The present study examined the protective effects of vitamin E against aluminum-induced neurotoxicity in rats. Wistar rats were given daily aluminum via their drinking water containing 1600 mg/liter aluminum chloride for six weeks. Aluminum induced a significant increase in lipid peroxidation (LPO) in hippocampus and frontal cortex. Furthermore, aluminum caused marked elevation in the levels of the glial markers (glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and S100B) and proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha and IL-1beta) in both brain areas. Vitamin E treatment reduced the contents of glial markers and cytokines and the levels of LPO. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that vitamin E ameliorates glial activation and reduces release of proinflammatory cytokines induced by aluminum.

The use of multipass optical systems as well as the compression of the gaseous test medium to increase the signal intensity of the spontaneous Raman scattering of light has been experimentally studied. A description of a prototype developed for a natural-gas analyzer based on spontaneous Raman scattering spectroscopy is presented. A technique is described for calculating the composition of natural gas from its spectrum. The results are compared with chromatographic-analysis data.

In this paper, a new field version of the automated ultrasonic meteorological complex AMK-03 is described. This complex is intended for measuring instant values of the main meteorological variables, such as air temperature, horizontal and vertical components of the wind speed and direction, relative humidity, and atmospheric pressure. These data are obtained and processed with 40 Hz sensors and then accumulated in a logger. In this complex, data acquisition via eight extra sensors (including soil and/or water temperature sensors) is foreseen. The data are recorded onto changeable flash cards (whose capacity is at least 256 Mb). To the logger data decoding and processing, special software is developed. The complex is supplied with batteries that provide its autonomic operation for at least 96 hours. Together with its transportation case, its weight does not exceed 19 kg. The AMK-03 complex has been registered in the State Register of the Measuring Instruments of Russia.

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