Binary Effects of Gynostemma Gold Nanoparticles on Obesity and Inflammation via Downregulation of PPARγ/CEPBα and TNF-α Gene Expression

Nanoscience is a multidisciplinary skill with elucidated nanoscale particles and their advantages in applications to various fields. Owing to their economical synthesis, biocompatible nature, and widespread biomedical and environmental applications, the green synthesis of metal nanoparticles using medicinal plants has become a potential research area in biomedical research and functional food formulations. Gynostemma pentaphyllum (GP) has been extensively used in traditional Chinese medicine to cure several diseases, including diabetes mellitus (DM). This is the first study in which we examined the efficacy of G. pentaphyllum gold nanoparticles (GP-AuNPs) against obesity and related inflammation. GP extract was used as a capping agent to reduce Au²⁺ to Au⁰ to form stable gold nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were characterized by using UV–VIS spectroscopy, and TEM images were used to analyze morphology. In contrast, the existence of the functional group was measured using FTIR, and size and shape were examined using XRD analysis. In vitro analysis on GP-AuNPs was nontoxic to RAW 264.7 cells and 3T3-L1 cells up to a specific concentration. It significantly decreased lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 obese and reduced NO production in Raw 264.7 macrophage cells. The significant adipogenic genes PPARγ and CEPBα and a major pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α expression were quantified using RT-PCR. The GP-AuNPs decreased the face of these genes remarkably, revealing the antiadipogenic and anti-inflammatory activity of our synthesized GP-AuNPs. This study represents thorough research on the antiobesity effect of Gynostemma pentaphyllum gold nanoparticles synthesized using a green approach and the efficacy instead of related inflammatory responses.     

The use of hydrothermal methods in the synthesis of novel open-framework materials

The preparation of inorganic compounds, exhibiting open-framework structures, by hydrothermal methods has been presented. To illustrate the efficacy of this approach, few select examples encompassing a wide variety and diversity in the structures have been provided. In all the cases, good quality single crystals were obtained, which were used for the elucidation of the structure. In the first example, simple inorganic network compounds based on phosphite and arsenate are described. In the second example, inorganic-organic hybrid compounds involving phosphite/arsenate along with oxalate units are presented. In the third example, new coordination polymers with interesting structures are given. The examples presented are representative of the type and variety of compounds one can prepare by careful choice of the reaction conditions.     

Finite‐time stability of fractional‐order stochastic singular systems with time delay and white noise

In this article, the finite‐time stochastic stability of fractional‐order singular systems with time delay and white noise is investigated. First the existence and uniqueness of solution for the considered system is derived using the basic fractional calculus theory. Then based on the Gronwall's approach and stochastic analysis technique, the sufficient condition for the finite‐time stability criterion is developed. Finally, a numerical example is presented to verify the obtained theory. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 21: 370–379, 2016     

Impulsive controller for wireless networked control system: Switched system approach

The problem of stabilization for wireless networked control system (NCS) with packet dropout and time delay is studied in this article. The impulsive control law for the NCS is defined with time delay and impulse. Using a switching model, the network‐induced imperfections can be treated as three switching subsystems. Therein, in the case of packet dropout, the control law use the previous state via the first‐order hold. The impulsive control law is designed using the switched system approach and the average dwell time method. The obtained sufficient conditions which can guarantee the exponential stability of switched system are in the form of linear matrix inequalities. Finally, a numerical example is used to demonstrate the merits and applicabilities of the proposed method. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 21: 291–299, 2016     

Robust sampled‐data control of uncertain switched neutral systems with probabilistic input delay

This article focuses on the robust sampled‐data control for a class of uncertain switched neutral systems based on the average dwell‐time approach. In particular, the system is considered with probabilistic input delay using sampled state vectors, which are described by the stochastic variables with a Bernoulli distributed white sequence and time‐varying norm‐bounded uncertainties. By constructing a novel Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional which involves the lower and upper bounds of the delay, a new set of sufficient conditions are derived in terms of linear matrix inequalities for ensuring the robust exponential stability of the uncertain switched neutral system about its equilibrium point. Moreover, based on the stability criteria, a state feedback sampled‐data control law is designed for the considered system. Finally, a numerical example based on the water‐quality dynamic model for the Nile River is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed design technique. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 21: 308–318, 2016     

l-Asparaginase as Potent Anti-leukemic Agent and Its Significance of Having Reduced Glutaminase Side Activity for Better treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is one of the leading types of malignant disorder seen in children. Viral infections, genetic factors and exposure to chemical carcinogens are some of the factors responsible for causing ALL. Treatment strategies followed for curing ALL include chemotherapy or radiation therapy, wherein, chemotherapy involves the use of the enzymatic drug l-Asparaginase. The enzyme can be produced from various plants, animals, bacterial and fungal sources but, among them, bacterial sources are widely used for production of this enzyme. The enzyme is non-human in origin having certain bottle necks with l-Asparaginase therapy in the form of side effects such as pancreatitis, thrombosis which are mainly due to glutaminase side activity. Hence, present-day research is mainly focussed on minimizing or completely eliminating the glutaminase activity of the enzyme l-Asparaginase. This review is focussed on the complications associated with glutaminase side activity and use of glutaminase free enzymatic drug l-Asparaginase in treating ALL and the other developments related to the modification of the drug for quality treatment.     

Visible spectrum of titanium dioxide

The electronic spectrum in the region 17?500 cm(-1) to 18?850 cm(-1) of a cold molecular beam of TiO(2) has been investigated using laser induced fluorescence (LIF) and mass-resolved resonance enhanced multi-photoionization (REMPI) spectroscopy. Bands at 18?412 cm(-1), 18?470 cm(-1) and 18?655 cm(-1) were recorded at a resolution of 35 MHz, rotationally analyzed, and assigned as the ?(1)B(2) (0,1,2) ←X[combining tilde](1)A(1) (0,0,0), ?(1)B(2) (1,0,0) ←X[combining tilde](1)A(1) (0,0,0) and ?(1)B(2) (1,1,0) ←X[combining tilde](1)A(1) (0,0,0) transitions. The dispersed fluorescence from the ?(1)B(2) (0,1,2) and ?(1)B(2) (1,0,0) levels were combined with previous results to produce an improved set of vibrational parameters for the X[combining tilde](1)A(1) state. The optical Stark effect in the ?(1)B(2) (0,1,2) ←X[combining tilde](1)A(1) (0,0,0) and ?(1)B(2) (1,0,0) ←X[combining tilde](1)A(1) (0,0,0) bands were recorded and combined with earlier results for ?(1)B(2) (1,1,0) ←X[combining tilde](1)A(1) (0,0,0) to determine the permanent electric dipole moment for these states. The origin and harmonic vibrational constants for the ?(1)B(2) state are determined to be: T(000) = 17?593(5) cm(-1), ω(1) = 876(3) cm(-1), ω(2) = 184(1) cm(-1), and ω(3) = 316(2) cm(-1). A normal coordinate analysis was performed and Franck-Condon factors calculated.     

Structural, vibrational, thermal, and conductivity studies on proton-conducting polymer electrolyte based on poly (N-vinylpyrrolidone)

The proton-conducting polymer electrolytes based on poly (N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), doped with ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl) in different molar ratios, have been prepared by solution-casting technique using distilled water as solvent. The increase in amorphous nature of the polymer electrolytes has been confirmed by XRD analysis. The FTIR analysis confirms the complex formation of the polymer with the salt. A shift in glass transition temperature (T _g) of the PVP/NH₄Cl electrolytes has been observed from the DSC thermograms which indicates the interaction between the polymer and the salt. From the AC impedance spectroscopic analysis, the ionic conductivity of 15?mol% NH₄Cl-doped PVP polymer complex has been found to be maximum of the order of 2.51?×?10^?5?Scm^?1 at room temperature. The dependence of T _g and conductivity upon salt concentration has been discussed. The linear variation of the proton conductivity of the polymer electrolytes with increasing temperature suggests the Arrhenius type thermally activated process. The activation energy calculated from the Arrhenius plot for all compositions of PVP doped with NH₄Cl has been found to vary from 0.49 to 0.92?eV. The dielectric loss curves for the sample 85?mol% PVP:15?mol% NH₄Cl reveal the low-frequency ?? relaxation peak pronounced at high temperature, and it may be caused by side group dipoles. The relaxation parameters of the electrolytes have been obtained by the study of Tan?? as a function of frequency.