Microbial enzymes such as xylanases enable new technologies for industrial processes. Xylanolytic enzymes hydrolyze complex polysaccharides like xylan and have various commercial applications such as those in the biofuel and pulp and paper fields. In this study, the xylanases from Bacillus pumilus strain BS131 and Aspergillus flavus strain ZGCL17 were isolated from rhizosphere of agricultural fields of district Lahore, Pakistan. These microbes were used as source for production of xylanase and ethanol. A reference strain Aspergillus niger AB1.18 was used as positive reference provided by the courtesy of TNO Netherlands. In the first phase of study, several bacterial and fungal isolates were obtained and purified by subsequent sub-culturing. These purified microbes were then grown on xylan screening media and two strains, BS131 and ZGCL17 were selected because of their significant production capacity. Strain BS131 produced maximum xylanase enzyme (388.8 IU/mg) in xylan medium under submerged fermentation whereas, strain ZGCL17 showed maximum xylanase activity of 493.3 IU/mg in the same medium. In the second phase of study, potential of waste fiber sludge was evaluated to be used as substrate for xylanase production. Waste fiber sludge (WFS) and wheat bran (WB) were used as carbon sources either independently or in combination. Waste fiber sludge was supplemented with different concentrations of salts as well. Along with these salts some combinations were containing wheat bran as an additional Carbon source. Maximum xylanase production was observed in Vogel‟s medium supplemented with WFS as main source of carbon with highest significant xylanase production by strain BS131 (5.7 IU/mL) and strain ZGCL17 (7.3 IU/mL). Along with that, various physio-chemical parameters affecting xylanase production (different media, effect of consortia, incubation period, temperature, pH, substrate concentration, Carbon and Nitrogen sources and enzymatic hydrolysis) were optimized to get maximum enzyme production. Ethanol production was also observed by double fermentation process, involving waste fiber sludge as fermentation substrate. In the first phase of fermentation, Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used for the production of ethanol. In second phase two previously selected microbes (BS131 and ZGCL17) were grown on the resultant product of first fermentation step, to observe xylanase production. Quantification analysis provided that xylanase production improved approximately up to 45% in two step fermentation. These observations strongly indicate the suitability of this two step production system of xylanase enzyme. In the next phase of study, microbial xylanases were purified for chemical characterization and structure elucidation. Column chromatography was used to purify xylanase from rest of the entities. Purity of the purified xylanases was confirmed by performing SDS-PAGE analysis. Purified xylanase fractions were sent for MALDI-TOF/MS analysis. Obtained amino acid patterns were compared by previously deposited sequences on NCBI Protein Blast. All the obtained sequences showed resemblance with xylanase enzymes. The purified xylanase produced by Bacillus pumilus strain BS131 was recognized as glucuronoxylanase with a 100% resemblance with the Bacillus pumilus glucuronoxylanase (EDW23359.1). Whereas, the xylanase data obtained for Aspergillus flavus strain ZGCL17 showed 100% homogeneity with the endo-1,4-beta-xylanase Aspergillus flavus NRRL3357 (XP_002380174.1). In the last phase of study, various physio-chemical parameters were optimized to ensure maximum enzyme activity on previously selected substrate combinations. Among different parameters studied (temperature, pH, substrate concentration, Carbon & Nitrogen sources etc.) maximum xylanase activity was observed at neutral pH in case of BS131 and at pH 5 for ZGCL17. The most suitable temperature for xylanase production was estimated to be 30 °C. With respect to substrate specificity studies 4% of WFS:WB was observed to perform on best significant places. In the same way, some kinetics related to temperature and pH stability was also optimized to ensure maximum enzyme activity. Temperature ranged from 30-60 °C and pH values in same regard were 5.0-7.5. All the experiments were performed thrice containing five replicates of each treatment. All the data was analyzed statistically by performing ANOVA and DNMRT with the help of computer aided software DSAASTAT. Based on the results obtained from the present study it is concluded that two rizospheric microbial strains BS131 (Bacillus pumilus) and ZGCL17 (Aspergillus flavus) have the potential for industrial scale production of xylanase enzyme. Along with that WFS and WB have potential for industrial production of xylanase enzyme. The stability of enzyme was observed over a wide range of temperature. Other characteristics observed add further evidence to its potential for industrial applications. The results of present study strongly indicate the scope for further research on some biochemical structural elucidation and enzyme engineering for wide range of applications.
Islam is a comprehensive code of conduct which encompasses to each sphere of human life. This also owns and endorses those manmade rules which serve the cause of humanity and not entering to its fundamentals. Adherence to Pakistani Traffic rules also falls under the preview of the same doctrine. It is very pertinent to note here, that the same traffic rules such as fastening of seat built, proper use of indicators, speed control etc. Have been devised to ensure the safety which starts from a pedestrian and ends up to a rider of any vehicle class. Any violation of traffic rules is an indirect breech of divine discipline imposed by Allah the Almighty. If the violation costs any damage, injury or fatal accident, this will directly be dealt under the principles set by Islam. This study aims at highlighting the significance of adherence to traffic rules which is directly linked to the ground safety. This ultimately serves the main purpose of saving any precious human life. If the same is ensured, no doubt the purpose of the holy verse would be fulfilled
The dissertation entitled “Parliamentary Democracy in Pakistan 1988-1999” presents a comprehensive account of four elected governments during the period 1988 and 1999 - a period of topical significance sand-witched between two long military rules (Zia: 1977- 88 and Musharraf: 1999-2008). The emphasis of the study is on uncovering the factors that created bottlenecks in the democratic process and premature dissolution of the elected governments. The focus is on working relationship between elected and nonelected institutions as well as on functioning of the elected institutions. The elected institutions variables include the Parliament, Provincial Assemblies, Local Bodies and Federal/Provincial Governments. The non-elected institutions variables comprise Media, Caretaker Governments, Military, Bureaucracy and Judiciary. It also takes into account human rights, law and order situation and executive-judiciary relationship. Besides introduction and conclusion, the thesis includes five chapters. The first chapter is a brief review of the political history of Pakistan during the period 1947-1988. It is intended to provide background framework to facilitate discussion and analysis of the theme of the thesis, namely, uncovering the factors that impeded the functioning of the elected governments during 1988-1999. This eleven year period is covered under four chapters; each coinciding with elections, and formulation and dissolution of Assemblies and governments (i.e., 1988-90; 1990-93; 1993-96; and 1996-99).The chapters provide details of political trends; power game; and factors that led to frequent derailment of democratic process. Besides published material, interviews of some important politicians and civilmilitary bureaucrats are used to gain first hand knowledge as also to understand and analyse the issues. This is not only intended to obtain information but also to seek ideas and suggestions for ensuring sustained and effective working of parliamentary democracy in the country.