Presently, buffalo farmers are dissatisfied with fertility rates of the frozen semen used in the field and tend to use bulls. This study was designed to develop a suitable semen extender for cryopreservation of Nili Ravi buffalo semen that can improve conception rate in buffaloes. Experiment-I, an attempt was made to develop semen extender with optimal osmotic pressure for buffalo semen using tris citric acid (TCAE), skim milk (SME) and coconut water (CWE) extenders (each extender have 260, 270, 280, 290 and 300 mOsm/kg osmotic pressure levels). In Experiment-II, best extender (TCAE: 300 mOsm/kg) of experiment-I was tried to improve post thaw spermatozoa characteristics by supplementing antioxidants [0.0, 1.75, 2.0 and 2.25 mM butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT) and 0.0, 2.0, 5.0 and 8.0 mM L-cysteine]. Post thaw spermatozoa motility, viability, plasma membrane integrity (PMI), DNA damage rate and lipid peroxidation were assessed in first two experiments. In Experiment-III, pregnancy rate assessment of extended semen was carried out by using Trial extender (best of experiment II) or Control extender of Semen Production Unit (SPU), Qadirabad, Pakistan (50 inseminations of each extender). Higher spermatozoa motility at ≥ 270 mOsm/kg was noted in TCAE than both SME and CWE could be due to less intracellular ice formation in zwitterions extender. Higher spermatozoa viability in TCAE and CWE compared to SME may be attributed to extender effectiveness. Higher acrosomal integrity rate at 300 mOsm/kg in TCAE and SME may be because of less intracellular ice formation in isotonic extenders. At 290 mOsm/kg, higher spermatozoa PMI in SME and lesser DNA damage in three extenders might be due to lesser intracellular ice formation at cryopreservation. Decreased spermatozoa DNA damage in SME might be due to the presence of natural antioxidants i.e., casein. Higher lipid peroxidation in CWE than TCAE and SME may be due to presence of natural antioxidants (in SME) and higher cell dehydration potential of TCAE. Higher spermatozoa motility recorded at 2.0 mM BHT compared to other BHT groups including DMSO might be due to fact that BHT protects spermatozoa mitochondria by reducing oxidative stress. Lower spermatozoa viability, PMI rates and higher DNA damage at 2.25 mM of BHT may be due to BHT toxic effects. Lower lipid peroxidation in BHT treated groups compared to DMSO and BHT control groups might be related to BHT strong antioxidant properties. L-cysteine caused higher spermatozoa DNA damage at highest level (i.e., 8 mM) that could also be due to antioxidant’s toxic effect. Pregnancy rate 18 % higher was noted in Trial than Control semen extender; however no significant difference have been noted that might be due to less no of inseminations. In conclusion, TCA extender (300 mOsm/kg) having BHT (2.0 mM) improved post thaw semen quality and yielded numerically better pregnancy rates. Results of study indicated that osmotic stress damaged the spermatozoa internal structures more severely than injury to plasma membrane.
This article dealt with the description of services of Hażrat ‘Āyeshah (R. A) in the field of principles of derivation of legal rules from the legal texts of the Holy Quran and prophetic traditions, which is the second part of the series, in first part Quran was focused in this regard while in this article other sources of Islamic law as Prophetic tradition etc. Have been discussed and their applications in the juristic approach of Hażrat ‘Āyeshah, likewise, Qiyās is a method that uses analogy/ comparison to derive Islamic legal rulings for new developments due to importance and the need of society. Umm Al-Momineen Hażrat ‘Āyeshah (R. A) used to derive a ruling for new situations that are not addressed by Qur’an and Sunnah. Istiḥsān is the fourth principle of derivation of Aḥkām. Likewise, other sources considered by her including Istiḥsān, Istisḥāb, ‘Urf as principle of derivation of Aḥkām. ‘Urf is an Arabic Islamic term referring to the custom or knowledge of a given society. Furthermore, the method adopted for research is deductive. The study found that Hażrat ‘Āyeshah applied the said sources in her process of derivation of legal rules of Islam, which were followed by Muslim jurists in this regard, So it is recommended that student of Islamic Law should study efforts of the companion of Prophet peace be upon him and their principles in the field.
This PhD dissertation focusses on antibiotics coated silver and gold nanoparticles (NPs), analysis of their photo-physical and enhanced antibacterial properties. The drug resistant bacteria are increasing day by day due to irrational use of antibiotics. Bacterial resistance towards the existing antibiotics is a global health issue and these drugs are at high risks in this regard. To overcome this problem new methodologies and measurements are dreadfully needed. In this context, the present study was designed to modify some selected antibacterial drugs through nanochemical approach to enhance their antibacterial potential. The beta-lactam antibiotics are most commonly used for the treatment of bacterial infections. Silver and gold NPs stabilized with these antibiotics were successfully synthesized though chemical reduction method. The NPs were characterized with Ultra-Violet visible spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The analysis confirmed the formation of poly-dispersed NPs of size less than 100 nm. The NPs were found stable at high temperature (up to 100oC), at various pH range and in different salt concentrations. The antibacterial potential of conjugated antibiotics were compared with pure antibiotics and unconjugated gold and silver NPs using AFM and conventional techniques such as the agar well diffusion method. Analysis of bacterial cells surface topography was recorded under AFM before and after treating with the antibiotics conjugated with Ag and Au NPs, free antibiotics and bare Ag and Au NPs. Conjugation to AgNPs enhanced the antibacterial activity of Ceftriaxone by 2 times, and conjugation to AuNPs by 6 times. The antibacterial potential of Cefadroxil was enhanced up to 2 and 3 times on conjugation with AgNPs and AuNPs, respectively. Similarly, the antibacterial potential of Cephradine was enhanced up to about 2 times on conjugation with AgNPs and conjugation to AuNPs by about 6 times. It was found that Ampicillin conjugated to Ag and Au NPs are about 5 and 10 times more active than pure Abstract xi Ampicillin, respectively. Similarly, Cefixime conjugated to Ag and Au NPs are about 3 and 8 times more active than pure Cefixime, respectively. The study also explored the improved kinetics of the antibiotics as the drugs coated with the NPs destroyed bacteria more timely than the free drugs. The antibiotics were also encapsulated with polymers to create nanoscale materials. Ceftriaxone and Cefixime were successfully encapsulated with polyethylene glycol (PEG). The polymeric nanosized Ceftriaxone and Cefixime were found more active than their respective free drugs.