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Recent advancements in green nanotechnology have enabled the synthesis of nanoparticles using natural resources, thereby offering ecofriendly alternatives for various biomedical applications. In this study, we report the biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) using vitalmelon (VW) extract (VW-GNPs) without the need for stabilizers or surfactants. The VW extract served as a reducing and a stabilizing agent. The synthesized VW-GNPs were characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The results revealed successful synthesis of VW-GNPs with an average size of 35.41 ± 2.37 nm and a zeta potential of -28.16 ± 1.01 mV, indicating good stability. The biological activity of VW-GNPs was evaluated in lipogenesis and browning of differentiating white adipocytes, focusing on their effects on lipid droplet formation, mitochondrial biogenesis, and expression of browning markers such as UCP1, PRDM16, and PGC1α. VW-GNPs significantly reduced lipid accumulation in fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes and promoted the conversion of white adipocytes into metabolically active beige adipocytes. Moreover, VW-GNPs enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis, which is crucial for energy expenditure in beige adipocytes. Further investigation using pharmacological inhibition and knockdown experiments revealed that phospholipase D2 inhibition synergistically promoted the browning effects of VW-GNPs. These findings suggest that VW-GNPs represent a promising novel therapeutic strategy to combat obesity by modulating adipocyte metabolism and increasing energy expenditure via adipocyte browning.

In recent years, there has been increasing interest in exploring the potential therapeutic advantages of Citrullus mucosospermus extracts (CME) for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of CME on NASH using a mice model. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was employed to identify cucurbitacin E and cucurbitacin E-2-O-glucoside from the CME. Although CME did not significantly alter the serum lipid levels in methionine- and choline-deficient (MCD) mice, it demonstrated a protective effect against MCD diet-induced liver damage. CME reduced histological markers, reduced alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartame transaminase (AST) levels, and modulated key NASH-related genes, including C/EBPα, PPARγ, Fas, and aP2. In addition, CME was found to restore hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) activity, both crucial for fat catabolism, and reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, CME demonstrated the potential to mitigate oxidative stress by maintaining or enhancing the activation and expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), both pivotal players in antioxidant defense mechanisms. These findings underscore the promising therapeutic potential of CME in ameliorating liver damage, inflammation, and oxidative stress associated with NASH.

Objective To study the changes of heart-brain coupling indexes after cerebral ischemia in a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and the relationship with prognosis in the early stage. Methods Twenty male SD rats(7~8 weeks old, body weight 290±25 g) were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=10): the cerebral ischemia group (MCAO group) and the control group (Sham group). Lead Ⅱ electrocardiography (ECG) and dual-channel electroencephalogram (EEG) were recorded at the baseline and 0~4 h after the surgery. Neurofunctional recovery was evaluated by neurological deficit score(NDS) via a series of behavior tests every 24 h and survival time was recorded. The heart rate variability (HRV) indicators were extracted by the collected ECG signals, including RR interval (RRI), low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF) and LF/HF ratio. The power spectrum of δ, θ, α and β waves were calculated from EEG signal. The heart-brain network was constructed based on the indicators mentioned, and the transfer entropy algorithm was used to quantify the coupling strength applied to the prognosis for survival which was analyzed and compared by the area under curve (AUC) among nodes of different networks. Results There was a bidirectional interaction between the brain and the heart, and the strength of two-way coupling increased after ischemia. There was obviously increased coupling between HRV LF and EEG δ wave. Transfer entropy (AUC=0.717, P=0.010) was superior to the HRV (AUC=0.571, P=0.404) and EEG power spectrum (AUC=0.583, P=0.329) in prognostication. Conclusion The low-frequency coupling between heart and brain enhanced after cerebral ischemia, and the coupling index of heart and brain can improve the prognostic performance.

In order to effectively reduce nitro compounds in contaminate water and produce hydrogen from water, Ag/mpg-C3N4 nanocomposite particles are prepared by impregnation method, and 5-OH-ZnTPP is loaded on the surface of Ag/mpg-C3N4 to prepare Ag/5-OH-ZnTPP/mpg-C3N4 composite particles. The morphology, microstructure and composition of as-prepared nanocomposite particles are characterized by BET, SEM, XRD and XPS. The results show that the mpg-C3N4 is lamellar structure with porous, while the silver nanoparticles are dispersed on the surface or between the lamellar of the mpg-C3N4. The photoelectric property of the Ag/5-OH-ZnTPP/mpg-C3N4 nanocomposite particles is also characterized by UV-vis DRS, PL and PT, respectively. The results reveal that the visible-light utilization of mpg-C3N4 are improved by the introduction of silver nanoparticles and the sensitization of porphyrin. The catalytic activities are examined by using the reduction of 4-NP and the photocatalytic H2 production as model reactions, which demonstrates that the photocatalytic activity of mpg-C3N4 is enhanced after modified by silver nanoparticles and sensitized with dye porphyrins. Ag/5-OH-ZnTPP/mpg-C3N4 nanocomposite particles have high catalytic activity for the reduction of 4-NP and hydrogen production.

Voltage sags resulting from symmetrical or asymmetrical faults pose a significant threat to power quality. In response to this challenge, a voltage sag loss assessment method based on a two-stage Taguchi quality perspective approach is proposed to address the quantitative analysis of voltage sag economic losses. Initially, using the Taguchi quality perspective method, single-index quality loss functions are separately established for voltage sag magnitude and fault duration. Subsequently, by introducing a comprehensive load tolerance curve, sensitivity parameters within the quality loss function are accurately calculated. This yields a deterministic model for voltage sag assessment. Building upon this, the relative impact of the two indices on voltage sag loss is evaluated using the quality loss function. Consequently, a comprehensive loss model under the influence of multiple indices is formed by integrating two single-index evaluation models. The simulation results indicate that this method can effectively assess the economic losses of voltage sags under the combined influence of multiple factors. Compared to the original economic loss assessment method, it improves quantitative accuracy by approximately 3.72%. Moreover, the method reduces the computational complexity of loss assessment through the consolidation of intervals with similar sensitivity parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]