Insecurity in a New Silk Road

Withdrawal of US-NATO troops from Afghanistan, remains an issue for military operations of new-old participants in the process of further destabilization of the political situation in Central Asia. The process of political destabilization of the region raises many a questions about new relationship between interests of USA, China, Russia and India in this region. Pronounced influence of radical Islamic movements in the broader area of Asia makes this region tremendously important for the further development of global political relations in this part of the world. The crisis in relations between Russia and the West makes reconfiguration of global strategic interests in the region more complex.

Impact of Minerals on Selective Biomarkers of Buffaloes in Various Districts of Pujab, Pakistan.

By having the knowledge of mineral status of animals, the various measures should be taken to improve the mineral status by supplementation of minerals as nutrition to the animals. The three animal research farms at three districts (Bhakkar, Khushab and Kasur) of Punjab were selected for sampling purpose. The totals of one hundred and eighty buffaloes were grouped into three categories, (lactating, non-lactating and pregnant). The samples of soil, forage, water, animal milk, blood plasma, hair, urine and feces were collected from all experimental sites. The concentration of minerals (sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, iron, manganese, selenium, nickel, cobalt, lead and cadmium) of all collected samples was determined by wet digestion and atomic absorption spectrometer and serum biochemicals (urea, glucose, creatinine, albumin, globulin, total protein, cholesterol, hormones: leutinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone and progesterone, vitamins-D & E and enzymes: Alanine transaminase, Aspartate transaminase, Alkaline phosphatase and Lactate dehydrogenase) were also estimated by biochemical tests. The mineral levels of all collected samples were compared to their corresponding values to find mineral imbalances in experimental animals. It was estimated that the levels of Fe, Cu, Ni, Co, Mn, Pb, Cd and Zn were found to be imbalanced in some lactating, non-lactating and pregnant buffaloes.All experimental animals were divided into two groups after estimating mineral levels in collected sample of animals, the group of animals which had normal level of minerals in their blood serum are said to be healthy group HG of animals and the group which had mineral imbalance in blood serum are called affected group of animals. The affected group of animals was further divided into untreated group UG and treated group TG of animals. The HG and UG groups were provided normal diet. The total eleven mineral complexes of glycine and methionine were synthesized by using glycine and methionine amino acids as well as salts of required metals for those affected buffaloes which had mineral imbalances and these complexes were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy before their supplementation to the animals with physiological variations. The trials of supplementing synthesized mineral complexes with rats were also conducted to protect the large ruminants from toxic levels of metals. The TG group of buffaloes all categories were provided by the required synthesized amino acid mineral complexes along with normal diet for duration of thirty days. The level of minerals in all the samplesof HG, UG and TG groups of buffaloes as well as in soil, forage and water were estimated. The selected blood biomarkers were also determined in these animals. The data for different attributes was subjected to a statistical analysis using the Chi Square Test to check the relationship between qualitative variables. In present study the results showed the level of albumin was higher in lactating and pregnant animals of Bhakkar, but that of globulin lower in those of TG groups of animals in Kasur. In Khushab and Bhakkar, the decreased levels of creatinine and glucose in pregnant and non-lactating animals of TG groups of animals. The value of total protein was higher in both lactating and nonlactating animals of TG groups in Khushab. The levels of vitamin-D and E were found to be higher in lactating and non-lactating animals at three districts, while reverse was true for pregnant animals. The lactating and non-lactating animals of TG group had higher levels of cholesterol, but lower level of urea in Bhakkar. The non-lactating animals of TG group had higher levels of LH, FSH and progesterone, in Khushab. The values of ALT and LDH were increased in both lactating and pregnant animals of TG group in Khushab, while lower value of AST was found in lactating animals and reverse was true for serum level of ALP in Kasur. The level of biomarkers was affected by mineral levels. The Zn and Ni levels in blood-serum, hair, milk, urine of lactating animals of TG groups were found to be higher significantly. The levels of Fe, Mn and Pb were lower in blood, higher in hair and milk of pregnant animals of TG group in Kasur. The levels of Co and Cd were higher in blood and feces of pregnant animals of Khushab. While Se level was higher in blood and feces and lower in hair and urine of lactating and pregnant animals. The body weight and milk yield of lactating and pregnant animals was increased going towards normality in TG groups of animals after mineral supplementation. It was concluded that by supplementing the selected organic mineral complexes, the levels of biochemicals were changed towards normality to regulate the animal body metabolism properly and in this way their reproductive potential also increase. The metal of these complexes play a central role to maintain structure and mechanism of various metalloenzymes in animal body. These complexes are more water soluble, more bioavailable, and more efficiently used in animal body metabolism. Thus the quality of meat, milk, cheese and wool etc of live stock might be improved and environment may also be protected by reducing metal pollution. These animals are important to improve the rural economy and used to improve the revenue of the poor people.