Gelatin Nanoparticles as Potential Nanocarriers for Macromolecular Drugs

With an objective of designing gelatin based nanoparticulate delivery system for macromolecules, some of the important challenges associated with gelatin nanoparticles are addressed in this thesis. The first goal is to avoid aggregation, one of the most often encountered problems during nanoparticle formation from gelatin. In this context, different parameters involved in nanoprecipitation technique are investigated, in order to obtain optimum preparative conditions. Effective loading of FITC-dextran as a model hydrophilic macromolecule shows good potential of the system for macromolecular drugs. Attempts are also made to modify the surface of gelatin nanoparticles with PEI, in order to facilitate surface adsorption of negatively charged macromolecules. However, the size of nanoparticles is substantially increased after PEI coating. Moreover, the particles strongly positively charged particles showed an increased toxic behavior after surface modification with PEI. The second main challenge in gelatin nanoparticles is the use of crosslinkers for stabilization of particles. Since crosslinkers not only crosslink gelatin but also the active sites of therapeutic proteins, this may lead to biological inactivity of proteinaceous compounds. Therefore, we introduce an alternative approach of stabilization. Gelatin nanoparticles are entrapped in nanospheres made of synthetic polymers, using a unique technique of nanoprecipitation-emulsion solvent evaporation. PLGA seems to be ineffective, while Eudragit® E100 efficiently entraps gelatin nanoparticles in nanosphere matrix depending on concentration

Ocular Injuries in Earthquake Victims

Background: To determine pattern of ocular injuriessustained during earthquake that hit north of Pakistan inOct. 2005.Methods: It was a case-control study which included,all thirty-one patients who presented to or were referredto the eye departments of Rawalpindi General Hospitaland Holy Family Hospital (both tertiary care teachinghospitals attached to Rawalpindi Medical College). Theinjuries and their management were documented andanalyzed.Results: Ocular injuries were 0.19% of the total patientsreceived at these hospitals. Females were twice moreaffected than males. Children and young adults weremore affected. Most of the patients were residents ofMuzaffarabad. Most common presenting complaint wasesotropia resulting from cranial nerve palsies followed bylacerations of periorbital skin, fractures of orbital andfacial bones and the base of skull and ocular penetratinginjuries. Associated injuries were cranial nerve palsies,fractures orbit, facial bones and base of skull. Head injurywas common among one third of them. Most commondiagnosis was multiple cranial nerve injuries followed byisolated 6th nerve palsy.Conclusion: Pattern of ocular injuries sustainedduring earthquake is quite different from injuries incurredfrom other sources of trauma

Problems and Prospects of Islamic Banking: a case Study of Takaful

The paper is an attempt to analyse the working of Takaul in the world and its popularity in the insurance sector in the world. Keeping in view of Sharia we have also tried all possible aspects of insurance system popular in the world and tried to look at its possibility to familiarize more amongst Muslims of the world. It is observed that customer awareness remain low, however this is often attributed to a limited understanding of Islamic finance in the banking and insurance world. We wish to have a proper salesmanship and advertisement of Islamic banking system in India and all around the world.Islamic Banking, Takaful

Screening of Arabidopsis mutants for functional genomic studies

Eight photosynthetic Arabidopsis mutants were screened for co-segregation of a photosynthetic phenotype with the T-DNA insertion. These mutants were selected from 80 photosynthetic mutants with genetic background of Columbia-0. Two different screening approaches were used to study the T-DNA insertion in the genome of mutant Arabidopsis lines. The sulphonamide sulfadiazine was found to be an effective selective agent and a single copy of sulfonamide resistant gene was found to be completely resistant to the optimal concentration i.e., 5mg mL-1. The maximum number of Arabidopsis mutant plants had confirmed insertions. Some of the plants did not show any amplification with gene specific primer combination, and it was assumed that either they were wild type plants or they had random T-DNA insertion and the insertion was not found in the gene under study but it could be found in any where in the genome. Some mutant plants were morphologically different from the wild type plants e.g., ALP105. These plants grew as small in size and dark green in color. After PCR screening with gene specific and T-DNA border primers all such mutant plants were confirmed as heterozygous T-DNA insertion plants

Growth and Fluctuations in the Output of Major Crops in Pakistan, 1950-51 to 1979-80

Since the crop environment in Pakistan is still greatly influenced by the vagaries of Nature, it is important to separate this effect from The true process of crop growth. Attempts to capture the large random fluctuations from the trend line by using a single variable for weather arc not fruitful at all. In the absence of a composite index of weather, the indirect method used in this study allows identification of normal and abnormal years, which can then be used for forecasting or even insurance {planning} purposes

Using Line x Tester Analysis for Earliness and Plant Height Traits in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Line x tester analysis, involving four lines and four testers were made in sunflower for four parameters. The variance due to GCA and SCA showed that gene action was predominantly additive for days to first flowering (DFF), days to hundred percent flowering (DH%F) and plant height (PH), whereas predominance of non-additive genetic effect was discovered for days to maturity (DM). Both additive and non-additive genetic interaction was important for morpho-physiological characters in sunflower. The line TS-18 was the best general combiner for characters like DFF and PH, whereas line TS-17 was the best general combiner for DH%F and DM. The tester R-25 proved to be the best general combiner for DFF, DH%F and DM, whereas the tester 291RGI proved to be the best general combiner for PH. The SCA estimates were highest in cross TS-335 x TR-9 for DFF, TS-18 x R-25 for DH%F and DM. For PH, the best SCA cross was TS-18 x 291RGI. The best GCA parents as TS-17, TS-18, R-25 and 291RGI are recommended, which may be exploited for varietal improvement in different cross combination especially in synthetic production, whereas the three best SCA crosses are recommended  to be the best hybrids for cultivation and be included in the national uniformity yield trial for its exploration in multilocation. Additive type of gene action was observed for DFF, DH%F and PH. These characters may further be improved through simple selection method in early generation, whereas non-additive type of gene action was observed for DM, which is desirable for heterosis breeding and may be exploited in hybrid seed production

Correlation Studies among Morpho-Physiological Characters in Eight Sunflower Parents and Their Sixteen F1 Hybrids

Eight sunflower parents and their sixteen F1 hybrids were evaluated at Agricultural Research Institute Tarnab, Peshawar during autumn 2006-07 to estimate correlation among different Morpho-physiological characters. A randomized complete block design with three replicates was used. The correlation study has indicated that days to maturity was positively linked with days to first flowering, days to 100 percent flowering, internodes length and stem girth. Plant height was positively correlated with stem girth, number of leaves, days to first flowering, days to 100 percent flowering and internodes length. As revealed from results obtained that to evolve sunflower hybrid with early maturity, short stature, focus should be given to select parents having maximum stem girth, number of leaves, leaf area and minimum days to maturity and internodes length

Accelerated Corrosion tests of Waste-gated Turbocharger’s Adjustable and Fixed End Links

A turbocharger which has been mounted to a heavy duty automotive diesel engine can be subjected to various aggressive environments and a range of temperatures varying from ambient to 670°C. Extreme operating environments and temperatures can initiate corrosion leading to the degradation of the components. The present research evaluates corrosion resistance of the Zinc coated and Stainless Steel waste-gate end-links based on accelerated corrosion and dust particles test, using an Environmental Test Rig. Samples were exposed to the tests for 504 hours. Images of the specimens were captured to record corrosion build-up and its progression on the surfaces during the exposure time. These results were then used to evaluate the corrosion resistance ability of both, Zinc coated Fixed and Stainless Steel Adjustable End-Links. Accumulation of corrosion and the build-up of salt deposits were observed on both End-Links during/after the experiments

A Novel Non-Destructive Sensing Technology for On-Site Corrosion Failure Evaluation of Coatings

The quality of coating and the resulting rate of corrosion of the underlying metal substrate can be measured by a variety of corrosion measurements (Tafel, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy) by using standard laboratory electrochemical cells. However there is always a need of low cost, portable and non-destructive electrochemical cells which can be used on-site field for condition monitoring of large structures for example bridges and large infrastructures, complex operating systems as aircrafts, precision machines, petrochemical processes, automotive and locomotives. This research has developed state of the art cells and has commissioned for deploying this novel sensing technology for micro-defects detection, corrosion rate measurement and condition assessment of the defected coatings. Tafel measurement facilitated by these non-destructive cells is used to detect micro-defects and corrosion rate measurement while Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy measurement is facilitated to measure the coating condition. This technology has been successfully tested and commissioned on automotive, hazardous compartments with polymeric coatings and bridges to assess their coating condition in terms of their structural integrity. Post design testing involved the installation of these cells, running diagnostics, data acquisition and macrographs to predict structural defects and the resulting corrosion rate. This technology enables the design process to incorporate operational conditions and fully realize more durable and reliable solutions to be applied to high value large structures and complex interacting systems. Current developments in corrosion condition monitoring especially cost effective, non-destructive techniques to assess structural integrity beneath nonconductive and polymeric coating were long awaited. This reported development will revolutionise durability and reliability assessment techniques to enhance safety and mitigate catastrophic failures for cost savings and avoiding fatal accidents