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Diabetes mellitus, recognized by elevated glucose level in the body fluids is commonly caused by less insulin production or its action. To overcome the complications of diabetes, chemical drugs are never preferred over herbal medicines. Present study was designed to find out the anti-diabetic and health-promoting effects of ethanolic leaf extracts of Cucumis melo and Citrullus lanatus in induced-diabetic albino rats. Thirty male albino rats were bought from the animal house of the university and divided randomly into five feeding groups (n=6). Diabetes was induced in rats of groups A, B, C & D by a single dose of intra-peritoneal injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/Kg), whereas, the rats of group E were considered as control. The rats of groups A, B & C were fed basal diet supplemented with plant extracts (150mg/Kg body weight), whereas; only basal diet was offered to rats of groups D & E. After 28 days of the experiment, blood was collected for biochemical analysis. Results revealed that body weight, glucose, AST, ALB, GGT, HDL, cholesterol, triglyceride, urea, and creatinine level differed significantly among treatment groups. It was therefore concluded that ethanolic leaf extracts of Cucumis melo and Citrullus lanatus can be used separately or in combination for the management of diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pakistan has large freshwater reservoirs and Satluj river is one of them. Length of river Satluj in Pakistan comprises 329 miles. Through the Indus Water Treaty between Pakistan and India, three rivers management has been assigned to India, Satluj is one of them.Pakistan with the help of World Bank, has made water reservoirs and link canals to use the river bed of Satluj. The main objective of study was to find out Water Quality Parameters during the present study seasonally. Overall seven factors were selected for the current study; which were temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, total alkalinity and total hardness. All the water quality parameters under investigation revealed their presence in permissible limits as prescribed by National and International quality guidelines (except dissolved oxygen) and fit for aquatic fauna. Dissolved oxygen remained 4 ppm in summer) and (4.5 ppm in winter) at SZ-1. It might be due the less water discharge and the presence of municipal and industrial wastes at Sulemanki Barrage (study zone-1) of the study area. Moreover, the river water of Satluj investigated throughout the research period indicated that water contamination was due to the various anthropogenic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to investigate the impact of different percentages of animal and plant origin dietary lipids level on growth performance and body composition of major carps. Four plant and animal origin fats supplemented experimental diets of different levels of lipids viz. 0%, 3%, 6% and 9% were made. Twenty-one treatments were made with different levels of animal, plant and combination of animal and plant dietary lipids, where twenty fingerlings were stock in each experimental tank. Animalbased saturated (ABS), unsaturated (ABUS), plant-based monounsaturated (PBMU), polyunsaturated (PBPU) and the combination diets were prepared using different percentages of animal and plant based dietary lipids. Growth performance (weight gain, total length and fork length)and food conversion ratio was recorded monthly. The body composition in terms of crude protein, crude ash, crude fat and moisture were determined. Results showed that weight gain, total length and fork length in cirrhinus mrigalawas significantly higher as compared to other two carp species. Significant (p < 0.05) increase in both parameters at 6% and 9%dietary lipid levels as compared to the fish fed on 0% and 3%. The Cirrhinus mrigala showed significantly higher crude protein in 6% ABS dietary lipids followed by Labeo rohita and Catla catla. The significant higher moisture content and crude ash were recorded in L. rohita in 3% ABUS and 9% animal and 6% plant dietary lipids, whereas, C. catla showed the significant higher crude fat contents in 9% ABUSdietary lipids. In conclusion, C. mrigala shows significant improvement in growth performance. Similarly, fishes fed on animal-based dietsand in combination diet, showed consistently significant (p < 0.05) increase in crude protein, crude fat, moisture and crude ash with the increasing levels of dietary lipids from 0 to 9%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was planned to evaluate the inter, and intra population genetic variation in general protein banding pattern in Oestrus ovis larvae, by using 10% sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS PAGE). The larvae were collected from slaughtered goats head from five different locations (AAS, PN, LA, GM, and BC) of Karachi, Pakistan. The data obtained was subjected to POPGENE (Population Genetic Analysis) software for analysis. The polymorphic loci within populations ranged from 45.45% to 90.91%. Polymorphic loci observed in all populations were 90.91%. The expected heterozygosity observed was 0.182 ± 0.096 in all populations. The chi-square test showed 5 out of 11 loci at H-W equilibrium. The overall fixation index (FST) value was 0.108, showing that the likelihood of subpopulations being differentiated from one another is about 11 percent. The gene flow value (Nm = 2.065) was higher, showing that genes flow occurs between populations. The values of genetic identity were greater, and genetic distance were smaller among all the populations, which means that all the populations were more alike and closer to each other. It was concluded that there was no sympatric and parapatric population differentiation observed among all the population of O. ovis and the populations of the five different locations were not genetically and reproductively isolated from each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Travel and tourism has great association with other industries in the national economy making major indirect earns and also enhances foreign investment, opportunities of trade, investments in private, local development, and public infrastructure. Pakistan has rich potential of tourism due to its rich culture, geographical and biological diversity, and history. Tourism has developed as an instrument for creating considerable economic gains. The country has various tourist destinations at Swat, Malam Jabba, Behrain, Kalam, Shangla, Balakot, Kaghan, Naran, Ayoubia, Murree, Chitral, Gilgit Baltistan, Hunza, and Neelam valleys, other mountainous ranges, and historical and archaeological sites. Pakistan has great potential and offers diverse opportunities for tourists, such as trout fishing in the glacial water of Gilgit Baltistan and Swat rivers, Shandur Polo traditional tournament, paragliding, rock climbing, and trekking in northern areas, Jeep and camel safari in the Cholistan desert, Wild Boar hunting, and crabbing in the Arabian Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study 960 birds (12 week old) of four closebred flocks (CBF) of Japanese quail breeders were used to explore effects of mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) on egg geometry and egg quality characteristics. Diet given to birds comprised of corn-based or corn supplemented with 0.25%, 0.50% and 1.0% MOS for 15 weeks. Collected data was analyzed by two-way ANOVA utilizing SAS 9.1 for windows. Birds fed MOS supplemented diets had significantly (p<0.05) higher eggs' weight and lower egg shell weight (g) than control. No significant differences, in yolk index, were recorded in MOS supplemented and control groups, however, significant differences were observed among CBF, having highest value in Kaleem flock. In the present study, MOS supplementation did not significantly affect shell thickness, albumin index, albumin and yolk pH, Haugh unit score and shape index. Surface area and volume were non-significantly (p>0.05) differed in MOS supplemented and control groups, however, a significant change was recorded among CBF and interaction of CBF and MOS levels. From obtained results, it is concluded that MOS did not significantly affect the egg quality and egg geometry in laying quails except eggs' weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]