Monkeypox: A New Threat?

The global vaccination programme against smallpox led to its successful eradication and averted millions of deaths. Monkeypox virus (MPXV) is a close relative of the Variola (smallpox) virus. Due to antigenic similarity, smallpox vaccines cross-protect against MPXV. However, over 70% of people living today were never vaccinated against smallpox. Symptoms of monkeypox (MPX) include fever, head- and muscle ache, lymphadenopathy and a characteristic rash that develops into papules, vesicles and pustules which eventually scab over and heal. MPX is less often fatal (case fatality rates range from <1% to up to 11%) than smallpox (up to 30%). MPXV is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa, infecting wild animals and causing zoonotic outbreaks. Exotic animal trade and international travel, combined with the increasing susceptibility of the human population due to halted vaccination, facilitated the spread of MPXV to new areas. The ongoing outbreak, with >10,000 cases in >50 countries between May and July 2022, shows that MPXV can significantly spread between people and may thus become a serious threat to public health with global consequences. Here, we summarize the current knowledge about this re-emerging virus, discuss available strategies to limit its spread and pathogenicity and evaluate its risk to the human population.     

The Effect of Leptin on the Blood Hormonal Profile (Cortisol,Insulin, Thyroid Hormones) of the Ewe in Acute Inflammation in Two Different Photoperiodical Conditions

As a day animal with sensitivity to inflammation similar to that of humans, the sheep may highly outperform the rodent model in inflammation studies. Additionally, seasonality makes sheep an interesting model in endocrinology research. Although there are studies concerning inflammation’s influence on leptin secretion and vice versa, a ewe model, with its possible ‘long-day leptin resistance’, is still not examined enough. The present study aimed to examine whether leptin may modulate an acute inflammation influence on plasma hormones in two photoperiodical conditions. The experiment was conducted on 48 ewes divided into four groups (control, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), leptin, LPS + leptin) during short and long days. Blood sampling started 1 hour before and continued 3 h after LPS/saline administration for further hormonal analysis. The results showed that the photoperiod is one of the main factors influencing the basal concentrations of several hormones with higher values of leptin, insulin and thyroid hormones during long days. Additionally, the acute inflammation effect on cortisol, insulin and thyroid hormones was photoperiod-dependent. The endotoxemia may also exert an influence on leptin concentration regardless of season. The effects of leptin alone on hormone blood concentrations are rather limited; however, leptin can modulate the LPS influence on insulin or thyroxine in a photoperiod-dependent way.     

异型管管翅式换热器性能研究

管翅式换热器的翅片优化为研究热点,而对管型的研究较少.本文提出一种与圆管相同水力半径的异型管的设计方法,建立了异型管管翅式换热器空气侧换热的数值计算模型,研究了管型、迎风方向和翅片间距对异型管管翅式换热器性能的影响.结果表明:对于双排的异型管换热器,第一排管大圆迎风,第二排管小圆迎风时,空气流动最均匀,压降最低,是综合...     

四川盆地广元-梁平古裂陷构造-沉积演化

二叠纪-三叠纪转折期,四川盆地北部广元-梁平地区发育一个北西-南东向古裂陷,称之为"开江-梁平古裂陷"。由于对广元-梁平古裂陷的认识直接影响到川北和川东北地区的油气勘探部署,因此有必要对该古裂陷的构造-沉积演化进行深入研究。通过系统收集广元-梁平古裂陷槽内外的露头和钻井资料,并根据地层不整合面特征、沉积充填特征、测井曲线突变特征、沉积物地球化学特征等沉积记录以及地震剖面约束,发现广元-梁平古裂陷槽内仍存在茅口组三段(茅三段)和四段沉积物,槽内茅口组顶部缺乏广泛岩溶,表明茅口组减薄并非岩溶侵蚀造成,而是由相变导致的。广元-梁平古裂陷的雏形最早形成于茅三段和茅四段沉积期,吴家坪期在此基础上继承性发展,长兴期拉张裂陷活动加剧,热液活动加强,构造沉积分异明显,为古裂陷发育的高峰期,直至飞仙关组四段沉积期,古裂陷才完全被填平补齐。广元-梁平古裂陷对环裂陷槽中-上二叠统多层系储层具有明显控制作用,不仅控制着茅口组生屑滩储层的发育,还控制着吴家坪组颗粒滩储层的发育,且吴家坪组储层中存在油气运聚过程,发育残余孔隙,为下一步油气勘探的有利目标。     

Melatonin and the Brain–Heart Crosstalk in Neurocritically Ill Patients—From Molecular Action to Clinical Practice

Brain injury, especially traumatic brain injury (TBI), may induce severe dysfunction of extracerebral organs. Cardiac dysfunction associated with TBI is common and well known as the brain–heart crosstalk, which broadly refers to different cardiac disorders such as cardiac arrhythmias, ischemia, hemodynamic insufficiency, and sudden cardiac death, which corresponds to acute disorders of brain function. TBI-related cardiac dysfunction can both worsen the brain damage and increase the risk of death. TBI-related cardiac disorders have been mainly treated symptomatically. However, the analysis of pathomechanisms of TBI-related cardiac dysfunction has highlighted an important role of melatonin in the prevention and treatment of such disorders. Melatonin is a neurohormone released by the pineal gland. It plays a crucial role in the coordination of the circadian rhythm. Additionally, melatonin possesses strong anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and antiapoptotic properties and can modulate sympathetic and parasympathetic activities. Melatonin has a protective effect not only on the brain, by attenuating its injury, but on extracranial organs, including the heart. The aim of this study was to analyze the molecular activity of melatonin in terms of TBI-related cardiac disorders. Our article describes the benefits resulting from using melatonin as an adjuvant in protection and treatment of brain injury-induced cardiac dysfunction.     

3种不锈钢多辊冷轧机的使用比较

根据使用经验,从机械设备维护、厚度控制和板形控制三个方面对三种不同类型的不锈钢多辊冷轧机进行了比较,指出设计和使用上的不足之处,并给出了一些改进建议。     

Design and implementation of optical system for Placido-disc topography

Corneal topography provides powerful support in the diagnosis and treatment of corneal disease by displaying the corneal surface topography in data or image format. To realize the precise detection of corneal surface topography, an optical system for the corneal topography that is based on a Placido disc is designed, which includes a ring distribution on a Placido disc, an imaging system and a collimating illumination system. First, a mathematical model that is based on the corneal topography working principles is established with MATLAB to determine the distribution of white-and-black rings on the Placido disc, in which the ellipsoid facial rings-target of the Placido disc is utilized. Second, the imaging lens structure is designed and optimized by Zemax software. Last, the collimating illumination lens structure is designed by paraxial ray trace equations. The quality of the corneal topography, which is based on our designed optical system, is evaluated. The high-contrast image of uniformly distributed white-and-black rings is observed through the CCD camera. Our optical system for the corneal topography has high precision, with a measuring region of the cornea with a diameter of approximately 10 mm. Therefore, the creation of this optical system offers guidance for designing and improving the optical system of Placido-disc topography.     

Organic whey as a source of Lactobacillus strains with selected technological and antimicrobial properties

Twenty‐five strains, isolated from raw, non‐pasteurised, organic whey samples, were identified phenotypically and genotypically. Biochemical tests were performed, and enzyme profiles, antibiotic resistance and antimicrobial properties were investigated. Sixteen strains were identified as genus Lactobacillus. Based on 16S rDNA gene sequence, the strains were identified as Lb. plantarum and Lb. fermentum. All of the strains had β‐galactosidase activity, and some of them reduced nitrate content. All strains utilised carbohydrates. The tested strains were characterised by low or average lipolytic and esterolytic activity. Moreover, the strains showed low proteolytic activity which is advantageous for their use as starter cultures for foods with low protein content. Strains Lb. fermentum S20, SM1, SM3, S2R and Lb. plantarum SM5 produced harmful N‐acetyl‐β‐glucosaminidase; moreover, the strain S20 produced also β‐glucuronidase. None of the strains produced α‐chymotrypsin. In phenotypic studies, most of the test strains were susceptible to gentamicin, ampicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, penicillin and erythromycin. Strains Lb. plantarum S1 and Lb. fermentum S4, S7, S8, S10, SM1 and SM3 did not possess any transfer resistance genes. Antagonistic activity of the culture LAB strains was assessed as high or moderate in relation to the indicator strains, with the greatest zones of inhibition for E.coli and the smallest for L. monocytogenes ATCC 15313. This study reveals that the LAB strains isolated from organic whey have high potential for food application. Some strains of species Lb. fermentum (S4, S7, S8, S10) have been identified as the best candidates.     

Perceptions of the health and convenience characteristics of fresh and dried fruits

Dried fruits consumption has not received much research attention, although these foods are associated with potential health benefits. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare fresh fruits and dried fruits on measures of health, convenience and consumer feelings.An on-line questionnaire that measured consumers' perceptions of the health benefits and convenience characteristics and their feelings about the consumption of both fresh fruits (apples and plums) and dried fruits (e.g., raisins, dates, and apricots) was completed by 693 respondents (Polish, French, and Dutch).Generally, fresh fruits were perceived to be healthier and less convenient than dried fruits. Consumers also reported more positive feelings about the consumption of fresh fruits compared to dried fruits. The more that the respondents were willing to sacrifice for their health, the more positively they rated the health aspects of both fresh and dried fruits, as well as several perceptions of convenience of both fresh and dried fruits. Health preoccupation was unrelated to most of the convenience perceptions and was associated with lower scores on several perceptions of healthiness. Recommendations for the consumer-oriented development of dried fruits are also provided.     

Imperfective and Perfective Habituals in Polish: A Bi-Directional OT Account of Variation and Ambiguity

This study accounts for the observed patterns of variation and ambiguity in the expression and interpretation of aspect in bare habitual statements in Polish in the framework of Bouma’s (2008) recent version of stratified bi-directional Optimality Theory (OT).