Three megastigmane glycosides from the stem of .

Three undescribed megastigmane glycosides, mallbarbalosides A-C together with 3 known analogues were isolated from the stem of . Their structures were elucidated using extensive NMR spectroscopic methods (1D and 2D-NMR spectroscopy) and HRESIMS spectroscopic data analyses. The absolute configurations of the undescribed compounds were determined by the experimental circular dichroism spectroscopy.

Erucic acid improves the progress of pregnancy complicated with systemic lupus erythematosus by inhibiting the effector function of CD8 T cells.

Pathogenic CD8 T cells are pivotal contributors to the onset of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Erucic acid (EA) has been proven to have anti-inflammatory activity. However, the capacity of EA to regulate pathogenic CD8 T cells in the context of pregnancy complicated with SLE (pSLE) remains unclear.

The mediating role of perceived social support: alexithymia and parental burnout in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder.

Background: Parental burnout is a concept that reflects the emotional exhaustion and emotional distance of parents from children due to their inability to cope with the pressure of parenting. It has been confirmed that parents of autistic children are at higher risk for parental burnout. Additional research has suggested a relationship between parental burnout and parents' personality traits.

Triterpenoids from the Leaves of and Their Glucose Uptake Activity in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes.

Four new dammarane triterpenoid saponins cypaliurusides - (-) and eight known analogs (-) were isolated from the leaves of . The structures of the isolated compounds were determined using a comprehensive analysis of 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS data. The docking study demonstrated that compound 10 strongly bonded with PTP1B (a potential drug target for the treatment of type-II diabetes and obesity), hydrogen bonds, and hydrophobic interactions, verifying the importance of sugar unit.

Megastigmane glycosides from Streblus ilicifolius (S.Vidal) Corner and their anti-inflammatory activity.

Twelve undescribed megastigmane glycosides, streilicifolosides A-L (1-12), together with 8 known analogues (13-21) were isolated from the leaves of Streblus ilicifolius (S.Vidal) Corner. Their plannar structures were elucidated using extensive NMR spectroscopic methods (1D and 2D-NMR spectroscopy), and HRESIMS spectroscopic data analyses.

Two new terpenoid glycosides from .

One previously undescribed tricyclo-diterpenoid saponin (), one undescribed dammarane triterpenoid saponin () and four known triterpenoids (-) were isolated from the aerial part of Their structures were determined using 1 D- and 2 D-NMR, HRESIMS, and comparison of their spectroscopic data with previously reported data. The isolates were evaluated for their anti-HBV activity using the HBV transfected Hep G2.2.

The effects of mental fatigue on effort allocation: Modeling and estimation.

Mental fatigue is usually accompanied by drops in task performance and reduced willingness for further exertion. A value-based theoretical account may help to explain such negative effects. In this view, mental fatigue influences perceived costs and rewards of exerting effort.

High-risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes in systemic lupus erythaematosus: a retrospective study of a Chinese population.

Objective: To clarify high-risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) in systemic lupus erythaematosus (SLE).

Design: A retrospective chart review study.

Setting: Data were collected in a tertiary medical centre, Shanghai, China, from November 2010 to December 2018.

Short-chain fatty acids accompanying changes in the gut microbiome contribute to the development of hypertension in patients with preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia (PE) is regarded as a pregnancy-associated hypertension disorder that is related to excessive inflammatory responses. Although the gut microbiota (GM) and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) have been related to hypertension, their effects on PE remain unknown. We determined the GM abundance and faecal SCFA levels by 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing and gas chromatography, respectively, using faecal samples from 27 patients with severe PE and 36 healthy, pregnant control subjects.

Effects of Surface Charges on the Bactericide Activity of CdTe/ZnS Quantum Dots: A Cell Membrane Disruption Perspective.

The inhibitory effects of CdTe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) modified with 3-mercaptopropionic acid (negatively charged) or cysteamine (positively charged) on the metabolic activity of Escherichia coli were investigated using biological microcalorimetry. Results show that the inhibitory ratio of positive QDs is higher than that of negative QDs. Transmission electron microscopy images indicate that QDs are prone to be adsorbed on the surface of E.

Optimizing the power output of a ZnO photocell by piezopotential.

Using a metal-semiconductor-metal back-to-back Schottky contacted ZnO microwire device, we have demonstrated the piezoelectric effect on the output of a photocell. An externally applied strain produces a piezopotential in the microwire, which tunes the effective height of the Schottky barrier (SB) at the local contact, consequently changing the transport characteristics of the device. An equivalent circuit model together with the thermionic emission theory has explained the four kinds of relationships observed between the photocurrent and the applied strain.

Designing the electric transport characteristics of ZnO micro/nanowire devices by coupling piezoelectric and photoexcitation effects.

The localized coupling between piezoelectric and photoexcitation effects of a ZnO micro/nanowire device has been studied for the first time with the goal of designing and controlling the electrical transport characteristics of the device. The piezoelectric effect tends to raise the height of the local Schottky barrier (SB) at the metal-ZnO contact, while photoexcitation using a light that has energy higher than the band gap of ZnO lowers the SB height. By tuning the relative contributions of the effects from piezoelectricity via strain and photoexcitation via light intensity, the local contact can be tuned step-by-step and/or transformed from Schottky to Ohmic or from Ohmic to Schottky.