Polyaniline and multi-walled carbon nanotube composite electrode for rechargeable battery

The multi-walled carbon nanotube was introduced into the polymer matrix (PANI) to improve the electric conductivity as well as mechanical properties of the original polymer matrix.PANI/multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composites were synthesized via ex-situ and in-situ polymerization to improve their electrical property.And the DC conductivities of PANI/MWCNT according to content and diameter of MWCNT were measured by four-point probe.The highest electric conductivity of PANI/MWCNT composite is 20 S/cm when 0.3% (mass fraction) MWCNTs with 10 nm in diameter and 15 μm in length are added in composite.

Dietary sophorolipid accelerates growth by modulation of gut microbiota population and intestinal environments in broiler chickens

Background:Gut is a crucial organ for the host’s defense system due to its filtering action of the intestinal membrane from hazardous foreign substances.One strategy to strengthen the gut epithelial barrier function is to upregulate beneficial microflora populations and their metabolites.Sophorolipid(SPL),which is a glycolipid biosurfactant,could increase beneficial microflora and decrease pathogenic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract.Therefore,herein,we conducted an experiment with broiler chickens to investigate the fortifying effects of SPL on the host’s gut defense system by modulating the microbiota population.Methods:A total of 5401-day-old chicks(Ross 308)were used,and they were immediately allotted into three treatment groups(6 replications with 30 chicks/pen)according to their initial body weight.The dietary treatments consisted of CON(basal diet),BAM(10 mg/kg bambermycin),and SPL(10 mg/kg SPL).During the experiment,birds freely accessed feed and water,and body weight and feed intake were measured at the end of each phase.On d 35,birds(one bird/pen)were sacrificed to collect jejunum and cecum samples.Results:Dietary SPL and BAM supplementation significantly accelerated birds’growth and also significantly improved feed efficiency compared to CON.Intestinal microbial community was significantly separated by dietary SPL supplementation from that of CON,and dietary SPL supplementation significantly increased Lactobacillus spp.and Akkermansia muciniphila.Moreover,birds fed with dietary SPL also showed the highest concentration of cecal butyrate among all treatment groups.Gut morphological analysis showed that dietary SPL significantly increased villus height,ratio of villus height to crypt depth,goblet cell numbers,and the gene expression levels of claudin-1 and mucin 2.Additionally,dietary SPL significantly decreased the mRNA expression level of pro-inflammatory cytokine,interleukin-6,and increased that of anti-inflammatory cytokine,interleukin-10,compared to other treatments.Conclusions:Dietary SPL increases the beneficial bacterial population and butyrate concentration,which leads to a strengthened gut barrier function.In addition,the intestinal inflammation was also downregulated by dietary SPL supplementation.