Chloramphenicol Loaded Microemulsions: Development, Characterization and Stability

This study aimed to formulate and characterize microemulsions containing chloramphenicol. Microemulsions represent highly biocompatible drug delivery systems due to their potential for increased absorption as well as high solubilization capacity. MEs were composed of Oleic acid, non-ionic surfactants tween 20/60, 1-propanol and phosphate buffer. The optimum weight ratios of components and MEs areas were determined by pseudo-ternary phase diagram. All formulations were physically characterized by centrifugation, pH, refractive index, conductivity, viscosity, surface tension and partition coefficient. The specific residence site of chloramphenicol was detected by 1H NMR study. It was uncovered that drug is entrapped between the oxyethylene groups of hydrophilic shell of MEs. So, the drug was screened from bulk water and its stability was enhanced. Thus, all characterizations have suggested that formulated MEs have potential for ocular application, being able to use as efficient drug carrier for ocular drug delivery

Black-Legged Kittiwake (\u3cem\u3eRissa tridactyla\u3c/em\u3e) in Karakoram: Record on Vagrancy

A Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla; BLK) circumpolar shore bird was recorded on the Borith Lake (36°25\u2754.31 N, 74°51\u2744.09 E) 4,000-5,000 km away from the gull family bird\u27s eastern or western normal habitat and 2000 km from its last report few years ago and 1500 km from nearest seashore. This report discusses the possible reasons and so far reported vagrancy of this bird

Rescue and Rehabilitation of an Indian Rock Python (Python Molurus): First Case Study from Pakistan

Pythons are facing the threat of extinction due to human annihilation and interference in natural habitats of pythons. Indian rock python (Python molurus) has been stated as Lower Risk/Near Threatened by International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Therefore, there is an intense need to change the perception of people and encourage them to coincide with this big snake. Current study involved the rescue and rehabilitation of an Indian rock python (P. molurus) spotted at the shrine of Baba Shah Jeevan, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Python was grasped by skilled snake catchers and taken to the wildlife sanctuary in Balkasar Research Complex, Chakwal, Pakistan for the purpose of conservation. The python was kept in cage designed for reptiles (especially for snakes) having proper soil bed and shelter. Proper hygienic condition is maintained in the cage with climbing structures for the python and an adult chicken is feed to it every week. After rescuing, the python was force-feed, however the natural feeding behavior of constriction and killing of prey was resumed by it after few weeks. Rescue, rehabilitation and release of pythons create a coexisting environment in between pythons and human being instead of python-human conflict, ultimately decreasing the risk of population decline of large snakes

Fe-POM/ attapulgite composite materials: efficient catalysts for plastic pyrolysis

This article describes the catalytic cracking of low-density polyethylene over attapulgite clay and iron substituted tungstophosphate/attapulgite clay (Fe-POM/attapulgite) composite materials to evaluate their suitability and performance for recycling of plastic waste into liquid fuel. The prepared catalysts enhanced the yield of liquid fuel (hydrocarbons) produced in cracking process. A maximum yield of 82% liquid oil fraction with a negligible amount of coke was obtained for 50% Fe-POM/attapulgite composite. Whereas, only 68% liquid oil fractions with a large amount of solid black residue was produced in case of non-catalytic pyrolysis. Moreover, Fe-POM/attapulgite clay composites showed higher selectivity towards lower hydrocarbons (C5–C12) with aliphatic hydrocarbons as major fractions. These synthesised composite catalysts significantly lowered the pyrolysis temperature from 375°C to 310°C. Hence, recovery of valuable fuel oil from polyethylene using these synthesised catalysts suggested their applicability for energy production from plastic waste at industrial level as well as for effective environment pollution control

Synthesis of surfactant-coated cobalt ferrite nanoparticles for adsorptive removal of acid blue 45 dye

Cobalt ferrite (CoFe 2 O 4 ) nanoparticles (NPs) are synthesized by wet chemical coprecipitation method using metal chlorides as precursors and potassium hydroxide (KOH) as a precipitant. The tergitol-1x (T-1x) and didecyldimethyl ammonium bromide (DDAB) are used as capping agents and their effect is investigated on particle size, size distribution and morphology of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (CFNPs). The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirms the synthesis of CFNPs and formation of metal-oxygen (M-O) bond. The spinel phase structure, morphology, polydispersity and magnetic properties of ferrite nanoparticles are investigated by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering and vibrating sample magnetometry analyses, respectively. The addition of capping agents effects the secondary growth of CFNPs and reduces their particle size, as is investigated by dynamic light scattering and atomic force microscopy. The results evidence that the DDAB is more promising surfactant to control the particle size (∼13 nm), polydispersity and aggregation of CFNPs. The synthesized CFNPs, CFNPs/T-1x and CFNPs/DDAB are used to study their adsorption potential for removal of acid blue 45 dye, and a maximum adsorptive removal of 92.25% is recorded by 0.1 g of CFNPs/DDAB at pH 2.5 and temperature 20 ± 1 °C. The results show that the dye is physically adsorbed by magnetic NPs and follows the Langmuir isotherm model