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A novel uniform monodispersed radial mesoporous bioactive glass nanosphere (MBG) with high phosphorus and calcium content has been successfully synthesized. The synthesis was first taken place in a cyclohexane-water biphasic stratification reaction system, which fabricated the radial mesoporous SiO2-P2O5 nanosphere (SPN) using hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) as a template agent and triethanolamine (TEA) as a hydrolysis catalyst. Solid reactions were then carried out to synthesize SiO2-CaO-P2O5 MBG using SPN as both the silicon source and phosphorus source, and Ca(NO3)2 as the calcium source. The prepared MBG not only displayed the radial structure and high specific surface area (~321 m2/g), but also had high phosphorus and calcium content. The results of energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) demonstrated that P2O5 content was enhanced by properly increasing the reaction temperature. The in vitro bioactivity test showed that MBG had an excellent ability of inducing apatite formation. Furthermore, the MBG showed excellent biocompatibility at a low concentration of 50–100 μg/mL in vitro, and it would have a promising prospect as drug delivery system for bone tissue regeneration.

Individuals expressing HLA-DR4 bearing the shared susceptibility epitope (SE) have an increased risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Posttranslational modification of self-proteins via citrullination leads to the formation of neoantigens that can be presented by HLA-DR4 SE allomorphs. However, in T cell-mediated autoimmunity, the interplay between the HLA molecule, posttranslationally modified epitope(s), and the responding T cell repertoire remains unclear. In HLA-DR4 transgenic mice, we show that immunization with a Fibβ-74cit69-81 peptide led to a population of HLA-DR4Fibβ-74cit69-81 tetramer+ T cells that exhibited biased T cell receptor (TCR) β chain usage, which was attributable to selective clonal expansion from the preimmune repertoire. Crystal structures of pre- and postimmune TCRs showed that the SE of HLA-DR4 represented a main TCR contact zone. Immunization with a double citrullinated epitope (Fibβ-72,74cit69-81) altered the responding HLA-DR4 tetramer+ T cell repertoire, which was due to the P2-citrulline residue interacting with the TCR itself. We show that the SE of HLA-DR4 has dual functionality, namely, presentation and a direct TCR recognition determinant. Analogous biased TCR β chain usage toward the Fibβ-74cit69-81 peptide was observed in healthy HLA-DR4+ individuals and patients with HLA-DR4+ RA, thereby suggesting a link to human RA.

Aims To explore the association between cognitive emotion regulation strategies and anxiety and depression among nurses during the COVID-19 outbreak. Background Nurses play a vital role in responding to the COVID-19 outbreak, but many of them suffer from psychological problems due to the excessive workload and stress. Understanding the correlation between cognitive emotion regulation strategies and anxiety and depression will promote targeted psychosocial interventions for these affected nurses. Methods This cross-sectional study of 586 nurses was conducted in Eastern China. Participants completed online questionnaires that investigated anxiety, depression and cognitive emotion regulation strategies. Results The prevalence of nurses' anxiety and depression was 27.6% and 32.8%, respectively. Lower self-blame, rumination and catastrophizing, as well as greater acceptance and positive refocusing, were related to fewer symptoms of anxiety or depression. Conclusion The cognitive emotion regulation strategies of acceptance and positive refocusing contribute to reducing anxiety or depression. These strategies should be considered when implementing psychotherapeutic interventions to improve nurses' adverse emotional symptoms. Implications for nursing management This study highlights the need to assess cognitive emotion regulation strategies use in screening for anxiety and depression. Nurse managers should develop psychosocial interventions including appropriate strategies to help nurses with adverse emotions during a pandemic.

This study aims to estimate the prevalence and factors of depression in primary caregivers of people with dementia in China, based on a biopsychosocial medical model. A sample of 285 caregiver-patient dyads was recruited from a tertiary psychiatric hospital in Nanjing, between December 2018 and November 2019. The prevalence of depression among primary caregivers of people with dementia was 42.8%. Binary logistic regression analyses revealed that caregivers’ gender (OR=4.692), social support (OR=0.131), health condition (OR=12.994), extraversion (OR=0.102) and neuroticism (OR=2.978) were predictive of depression in those caregivers. Of the above, health condition was the major factor associated with caregiver's depression. The Box-Tidwell method was used to show a linear relationship between continuous independent variables and dependent variable logit conversion values (p = 0.0045). Suggestions are provided to develop support service programs and interventions tailored to caregivers, to help meet their basic substance and mental health needs. (147 words).

Background: The number of cumulative confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States has risen sharply since March. A county health ranking and roadmaps program has been established to identify factors associated with disparity in mobility and mortality of COVID-19 in all counties in the United States. Objective: To find out the risk factors associated with mortality of COVID-19 with various levels of prevalence. Design: A negative binomial design was applied to the county-level mortality counts of COVID-19 on April 15, 2020 in the United States. In this design, the infected counties were categorized into three levels of infections using clustering analysis based on time-variant cumulative confirmed cases from March 1 to April 15, 2020. Setting: United States Participants: COVID-19 patients in various counties of the United States from March 1 to April 15, 2020. Measurements: The county-level cumulative confirmed cases and mortality of COVID-19. Results. 2692 infected counties were assigned into three classes where the mild, moderate, and severe prevalence of infections were identified, respectively. Several risk factors are significantly associated with the mortality of COVID-19, where Hispanic (0.024, P=0.002), female (0.253, P=0.027), elder (0.218, P=0.017) and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific islander (2.032, P=0.027) individuals are more vulnerable to the mortality of COVID-19. More locations open to exercise (0.030, P=0.004), higher levels of air pollution (0.184, P=0.044), and segregation between non-White and White increased the mortality rate. Limitation: The study relied on mortality data on April 15, 2020. Conclusion. The mortality of COVID-19 depends on sex, ethnicity, and outdoor environment. The increasing awareness of these significant factors may lead to the reduction in the mortality rate of COVID-19.

Additional file 2: Supplementary Table S1. Pairwise comparison between WC, BMI, WHtR, ABSI and BRI of the AUROC in predicting metabolic syndrome by the Delong test.

Additional file 1. STROBE Statement. Checklist of items that should be included in reports of cross-sectional studies.

Additional file 1: Table S1. The urinary nitrate level of various cardiovascular diseases.

The highly homologous human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQ2 molecules, HLA-DQ2.5 and HLA-DQ2.2, are implicated in the pathogenesis of celiac disease (CeD) by presenting gluten peptides to CD4 + T cells. However, while HLA-DQ2.5 is strongly associated with disease, HLA-DQ2.2 is not, and the molecular basis underpinning this differential disease association is unresolved. We here provide structural evidence for how the single polymorphic residue (HLA-DQ2.5-Tyr22α and HLA-DQ2.2-Phe22α) accounts for HLA-DQ2.2 additionally requiring gluten epitopes possessing a serine at the P3 position of the peptide. In marked contrast to the biased T cell receptor (TCR) usage associated with HLA-DQ2.5–mediated CeD, we demonstrate with extensive single-cell sequencing that a diverse TCR repertoire enables recognition of the immunodominant HLA-DQ2.2-glut-L1 epitope. The crystal structure of two CeD patient-derived TCR in complex with HLA-DQ2.2 and DQ2.2-glut-L1 (PFSEQEQPV) revealed a docking strategy, and associated interatomic contacts, which was notably distinct from the structures of the TCR:HLA-DQ2.5:gliadin epitope complexes. Accordingly, while the molecular surfaces of the antigen-binding clefts of HLA-DQ2.5 and HLA-DQ2.2 are very similar, differences in the nature of the peptides presented translates to differences in responding T cell repertoires and the nature of engagement of the respective antigen-presenting molecules, which ultimately is associated with differing disease penetrance.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is caused by prions, infectious proteinaceous particles, PrPCWD. We sequenced the PRNP gene of 2,899 white-tailed deer (WTD) from Illinois and southern Wisconsin, finding 38 haplotypes. Haplotypes A, B, D, E, G and 10 others encoded Q95G96S100N103A123Q226, designated ‘PrP variant A.’ Haplotype C and five other haplotypes encoded PrP ‘variant C’ (Q95S96S100N103A123Q226). Haplotype F and three other haplotypes encoded PrP ‘variant F’ (H95G96S100N103A123Q226). The association of CWD with encoded PrP variants was examined in 2,537 tested WTD from counties with CWD. Relative to PrP variant A, CWD susceptibility was lower in deer with PrP variant C (OR = 0.26, p OR = 0.10, p OR = 0.25, p OR = 0.07, p PRNP polymorphisms may be a useful tool in CWD management.

Australia has large uptake of solar photovoltaics (PVs) and the major installations are rooftop PV systems in low voltage distribution networks (LVDNs). However, voltage rises and phase unbalance significantly limit PV hosting capacity of the LVDNs. To solve these issues and improve the hosting capacity, battery energy storage systems (BESSs) can provide ancillary services for the power systems. With a virtual synchronous generator capability, BESSs can provide voltage regulation and load balance services to alleviate the above issues, which in turn improves the hosting capacity. Thus, this paper proposes a BESS optimal allocation approach considering uncertainties from PV generation and load demand to improve the hosting capacity of the unbalanced LVDNs. The proposed approach is simulated with a real LVDN in Australia and results show that by allocating BESSs in the optimal location, the hosting capacity of the LVDN can be significantly improved and the phase unbalance can also be mitigated.