Anti-Inflammatory Activity of N-Docosahexaenoylethanolamine and N-Eicosapentaenoylethanolamine in a Mouse Model of Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Neuroinflammation

The search for methods of cognitive impairment treatment and prevention in neurological and neurodegenerative diseases is an urgent task of modern neurobiology. It is now known that various diseases, accompanied by dementia, exhibit a pronounced neuroinflammation. Considering the significant docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic polyunsaturated fatty acids’ therapeutic potential, we decided to investigate and compare anti-inflammatory activity of their N-acylethanolamine derivatives. As a result, we found that both N-docosahexaenoylethanolamine (synaptamide) and N-eicosapentaenoylethanolamine (EPEA) prevents an LPS-mediated increase in the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 production in the SIM-A9 microglia culture. In an in vivo experiment, synaptamide reversed an increase in LPS-mediated hippocampal TNF-α and IL-1β, but EPEA did not. However, both compounds contributed to the microglia polarization towards the M2-phenotype. Synaptamide, rather than EPEA, inhibited the Iba-1-positive microglia staining area increase. However, both synaptamide and EPEA prevented the LPS-mediated astrogliosis. A study of BDNF immunoreactivity showed that synaptamide, but not EPEA, reversed an LPS-mediated decrease in BDNF production. Despite the more pronounced anti-inflammatory activity of synaptamide, both compounds were effective in maintaining a normal level of hippocampal long-term potentiation in neuroinflammation. The results indicate a high therapeutic potential for both compounds. However, some tests have shown higher activity of synaptamide compared to EPEA.     

Reverse thermopolarization effects in dielectrics

The reverse thermopolarization effect in dielectrics manifested by a appearance of a temperature difference δ between the opposite sides of charging and discharging capacitors was observed. A capacitor of PbMg_1/3Nb_2/3O₃ (PMN) crystals was charged by applying an electric field of E = 10⁶V/m with a time constant. ≃ 10^-5s. The temperature difference δ amounted ≃ 10^-4K at 293 K. The thermal and electric field dependencies of this effect were investigated too. The analysis of the generalized Peltier effect at the boundary of two arbitrary materials shows that the experimental results can be considered as a “dielectric Peltier effect”.     

Out of the Lab and into the Bathroom: Evening Short-Term Exposure to Conventional Light Suppresses Melatonin and Increases Alertness Perception

Life in 24-h society relies on the use of artificial light at night that might disrupt synchronization of the endogenous circadian timing system to the solar day. This could have a negative impact on sleep–wake patterns and psychiatric symptoms. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of evening light emitted by domestic and work place lamps in a naturalistic setting on melatonin levels and alertness in humans. Healthy subjects (6 male, 3 female, 22–33 years) were exposed to constant dim light (<10 lx) for six evenings from 7:00 p.m. to midnight. On evenings 2 through 6, 1 h before habitual bedtime, they were also exposed to light emitted by 5 different conventional lamps for 30 min. Exposure to yellow light did not alter the increase of melatonin in saliva compared to dim light baseline during (38 ± 27 pg/mL vs. 39 ± 23 pg/mL) and after light exposure (39 ± 22 pg/mL vs. 44 ± 26 pg/mL). In contrast, lighting conditions including blue components reduced melatonin increase significantly both during (office daylight white: 25 ± 16 pg/mL, bathroom daylight white: 24 ± 10 pg/mL, Planon warm white: 26 ± 14 pg/mL, hall daylight white: 22 ± 14 pg/mL) and after light exposure (office daylight white: 25 ± 15 pg/mL, bathroom daylight white: 23 ± 9 pg/mL, Planon warm white: 24 ± 13 pg/mL, hall daylight white: 22 ± 26 pg/mL). Subjective alertness was significantly increased after exposure to three of the lighting conditions which included blue spectral components in their spectra. Evening exposure to conventional lamps in an everyday setting influences melatonin excretion and alertness perception within 30 min.     

The high-temperature reaction regime of binary mixtures and enhancement of oil recovery from water-flooded fields

A scheme for enhancing oil recovery by heat and gases evolved in the controlled reactions of a binary mixture (BM) in wells and the reservoir has been considered. A comparative analysis of involvement of the decomposition reactions of inorganic (ammonium) and organic (monoethanolamine (MEAN) [HO-CH₂-CH₂-NH₃]⁺[NO₃]^?) nitrates in this process has been performed. According to calculation results, gas evolution is higher and heat release is lower for MEAN, rather than ammonium nitrate, at a high temperature and the other way around at low temperatures. A field experiment and calculations also have shown that (a) the BM technology can become an alternative to the conventional steam-flooding technology of enhanced oil recovery; (b) an opportunity has been opened for a more resource-saving and cost-effective method of thermochemical elevation of reservoir pressure at an order of magnitude lower reservoir water-flooding rate and a few times higher oil production rate in the gas lift mode; and (c) a necessary and sufficient condition for the successful application of BMs is the existence and functioning of the system of continuous monitoring of bottomhole temperature and pressure in the reaction zone.     

Four‐segment oscillator circuit for piezoelectric sensing devices

Novel circuit design is proposed for a low‐frequency quartz crystal oscillator circuit that consists of four segments. The characteristics of the negative resistance in a low‐frequency Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS)‐inverter quartz oscillator were reviewed for the two modes of SC (stress‐compensated) cut mode and the overtone of low‐frequency mode; separation of two modes and suppression of overtone oscillation were demonstrated successfully. Experimental results and an estimate of the absolute value of the negative resistance are presented for the four‐segment oscillator circuit and the conventional Colpitts circuit and two new types of oscillator circuits. © 2011 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Corporate social responsibility for implementation of sustainable energy development in Baltic States

This article analyses the main problems and challenges of corporate social responsibility in energy sector in Baltic States. Development of socially responsible business in energy sector can provide for the implementation of sustainable energy development without state interventions. This voluntary measure implemented by energy enterprises can ensure efficient public–private partnership in achieving sustainable development targets. The analysis of corporate social responsibility development in energy sector of Baltic States is provided and positive impact of corporate social responsibility on sustainable energy development is evaluated.     

A Mirror Method for Measuring Directional Patterns in the Auxiliary (Azimuthal) Plane of Angle Transducers

Russian Journal of Nondestructive Testing - A new mirror method is proposed for measuring directional patterns of angle piezoelectric transducers in an auxiliary (azimuthal) plane. Measurements of...     

Issues concerning atmospheric turbidity indices

Knowledge of atmospheric turbidity coefficients is very important in meteorology, climatology, atmospheric pollution monitoring, and in the prediction of solar energy availability under cloudless skies. This paper provides a thorough review on a number of atmospheric turbidity indices and on the several methods that have been developed in the past few decades. The Lambert–Bouguer–Beer law is the basic relationship underlying the derivation of various turbidity indices. Turbidity can be referred to as monochromatic (narrow band) wavelengths, broadband wavelengths, and the total spectrum. Narrow band turbidity is measured using sun photometers, while the other two turbidities are measured using pyrheliometers with broadband pass filters. The Ångström's turbidity coefficients and the Linke's turbidity factor are among the most frequently used atmospheric turbidity coefficients.     

Effect of radioactive contamination deposited in a Swamp on the radiological situation in the adjacent region

All-Union Scientific-Research Institute of Atomic Power Plants. Forestry Institute, Siberian Branch, Academy of Sciences of the USSR. IÉRZh, Siberian Branch, Academy of Sciences of the USSR. Beloyarsk Atomic Power Plant. Translated from Atomnaya Énergiya, Vol. 71, No. 3, pp. 249–254, September, 1991.