Neuroprotective effect of Foeniculum vulgare essential oil in developing Wistar rats exposed to manganese chloride

The present study was carried out in order to evaluate, on the one hand, the modifications induced by manganese chloride according to a neurobehavioral, biochemical and histological approach in developing Wistar rats and, on the other hand, to test the effectiveness of Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) essential oil (FEO) in restoring or not the harmful effects of manganese chloride (MnCl2). The characterization of this essential oil by gas chromatography showed that the major component is E-anethole (34.7907%). The administration of FEO corrected the depressive state, anxiety and locomotor hypoactivity respectively observed in rats exposed to MnCl2, thus, the FEO restored the activity of the various antioxidant enzymes with a clear improvement of the cerebral tissue architecture in intoxicated rats treated with FEO. In conclusion, the FEO has a beneficial effect on the nervous system of rats intoxicated with MnCl2 which justifies the importance of this oil in traditional medicine.

Effect of Micronutrient and Hormone on Microalgae Growth Assessment for Biofuel Feedstock

The individual and combined effects of micronutrients and hormones on freshwater-borne microalgae growth were investigated for biofuel feedstock in this experimental study. Five algal strains of Chlorella sp., Chlorococcum sp., Phormidium sp., Chlorella sp. and Cosmarium sp., AZH, AZS, ZAA1, ZAA2, and ZAA3, respectively, have been investigated. These strains were treated using different concentrations of micronutrients (iron chloride, manganese chloride, and sodium molybdenum oxide) and hormone (salicylic acid). The different treatments’ growth effects were as follows: iron chloride > sodium molybdenum oxide ˃ manganese chloride > salicylic acid. The order of the increases in the number of microalgal strain cells achieved by the application of the micronutrients and hormone was AZH > AZS > ZAA3 > ZAA2 > ZAA1. The combined treatments produced higher growth rates than the individual treatments, with the order of their effects being micronutrients + hormone > all three micronutrients > hormone alone. The increase in the number of microalgal strain cells under combined treatment was ZAA3 > AZH > AZS > ZAA2 and assessed using one-way ANOVA.

Improvements in Fire Resistance, Decay Resistance, Anti-Mold Property and Bonding Performance in Plywood Treated with Manganese Chloride, Phosphoric Acid, Boric Acid and Ammonium Chloride

(1) A compound protectant was prepared using manganese chloride, phosphoric acid, boric acid and ammonium chloride, and then a veneer was immersed in the prepared protectant to prepare plywood in this paper. Great attention was paid to discussing influences of such protectant on fire resistance, decay resistance, anti-mold property and bonding performance of plywood. Results demonstrated that after protectant treatment, the plywood showed not only good fire resistance and smoke inhibition, but also strong char-formation ability, slow flame spreading, long time to ignition, small fire risk and high safety level. (2) The mass loss rates of plywood with protectant treatment after infection and erosion in wood-destroying Coriolus versicolor and Gloeophyllum trabeum were 19.73% and 17.27%, reaching the II-level corrosion grade. (3) There is not a significant difference with Aspergillus niger V.; however, it was possible to observe a strong difference with Trichoderma viride Pers. ex Fr., indicating that the protectant acted as a good anti-mold product for plywood. (4) The protectant influenced the bonding interface of wood and bonding conditions of the adhesive. The bonding strength of plywood was weakened, but it still met the requirements on bonding strength of GB/T 9846-2015. (5) The protectant changed the thermal decomposition and thermal degradation of plywood, inhibiting the generation of inflammable goods, blocking transmission of heats and lowering the thermal decomposition temperature of plywood. These promoted dehydrations and charring of wood and the generated carbon had a high thermal stability. (6) Compared with untreated plywood, the prepared protectant treatment significantly enhanced the fire resistance of plywood, reduced its biodegradability by wood-decaying fungi and showed good mold resistance.

A study of using manganese chloride (MnCl2) solution as an alternative of contrast medium for iodine in computed tomography (CT) imaging

Iodine solution is the only contrast medium currently used in the computed tomography scan (CT scan) examination. In the present study manganese chloride (MnCl2) solution has been chosen as alternative contrast medium in computed tomography scanning (CT scan). It was found that using MnCl2 solution as an alternative contrast medium in rabbits which enhanced the CT scan imaging in the resolution and increasing the Hounsfield unit (HU) values of heart and kidney organs in comparison with the iodine compound at the same doses. It was chosen the heart and kidney of rabbits to study the effect of using the iodine and MnCl2 solution as alternative contrast medium in CT scan imaging, the following results: the native has 45 HU for heart and 50.1 for kidney organ. While the results of using iodine solution at dose of 3 ml has 83 HU for heart and 164 HU for kidney organ. In the MnCl2 solution which used as alternative of contrast medium has 83 HU for heart and 70.3 HU for kidney at 2.5 ml of 0.5 molar of solution. From these results the resolution of CT scan image has well and clears when using the alternative contrast medium (MnCl2). We can concluded that the alternative contrast medium of MnCl2 solution has good HU values of both heart and kidney comparison with iodine solution.