Abstract The proposed study was to determine if the silver nanoparticles can be used as potential antimicrobial agents and can replace the use of conventional antibiotics in semen without affecting the motility and fertility of semen. The silver nanoparticles prepared by chemical reduction method were confirmed by determination of the wavelength of surface plasmon resonance peak and further characterized using Zetasizer by determining their size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential. The nanoparticles were assessed for antibacterial activity and their concentration was optimized for use in semen extender for cryopreservation. Cryopreserved semen was further evaluated for seminal parameters, antioxidant parameter, and microbial load. Prepared silver NPs showed a plasmon resonance peak at 417 nm wavelength. NPs were found to possess antibacterial activity and were supplemented in semen extender @ 125 and 250 µg/ml for semen cryopreservation. There was a significant increase in pre and post-freezing motility and other seminal parameters. The microbial load of frozen-thawed semen of control and supplemented groups were well within the permissible limits. Lipid peroxidation levels were reduced in NPs supplemented groups, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were significantly reduced in semen supplemented with 125 µg/ml NPs. Thus it can be conclude that silver NPs can be successfully used as a substitute for antibiotics in cattle bull semen cryopreservation with good antimicrobial activity and no adverse effects on sperm characteristics.

This paper presents a probabilistic capacity spectrum strategy for the reliability analysis of a bridge pile shaft, accounting for uncertainties in design factors in the analysis and the soil-structure interaction (SSI). Monte Carlo simulation method (MCS) is adopted to determine the probabilities of failure by comparing the responses with defined limit states. The analysis considers the soil structure interaction together with the probabilistic application of the capacity spectrum method for different types of limit states. A cast-in-drilledhole (CIDH) extended reinforced concrete pile shaft of a bridge is analysed using the proposed strategy. The results of the analysis show that the SSI can lead to increase or decrease of the structure's probability of failure depending on the definition of the limit states.