To reduce morbidity and mortality due to induced abortions, as most of these terminate into septic cases, the use of safe contraceptive methods has to be identified. Hormonal contraception is the most widely used method all over the world. The purpose of this study was to compare the laboratory derived variables in groups of subjects using combined oral pills or injectable contraceptives and the women who were not using oral pills or injectable contraceptives in their reproductive age (15-49yrs). This study identified a simple method to determine an efficient and reliable method of hormonal contraception. It will facilitate the population planners and health providers to propagate safe and efficient method of contraception for use by general population. For this purpose a comparative cross-sectional study was designed and carried out in Hazara University, Mansehra. The study sample comprised 300 married fertile women who were non-pregnant and non-lactating. Subjects were divided into three groups: controls, subjects using combined oral pills and subjects using injectable contraceptives (progestogen only). The laboratory derived variables studied were (a) serum serotonin (b) lipid profile including serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, LDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C. Fasting blood samples were taken and tests were performed.. A 5% level of significance (p≤0.05) was taken. There was no statistically significant difference of BMI among the groups. Serum serotonin, serum toal cholesterol, serum triglycerides, HDL-C, LDL-C and LDL/HDL ratio showed a statistically significant difference. There was no significant difference of dietary nutrients intake among all the three groups. Physical activity did not showed any significant correlation among three groups. In group 1, it was positively correlated with BMI, serum total cholesterol, serum triglycerrides and LDL-C. Whereas, it was negatively correlated with serum serotonin, HDL-C and LDL/HDL ratio. Physical activity in group 2 was positively correlated with BMI, serum total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C and LDL/HDL ratio. Whereas, it was negatively correlated with serum serotonin and serum triglycerides. Physical activity in group 3 was positively correlated with BMI, serum serotonin and serum triglycerides, it was negatively correlated with serum total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C and LDL/HDL ratio. Similarly, BMI was also not statistically correlated with serum markers. BMI in group 1 was positively correlated with serum total cholesterol, serum triglycerides, HDL-C and LDL-C, it was negatively correlated with serum serotonin and LDL/HDL ratio. BMI in group 2 was positively correlated with LDL-C and LDL/HDL ratio, it was negatively correlated with serum serotonin, serum total cholesterol, serum triglycerides and HDL-C. BMI in group 3 was positively correlated with serum serotonin, serum total cholesterol and LDL-C and it was negatively correlated with serum triglycerides , HDL-C and LDL/HDL ratio. In the present study, hormonal contraceptives led to changes in serum serotonin, lipid profiles and LDL/HDL ratio. Dietary intake of essential nutrients should be checked while using hormonal contraceptives.
مولانا معین الدین اجمیرؔی ۱۰؍ محرم الحرام ۱ ۱۳۵۹ھ عین عاشورہ کے دن علم و عمل فضل و کمال، مجاہدہ و استقامت وطہارت کی ایک ایسی مسند خالی ہوئی جو غالباً عرصۂ دراز تک خالی رہے گی، اِنَّا لِلّٰہِ وَاِنَّا اِلَیْہِ رَاجِعُوْنَ۔ اس سے ہماری مراد حضرت مولانا معین الدین اجمیری رحمۃ اﷲ علیہ کا سانحۂ ارتحال ہے، یہ حادثہ محض مولانا کے اہل خاندان یا مسلمانانِ اجمیر ہی کے لئے نہیں ہے، بلکہ سارا اسلامی ہند اس سے متاثر اور اپنی کم نصیبی پر نوحہ کناں ہے۔ وَمَا کَانَ قَیْس’‘ ھَلَکَ ھُلَکَ وَاحِدٍ وَلٰکِنَّہٗ بُنْیَان قُوْمٍ تھَدّما مولانا ایک نومسلم گھرانے میں پیدا ہوئے تھے، والد ماجد مولانا عبدالرحمن صاحب مرحوم بلیاؔ کے رہنے والے نومسلم راجپوت تھے اور والدہ بھی داخل اسلام ہوئی تھیں اور دانا پور (بہار) ان کا گھر تھا تعلق راجپوتانہ سے اس طرح پیدا ہوا کہ مولانا عبدالرحمن صاحب ریاست ٹونک میں سیکریٹری کونسل تھے، چار یا پانچ سو روپیہ ماہوار تنخواہ تھی، اسی علاقہ میں دیولی (راجپوتانہ) میں ۲۵؍ صفر ۱۲۹۹ء کو پیدا ہوئے اور باپ کے زیر سایہ زندگی کی ابتدائی منزلیں طے ہوئیں، بچپن ہی سے سعادت و فیروز مندی کے آثار نمایاں تھے، چنانچہ دولت و ثروت کی گود میں پلنے والے اس نوجوان نے ہمیشہ طالبعلموں میں مساوات ہی کی زندگی بسر کی، امیرانہ ٹھاٹھ اور رئیسانہ شان کا کبھی مظاہرہ نہ کیا۔ قسمت کی خوبی اور نصیب کی بلندی نے خاتم المحققین حضرت مولانا سید برکاتؔ احمد صاحب (بہاری، ثم) ٹونکی سے تلمذ کا رشتہ قائم کرایا، اس تعلق سے مولانا کا سلسلۂ تلمذ یہ ہے۔ حضرت مولانا معین الدین صاحب اجمیری رحمۃ اﷲ علیہ حضرت مولانا سیّد برکات احمد صاحب ٹونکی رحمۃ اﷲ علیہ حضرت مولانا عبدالحق صاحب خیرآبادی رحمۃ اﷲ علیہ حضرت مولانا فضل حق صاحب خیرآبادی رحمۃ اﷲ علیہ حضرت مولانا...
Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) refers to the damage of mechanical components which are under the combined action of static load and corrosive environment. This phenomenon occurs in various applications including naval and aerospace industry where aluminum and steel alloys experience mechanical loadings in the presence of corrosive environments. In this research work, microstructural and environmental influence on corrosion behavior of Al-6061-T6 at different static loads was investigated. A new test fixture was developed for stress corrosion cracking. Dog-bone shaped tensile specimens of Al-6061-T6 were manufactured using CNC milling machine. Tests were conducted at constant loads of 200 N, 500 N and 800 N, in three different environments: dry ambient conditions, distilled water and 3.5% NaCl solution. Testing continued for different intervals of time i.e. 96 hours, 68 hours and 4.5 hours respectively. After each set of experiments, specimens were observed for cracks using metallurgical microscope. Detailed fractographic investigation of all the tested specimens was carried out using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Excessive corrosion and material degradation was observed in specimens tested in distilled water and 3.5% NaCl environments.
Microstructural analysis depicted pitting corrosion and crack deformation. Some regions clearly showed that grain boundaries were attacked due to oxidation and chemical attack causing weakening of grain boundaries and resulted into intergranular corrosion. Precipitates and grain boundaries in Al-6061-T6 served as a reason of crack initiation due to hydrogen diffusion. Fractographic investigation provided the evidence of trans granular fracture as well as intergranular fracture which was observed as dimples and extensive ductile tearing.
The consumption of probiotic bacteria is continuously growing due to the numerous health benefits. Encapsulation is an effective approach for ensuring the target delivery of these probiotics. The present study was conducted in three phases. In first phase, encapsulation of probiotic bacteria (L. acidophilus) was done by encapsulator using sodium alginate and carrageenan as coating biomaterial. Obtained beads were characterized by optical, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and FTIR. In second phase in vitro assay was carried out for selected functional properties. In third phase, a comparative study between free and encapsulated probiotics was done for accessing their viability and stability in carrier foods (yogurt and ice Cream). The products containing free and encapsulated probiotics were also subjected to physicochemical, microbiological and sensory characteristics. Microbeads, obtained from encapsulator were, smaller, predominantly spherical with smooth and rough surface and uniform in size. Additionally, FTIR analysis indicated an interaction between cell components and coating materials. The encapsulation yield for sodium alginate and carrageenan was 98 and 96 % respectively. Free/un-encapsulated cells exhibited poor survival under the simulated gastrointestinal conditions during their exposure to simulated gastric and intestinal juice as compared to encapsulated cells the viable count of encapsulated probiotic bacteria decreased from 9.92 log10 cfu to 8.75 log10 cfu and for free cells decreased from 9.94 log10 cfu to 5.46 log10 cfu in ice-cream over 120 days of storage. While for yogurt it decreased from 8.94 log10 cfu to 7.17 log10 cfu and for free cells decreased from 8.86 log10 cfu to 5.84 log10 cfu in yogurt over 28 days of storage. The results of the viable count in case of encapsulated cells were still above accepted level (106 cfu/g) that required for therapeutic benefits. The bacterial cells encapsulated in sodium alginate showed the highest survival rate in yogurt and ice cream after the storage period. Supplementation of free and Encapsulated probiotic bacteria in yogurt and ice cream significantly affected some of the physicochemical and sensorial parameters of both carrier foods. Yogurt supported considerably greater viability of probiotic as a food vehicle compared with ice cream. The results of present study demonstrated that encapsulation can significantly increase the survival rate of probiotic bacteria under simulated gastrointestinal conditions and in carrier foods (Ice cream and yogurt) over an extended period of shelf-life. This investigation indicated that encapsulation should be used as a potential delivery system for probiotics in food industry which is paving a new way for the development of functional foods.