molar ratios of TiO2 and SnO2–TiO2 composite nanofiber photoanodes were fabricated by spin-coating, and the adsorption behavior of dyes on the photoanodes was investigated. Moreover, the electrochemical impedance of the photoanodes and DSSC and their photoelectric performance were also tested. The experimental results showed that SnO2–TiO2 composite nanofibers with a molar ratio of 10% exhibited excellent properties, including a peak specific surface area of 93.01 m2/g, strong dye adsorption capacity, small interfacial resistance, and fast electron transfer rate. These outstanding properties significantly promoted the generation of photoelectrons and improved the photoelectric conversion efficiency of DSSC. Compared with single-component TiO2, the photoelectric conversion efficiency of SnO2–TiO2 nanofiber photoanode composite material improved by 85.65%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to its impedance properties and piezoelectric effect, the piezoelectric polymer polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) finds application in the field of noise control. Traditional sound-absorbing materials have gradually fallen short of the demands of sound-absorbing functionality and environmental adaptability in today's increasingly acute noise pollution environment. When PVDF is added to sound absorption, materials or structures have an additional loss path for the conversion of sound energy to electric energy. This helps to increase the low-frequency sound absorption band and improve low-frequency sound absorption performance. Through the action of viscosity, friction, relaxation, piezoelectric effect, and dielectric loss, the sound energy in the passive sound-absorbing material containing PVDF is transformed into energy dissipation in the form of heat energy, electric energy, and so on under the matching of PVDF low impedance. In active control, secondary sound and force sources can be supplied by PVDF-based transducers and actuators to reduce noise. This paper first provides an overview of the piezoelectric characteristics of β-phase PVDF and its optimization techniques. It then goes on to discuss the use of PVDF in passive sound-absorbing materials, active controls, and hybrid sound absorption systems. Finally, it summarizes the benefits, issues that still need to be resolved, and future directions for these three noise reduction techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]