Sorptive equilibrium profile of fluoride onto aluminum olivine [(FexMg1-x)2SiO4] composite (AOC): Physicochemical insights and isotherm modeling by non-linear least squares regression and a novel neural-network-based method.

A novel aluminum/olivine composite (AOC) was prepared by wet impregnation followed by calcination and was introduced as an efficient adsorbent for defluoridation. The adsorption of fluoride was modeled with one-, two- and three-parameter isotherm equations by non-linear regression to demonstrate the adsorption equilibrium. The FI was the best-fitted model among the two-parameter isotherms with a R2 value of 0.995. The three-parameter models were found to have better performance with low values of the error functions and high F values. The neural-network-based model was applied for the first time in the isotherm study. The optimized model was framed with eight neurons in hidden layer with a mean square of error of 0.0481 and correlation coefficient greater than 0.999. The neural-based model has the better predictability with a higher F value of 9484 and R2 value of 0.998 compared to regression models, exhibiting the F value and the R2 in the range of 86-3572 and 0.835-0.995, respectively. The material characterization established the formation of the aluminum oxide, silicate, etc. onto the olivine which is conducive of the removal of fluoride by the formation of aluminum fluoride compounds, such as AlF3 in the spent material after defluoridation.

Cytogenetic toxicity of Aloe vera (a medicinal plant).

The cytogenetic toxicity of the crude leaf extract of Aloe vera, a medicinal plant, was evaluated in two test systems, onion and Swiss albino mice, using their root tip meristematic and bone marrow cells, respectively. No significant increase in structural abnormalities in chromosomes was observed, but a marked increase in cells with chromosome-number anomalies was found. The extract, however, significantly increased the mitotic index of both cell types.

In-vivo therapeutic efficacy trial with artemisinin derivative, buparvaquone and imidocarb dipropionate against Babesia equi infection in donkeys.

The therapeutic efficacy of imidocarb, artesunate, arteether, buparvaquone and arteether+buparvaquone combination was evaluated against Babesia equi of Indian origin in splenectomised donkeys with experimentally induced acute infection. Efficacies of these drugs were tested by administering each drug or drug combination to groups of donkeys (having three donkeys each group). One group of donkey was kept as untreated control for comparing the results. Parasitaemia, haematology (WBC, RBC, PCV, granulocytes and haemoglobin), biochemical parameters (SAST, SALT, alkaline phosphatase, albumin/globulin ratio) were monitored at regular intervals. Individually, arteether and buparvaquone were found to have no parasite clearing efficacy and the treated animals died within 5-6 days after showing high parasitaemia and clinical symptoms of the disease. However, artesunate treated animals were able to restrict the parasite multiplication but only during the treatment period. Animals treated with imidocarb and arteether+buparvaquone combination were able to clear the parasite from the blood circulation after 2-5 days post-treatment (PT). After 55-58 days PT, recrudescence of B. equi parasite was observed in both these groups and a mean survival period of 66 days and 69 days, respectively, was recorded in these groups. Results of haemato-biochemical parameters had shown that imidocarb had deleterious effect on the liver function while on the other hand arteether+buparvaquone combination was found to be safe. This limited study indicates that arteether+buparvaquone combination could be a better choice than imidocarb for treating B. equi infection, but further trials are required in detail.