Search

In nature, food availability stimulates hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis while its scarcity induces stress, which further stimulates hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis producing a detrimental effect on the avian reproductive physiology. The present experiment was designed to examine the interaction of stress like food restriction and estradiol on male reproductive physiology with special emphasis on estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) as these play crucial role in reproduction. To achieve this, 60 day old White Leghorn immature cockrels were taken and divided into four groups (n = 8 per group). One group was provided with food and water ad libitum. Second group was food restricted (FR) for 9 h/day after 5 days, third and fourth were administered with estradiol benzoate (EB 0.5 mg/100g/day) for 12 days. Fourth group was FR for 9 h/day after 5 days of EB treatment till last day of experiment (EB + FR). Immunofluorescent localization of ERα was principally in the pre-optic area and paraventricular nuclei of hypothalamus and in anterior pituitary gland. ERα expression was highly reduced (from 40 AU to 20 AU) after FR in testis but it increased (50 AU) after EB administration, EB + FR reflects a diminishing pattern in the increment after EB. FR decreased plasma estradiol while EB increased it. Increased plasma corticosterone, hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde, and decreased anti-oxidant enzymes in brain and testis of all groups indicate oxidative stress in the HPG axis. The increased ERα after EB and a decrease with FR and EB + FR support their reproductive function. Estrogen and its receptor alpha are responsible for maintaining epithelial morphology but FR along with EB administration modulates the testicular development by significantly decreasing its size (p

Estrogen plays a key role in the regulation of reproductive behavior and control of the neuroendocrine system in both males and females. However, excessive quantity of exogenous estrogen produces a deleterious effect on the male reproductive system. To elucidate the mechanism by which estrogen modulates its receptor alpha (ESR1) in immature chicken during stress the study has been undertaken. The experiment investigated the physiological changes in the abundance of ESR1 in brain, pituitary and testes of immature male chickens after stress like water restriction. Twenty four immature male chickens were randomly assigned into four groups. The control group was provided with food and water ad libitum, second was water restricted 9 h each day for seven days (WR), third was treated with estradiol benzoate (EB) and fourth group was treated with EB followed by water restriction during last seven days of treatment (EB + WR). EB was administered at a dose of 0.5 mg/100 g/day for 12 days. EB administration as well as WR increases both the H2O2 and Malondialdehyde levels indicating oxidative stress in brain as well as in testis. Plasma corticosterone significantly increased in all groups while estradiol significantly decreased after water restriction. ESR1 protein was detected by immuno-fluorescence predominantly in the pre-optic area of the hypothalamus, pituitary and testes after EB administration. EB administration increases ESR1 proteins abundantly in the Sertoli cells, Leydig cells, spermatogonia and spermatids while WR decreases it. The decline in ESR1 proteins after EB administration during stress appears to be mediated by interaction of estrogen with hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Therefore, the findings substantiate the fact that WR and EB treatment increase the stress and alter the anti-oxidant enzymes via its receptor ESR1 in the brain, pituitary and testis of immature chicks. Moreover, these findings highlight the effect of estradiol in male chicks causing stress which is disrupting the normal physiological feedback mechanism in hormone release and the expression of receptor ESR1 along the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis.

Food and water are closely associated with reproductive willingness in vertebrates. These are important for animals and their non-availability act as stressors which decrease sex steroid secretion suppressing reproductive behaviour. Oestrogen plays a crucial role in reproduction via its receptors alpha (ERα) and beta (ERβ). This study tested the hypothesis that ERα in testes of male Japanese quail is regulated during water and food deprivations. The present study reveals that both water and food deprivations cause oxidative stress and subsequently decrease catalase and superoxide dismutase activity, while these increase malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide. Both deprivations reduce plasma oestradiol whereas elevate corticosterone level. The immunofluorescent localization of ERα in the testes occurs predominantly in the seminiferous tubules of control while reduces after both food and water deprivations. All types of spermatogenic cells were seen in control testis, while after water and food deprivations size of seminiferous tubules and spermatogenic cells population decreased. Scanning electron microscopic study exhibited fully mature sperms in clusters with head and elongated flagellum, whereas after water deprivation maximum sperms were distorted, scattered with highly reduced head. On food deprivation, only few sperms were seen with head and tail. Thus, taking into account the localization of ERα in testis, it is obvious that oestrogens produced locally are involved in regulation of spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis during stress.

Animals are frequently exposed to various kinds of environmental stressors and estrogen is known to play important role in stress response besides its crucial role in regulation of cellular proliferation, metabolic activity and reproduction. The study investigates the estrogen antagonist, tamoxifen (TM), mediated estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) expression, to modulate stress induced parameters in chickens. The study further explores the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and malonaldehyde (MDA) in brain, ovary and shell gland during water deprivation (WD) and tamoxifen administration in sexually mature chicken. WD and TM administration both decrease the plasma estradiol while WD increases corticosterone. WD also elevates MDA concentration in the brain, ovary and shell gland while TM lowers it. WD and TM administration lowers the specific activity of SOD in brain and shell gland. In contrast, WD increases the specific activity of catalase, GPx and GR in the brain and shell gland, while TM decreases it. It appears that endogenous estradiol plays a crucial role in expression of antioxidant enzymes and tamoxifen acts as an antioxidant by reducing the oxidative stress in chicken. Abundant expression of ERα has been observed in the shell gland of egg laying birds while stress like water deprivation and TM down-regulates its expression. Thus, it can be concluded that expression of ERα in shell gland plays a predominant role in mediating estrogen action in response to water deprivation stress and tamoxifen.

Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) is a promising source of bioactive compounds and known for its medicinal properties for prehistoric times in India. The efficient and cost-effective extraction of bioactive compounds is the foremost step for drug development. The study was performed to evaluate the effect of selected solvents (hexane, chloroform, acetone, methanol, and aqueous) on the extraction yield, phytochemical composition, and antioxidant capacity of W. somnifera. Results showed that methanol followed aqueous extract is the most effective solvent with highest extraction yield (5.8%), phenolic content (85.88 mg GAE/g), and flavonoid content (105.09 mg QCE/g).The antioxidant activity was found to be effective in the order methanol > aqueous > acetone > chloroform > hexane extracts at different concentrations of 60240 μg/ml. TPC and TFC positively correlated with antioxidant activity, however, there is a strong correlation (

Estrogen plays a central role in the control of reproductive behaviour and in the regulation of neuroendocrine system. To elucidate the mechanism by which it controls the stress-modulated functions, it is important to understand how estrogenic effects are mediated. The distribution of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) protein in brain, ovary and shell gland of chickens has been investigated. Immature chickens were taken and randomly divided into four groups. First group served as control (C), second water deprived for two days (WD), third treated with estradiol benzoate (E) and fourth treated with estradiol benzoate followed by water deprivation during last two days of treatment (E + WD). The dose of estradiol benzoate administered for 15 days was 0.5 mg/100 g. Immuno-fluorescent localization demonstrated the presence of ER alpha (ERα) in hypothalamic area, principally the pre-optic area on estrogen administration. However, ERα expression in brain decreased on water deprivation. ERα expression was observed highly in granulosa and thecal cells of E and E + WD ovary compared to immature while least on water deprivation. Similarly, ERα expression was abundant in tunica muscularis and epithelial cells of E and E + WD shell gland while lesser in WD. Plasma estradiol significantly increased in E and E + WD group while decreased on water deprivation. Plasma corticosterone decreased significantly in E and E + WD group while increased in WD. Therefore, we conclude that administration of estradiol in stress decreases corticosterone induced sensitivity mediated by an increased expression of ERα in brain, ovary and shell gland. It appears that negative feedback regulation is involved between HPA-axis and HPG- axis during stress in chickens.

Light plays important function in the regulation of reproduction in vertebrates including birds. The prolonged long day length exposure causes reproductively inactive state or photorefractoriness in many avian species including Japanese quail. Withania somnifera (WS) is a medicinal plant known to have beneficial effects on stress and infertility. The study investigates the physiological effect of WS on the light-induced stress in quail mediated by estrogen receptor alpha. Quails were exposed to long day length for three months and then transferred into intermediate day length to make them photorefractory (PR) while controls under natural day length. Administration of Withania somnifera root extract (WSRE) in PR quail induces estrogen and decreases corticosterone in male Japanese quail. Immunoreactivity of ERα decreased in testis of PR quail and increased after oral administration of WSRE compared to control. Expression of ir-Caspase-3 and ir-p53 in the testis increased in PR while decreased in PR + WS. Histologically, seminiferous tubules size decreased in PR whereas increased in PR + WS quails. Scanning electron microscopic study reveals sperms in clusters with proper head and tail in control. In PR quails sperms were few and distorted while WSRE improved the sperm morphology. From the study, it is concluded that during photorefractoriness gonadal regression occurs due to testicular apoptosis which causes stress. WSRE helps to overcome stress and improve reproductive performance via increase in expression of ir-ERα during PR condition. Further, the stress ameliorating effect of WSRE in reducing apoptosis mediated by ir-Caspase-3 and ir-p53 in the testes is clearly evident in Japanese quail.

In order to study the effect of specific phase relation of neural oscillations on reproductive regulation and the response of AVT (the avian homologue of mammalian AVP) the expression of AVT in the shell gland was monitored in sexually immature quail. In this study 3-week-old female Japanese quail were administered with serotonin precursor, 5-hydroxytryptophan followed by the dopamine precursor, l-dihydroxyphenylalanine at interval of 8h and 12h daily over a period of 13days. At thirty two days post treatment, a significant decrease in gonadal activity was seen in 8h quail although 12h quail exhibited an increase as compared to controls. A significant decrease in plasma estradiol level was noted in 8h quail while 12h exhibited no significant difference compared to controls. To address the relative roles of estrogen mediated action we also investigated estrogen receptor alpha (ER-α) expression and localization in the shell gland by visualizing it through confocal immuno-fluorescence microscopy. Results indicate increased expression of immunoreactive (ir)-AVT (myometrium), ir-ER-α (epithelial cells of endometrial region), along with significant increase in hypothalamic, plasma and shell gland AVT and a rapid increase in egg laying thus maintaining full breeding condition in 12h while low expression of ir-AVT and ir-ER-α was observed in 8h quail along with a significant decrease in hypothalamic, plasma and shell gland AVT with the suppression of gonads thereby stopping the egg-laying behaviour was noted. These findings not only suggest the modulation of gonadal development by changing the specific phase relation of neural oscillations but also demonstrate a parallel relation of AVT and gonadal activity in both conditions. It is concluded that the egg laying performance in response to AVT is regulated by the temporal phase relationship of neurotransmitters, and in part, this effect appears to be estrogen dependent.

The present study was carried out to develop a PCR-based molecular marker suitable for screening of disease-suppressive composts against Fusarium wilt of tomato. An effective uncultured bacterial community was screened from our previous study on investigation of microbial communities in composts for their potential for biocontrol of Fusarium wilt. Based on available sequence information (Accession no. HQ388491) of selective community, PCR-based molecular markers were designed and tested for their specificity in different compost sample. To confirm specificity of designed marker, real-time reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis was performed. Selective marker efficacy was further tested for different set of composts and results were cross-verified by conducting bioassay of same composts against Fusarium wilt in tomato crop. Results showed that out of two designed set of primers (i.e., PAC1F/PAC1R and PAC4F/PAC4R), primer set PAC4F/PAC4R resulted in successful amplification of 199 bp in highly disease-suppressive compost (i.e., CPP); however, no/below detection level amplification was observed in non-suppressive compost (JC). qRT-PCR analysis confirmed the specificity of selective marker by representing single peak in melting curve. A clear difference was observed in relative population of selective community in different set of composts. It was observed maximum in the most effective compost, i.e., CPP followed by other disease-suppressive composts. Cross-examination of results with bioassay confirmed that composts with presence of selective bacterial community having no/very less disease incidence of Fusarium. It is clearly evident from the study that such kind of molecular markers can be developed and used in future research focusing on compost-based disease suppression.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the genotoxicity and mutagenicity of sublethal concentrations of hexavalent chromium (potassium dichromate) in the Indian major carp, Labeo rohita. The 96 h LC50 value of potassium dichromate estimated was 118 mg L(-1) by probit analysis using SPSS (version 16.0) software. Based on 96 h LC50 value, three sublethal test concentrations of potassium dichromate (29.5, 59.0 and 88.5 mg L(-)(1)) were selected and specimens were exposed in vivo to these test concentrations for 96 h. The mutagenic and genotoxic effects of potassium dichromate were evaluated in gill and blood cells using micronucleus (MN) test and comet assay. In general, significant (p 0.05) effects due to the concentrations and the exposure durations were observed in exposed specimens. The MN induction was highest at 96 h at all the test concentrations in the peripheral blood. A similar trend was observed for the DNA damage, measured in terms of percentage of tail DNA, in erythrocyte and gill cells. The study indicated hazardous effect of the hexavalent chromium to fish and other aquatic organisms and indirectly to human beings.

The present study is aimed to assess the oxidative stress biomarker in kidney and liver of Labeo rohita exposed to the sub-lethal concentrations of cadmium chloride. The fishes were exposed to 33.6, 67.1 and 100.6 mg L−1 concentrations of cadmium chloride up to 96 h duration and the oxidative stress was monitored through the levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO), reduced glutathione and activities of antioxidant enzymes, viz. glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST). The malondialdehyde content, level of reduced glutathione and activities of antioxidant enzymes were significantly (p

Selective separation of Mo and W from Mo-rich leach liquor is always a difficult task. The SX route is more costly, and for better process economy an inorganic route is preferred in terms of impurity removal. Spent HDS catalyst leach liquor of composition (in g/L): 17.11 Mo, 0.583 W, 0.646 Ni, 0.052 Co, 0.005 V and 0.152 P was taken for the present study. Impurity removal was investigated by adsorption using Mn and ferric compounds. Adsorption of W and P on freshly precipitated hydrous ferric oxyhydroxide (HFO) at W/Fe ratio of 0.5 M, temperature 50 °C for 2 h was found to yield an optimum at ~ 90% efficiency, whereas Co and V become fully adsorbed. Adsorption kinetics of W onto HFO was determined and correlated with common equations; a good fit was found with Freundlich model, and it follows 1st order. Ni as an impurity remains almost untouched during adsorption; it was separated during precipitation of molybdenum as ammonium octamolybdate. The present approach may directly applied to remove impurities from Mo-rich leach liquor as per the proposed schematic flow sheet.

Objective: The present study deals with the in vitro study of antioxidant activity of essential oil from Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martini) of family gramineae. Methods: The in vitro study of antioxidant activity of Palmarosa essential oil has been done by using DPPH assay,Nitrogen Oxide assay , reducing power assay, 毬 -carotene bleaching assay and FRAP method. Results: IC 50 values observed for DPPH and NO assay are 0.125 mg/ml and 12.5 毺 g/ml respectively.In beta carotene bleaching method the oil showed 93.15% bleaching for the first hour and it increased to 51.1% in second hour. There was a constant increase in the reducing activities with the increase in concentrations in both reducing activity and FRAP mehods. In all the methods BHT and Gallic acid were kept as standards. Conclusions: The results clearly indicate that Palmarosa essential oil is effective in scavanging free radical and has the potential to be powerful antioxidant An essential oil is a liquid that is generally distilled (more frequently by steam or water) from the leaves, stems, flowers, bark or roots or other elements of the plant [1]. These are also known as volatile or ethereal oils. Medicinal applications of essential oils range from skin treatment to remedies for cancer.

Present work was undertaken to describe (i) age dependent (prepuberal-3, 4, 5 and 6 weeks old, puberal and actively laying 8 and 12 weeks old and aged 78 weeks old) (ii) photoperiodic response dependent (photosensitive and photorefractory) and sex steroid dependent (estradiol benzoate and its antagonist tamoxifen treated) variation in the ovary and shell gland activity of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Further, in view of the role of neurohypophysial peptide arginine vasotocin (AVT) in many physiological processes including age/reproduction related oviposition, expression of ir-AVT was also monitored in the ovary of quail. All the parameters associated with histodifferentiation increased rapidly during the developing stages followed by a decrease in old age, which also increased in reproductively quiescent photorefractory birds following estradiol treatment and decreased in reproductively active photosensitive quail following tamoxifen treatment. Using AVT-specific antibody, expression of immunoreactive AVT (ir-AVT) observed in the ovary of photosensitive quail was not detected in the photorefractory quail. However, administration of estrogen in the photorefractory quail stimulated the growth and activity of ovary and shell gland also resulted in the expression of ovarian ir-AVT. On the other hand, tamoxifen eliminated the localization of ir-AVT in the ovary of photosensitive quail in addition to a decrease in the shell gland protein and alkaline phosphatase activity. It is concluded that estrogen not only affects the growth and differentiation of ovary and oviduct including shell gland but also regulates the expression of ovarian AVT. It is also suggested that in addition to reported paracrine effect of AVT in the shell gland of Japanese quail for oviposition, ovarian AVT may also affect ovarian function (ovulation), and in part, this regulation is estrogen dependent.

The kinetic and mechanistic study of homogeneously Pd(II)-catalysed and Hg(II)- co-catalysed oxidation of d (+)melibiose (mel) by N -bromoacetamide (NBA) in perchloric acid medium have been made at temperature 40 °C ± 0.1 °C. Kinetic results show first-order kinetics with respect to NBA at its low concentrations, tending to zero-order at its high concentrations. The oxidation rate is directly proportional to [Pd(II)] and [sugar], indicating first-order kinetics with respect to Pd(II) and sugar. Zero effect of Cl − and H + ions throughout their variation have been noted. First-order kinetics with respect to Hg(II) at its low concentration tends to zero-order at its higher concentration. Addition of acetamide (NHA) decreases the first-order rate constant ( k 1 ) while the rate of reaction is not influenced by the change in ionic strength (μ) of the medium. The first-order rate constant decreases with an increase in dielectric constant of the medium. Arabinonic acid, lyxonic acid and formic acid were identified as oxidation products of the reaction. Various activation parameters including the entropy of activation were also calculated. A plausible mechanism conforming to kinetic data, spectrophotometric observations, reaction stoichiometry and product analysis has been proposed.

Some pseudomands are being utilized as biofertilizers and biopesticides because of their role in plant growth promotion and plant protection against root parasites, respectively. Two strains of Pseudomonas, P. jessenii LHRE62 and P. synxantha HHRE81, recovered from wheat rhizosphere, have shown their potential in field bioinoculation tests under rice-wheat and pulse-wheat rotation systems. Normally, pseudomonads are cultivated on synthetic media-like King's B and used for inoculation on seeds/soil drench with talcum or charcoal as carrier material. Cow dung is being used for different purposes from the ancient time and has a significant role in crop growth because of the content in humic compounds and fertilizing bioelements available in it. Here, cow dung extract was tested as a growth medium for strains LHRE62 and HHRE81, in comparison with growth in King's B medium. The log phase was delayed by 2 h as compared to growth in King's B medium. The bacterial growth yield, lower in plain cow dung extract as compared to King's B medium, was improved upon addition of different carbon substrates. Growth of rice var. Pant Dhan 4 in pot cultures was increased using liquid formulation of cow dung extract and bacteria as foliar spray, compared to their respective controls. Biocontrol efficacy of the bioagents was assessed by challenging rice crop with Rhizoctonia solani, a sheath blight pathogen. The growth promotion and biocontrol efficiencies were more pronounced in the case of mixed inocula of strains LHRE62 and HHRE81.

Compartmentalization of glycolytic enzymes in glycosomes is vital in trypanosomatid parasites. Retention of these enzymes in the cytosol induces sugar toxicity and accumulation of intermediate metabolites, notably the hexokinase product glucose-6-phosphate. However, the role of hexokinase in sugar mediated toxicity remains unexplored. We have generated Leishmania donovani transfectants expressing a catalytically active cytosolic mutant of hexokinase. In the presence of glucose, these transfectants exhibited toxicity during log and stationary phases of growth. These results suggest that targeting of hexokinase to the glycosome is required to prevent uncontrolled and cytotoxic glucose phosphorylation in L. donovani parasites.

The kinetics of oxidation of the sugars d(+)Melibiose (mel) and Cellobiose (cel) by N-bromoacetamide (NBA) in the presence of Rh(III) chloride as homogeneous catalyst in acidic medium at 45 °C have been investigated. The reactions are first-order with respect to [NBA], [Rh(III)] and [substrate]. The rate is proportional to [H+]. No effects of [Hg(II)], [NHA] or [Cl−] on the rates were observed. Ionic strength and dielectric constant also have little effect. The observed kinetic data, available literature and spectroscopic evidence lead us to conclude that NBAH+ and [RhCl5(H2O)]2− are the reactive species of NBA and Rh(III) chloride, respectively. The rate-determining step of the proposed reaction path common for both sugars gives an activated complex by the interaction of a charged complex species and neutral sugar molecule, which in the subsequent steps disproportionates into the reaction products with the regeneration of catalyst. The reactions have been studied at four different temperatures and with the help of first-order rate constant values, various activation parameters have been calculated. The main oxidation products of the reactions were identified as arabinonic acid, formic acid and lyxonic acid in the case of mel and arabinonic acid and formic acid in the case of cel.

Kinetics of oxidation of maltose (mal) and d -galactose (gal) by protonated N-bromosuccinimide (N + BSH) using chloro-complex of Rh(III) in its nano-concentration range as homogeneous catalyst have been investigated at 40 °C for the first time. Almost constant values of pseudo-first-order rate constant ( k 1 ) throughout the variation of N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) in the oxidation of both the reducing sugars clearly demonstrate that order of reaction with respect to [NBS] is unity. First-order kinetics with respect to each [Rh(III)], [Sugar] and [H + ] is evident from the observed values of k 1 which increase in the same proportion in which the concentration of each reactant is increased. Negligible effects of variations of [Hg(II)], [Cl − ] and [succinimide] on the rate of oxidation of each reducing sugar have been observed. Variations in ionic strength ( μ ) and dielectric constant ( D ) of the medium have not influenced the oxidation rates. Protonated N-bromosuccinimide, N + BSH, and chloro-complex of Rh(III), [RhCl 5 (H 2 O)] 2− , have been postulated as the reactive species of NBS and Rh(III) chloride in acidic medium, respectively. Various activation parameters have been calculated using pseudo-first-order rate constant ( k 1 ) values observed at four different temperatures. The proposed mechanism, involving most reactive activated complex formed as a result of interaction between the complex species [RhCl 5 ·NHBr] − and a sugar molecule is supported by kinetic orders, spectrophotometric evidence, positive entropy of activation and observed zero effect of dielectric constant and ionic strength of the medium. Almost constant values of composite rate constant ( k ′) observed for the variations of [sugar], [NBS], [Rh(III)] and [H + ] in the oxidation of each reducing sugar provide further support to the proposed reaction path. The main oxidation products of the reactions were identified as arabinonic acid and formic acid in case of maltose and lyxonic acid and formic acid in case of d -galactose.

Kinetics of oxidation of d -glucose (glc) and d -fructose (fru) by potassium iodate has been studied for the first time in alkaline medium using Ru(III) as homogeneous catalyst. The linear dependence of the reaction rate at lower [IO 3 − ] and [OH − ] tends towards zero-order at their higher concentrations. Experimental results also show that the order with respect to [Ru(III)] is unity and the order with respect to [reducing sugar] is zero in the oxidation of both glc and fru. Variation in [Cl − ] and ionic strength ( μ ) of the medium does not affect the oxidation rate. The species, [RuCl 2 (H 2 O) 2 (OH) 2 ] − and IO 3 − , were found to be the reactive species of Ru(III) chloride and potassium iodate in alkaline medium, respectively. The reactions have also been studied at four different temperatures and with the help of observed values of pseudo-first-order rate constant ( k 1 ), the entropy of activation and other activation parameters have been calculated. A common mechanism, where the rate determining step involves the interaction between reactive species of Ru(III) chloride and reactive species of potassium iodate resulting in the formation of an activated complex, Download full-size image has been proposed. The formation of activated complex is very well supported by the spectrophotometric evidence, observed kinetic data and also by the negative entropy of activation observed for the oxidation of both glc and fru. Arabinonic acid and formic acid were identified as the main oxidation products of the reactions.

Calcium strontium titanate close in composition to Ca1−xSrxTiO3 where x = 0.02 ≤ x ≤ 0.2 has been synthesized. The titania based ceramic material useful in ‘Synroc’ technology of radioactive waste management contains perovskite phase. The other two phases present in the ceramic precursor are hollandite (BaAl2Ti6O16) and zirconolite (ZrCaTi2O7). Sr90 is one of the most heat and β activity generating radioactive element present in high level nuclear waste (HLW). Sr is crystallochemically incorporated via a simple substitution for calcium in perovskite type structures. To simulate the crystallochemical mechanism, the strontium loaded perovskite phase has been synthesized through oxide route by heating equimolar quantities of calcium and titanium oxides with 0.02 moles of strontium at 1150° C for 6 hrs. The sintered phase was pelletized and reheated three times to obtain the title polycrystalline material. The calcium strontium titanate phase so prepared has been characterized by x-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). Energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) study has been carried out to study the elemental profile of the synthetic phase. It has been found by leaching studies for 90 days that about 86% of Sr2+ is fixed crystallochemically in the perovskite phase. Energy dispersive analysis confirm 1.5 atomic % of Sr2+ in the polycrystalline material. The Rietveld Refinement of the phase show wRp around 9.59% and Rp=7.25%. The CaO and TiO bond distances calculation using GSAS show values 3.20 and 1.93A respectively.

Steady state photochemistry of vitamin K 1 has been examined using a 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance probe on solutions in CDCl 3 , acetone- d 6 , benzene- d 6 and acetonitrile- d 3 , and a UV probe on solutions in acetone, pentane and ethanol. A rationale for formation of the major photoproduct, i.e. chromenol ( 1 ), based on electron transfer from the side-chain olefinic bond to the naphthoquinone moiety in vitamin K 1 , has been suggested. The new mechanistic scheme implicates, inter alia , quinone methide ( 6 ) as the precursor of 1 . Attempted separation of photolysis mixture using flash chromatography has led to isolation of 9 and an oxygen adduct 10 of chromenol ( 1 ). The photoconversion of the vitamin is accelerated with catalytic amounts of triethylamine.

The decompositions of the ammonium adducts of some sesquiterpene alcohols have been studied using collisional activation mass spectrometry. Losses of ammonia and water are the two primary fragmentation pathways of these adduct ions. Some of the isomeric pairs show differences in the abundances of the fragment ions, whereas others give similar ion abundances in the two isomers.

The neurohypophyseal hormone arginine vasotocin (AVT) found in most vertebrate species is known to modulate different aspects of reproduction in quail. AVT system is sensitive to gonadal steroids. Previous studies have shown that estradiol benzoate stimulates the proliferation of shell gland and increases the AVT and the vasotocin 3 receptor (VT3R) in long day length. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of estrogen and tamoxifen on AVT as well as its receptor VT3 under the short day condition (6L:18D). Estradiol benzoate (EB) was administered daily in sexually quiescent (scotosensitive) condition for 15days. After the initial period of sexual quiescence, the quail of control group exhibited sexual development (scotorefractory condition). Thereafter, scotorefractory quail were administered with anti-estrogen tamoxifen, which eliminated the reoccurrence of scotosensitivity. Immunohistochemical and in-situ hybridization studies indicate the expression of AVT and VT3R transcripts in both scotosensitive as well as scotorefractory conditions. Administration of EB to scotosensitive female quail produced an increase in AVT and VT3 while tamoxifen suppressed them in scotorefractory quail. The results indicate that in quail myometrium the expression of VT3R is upregulated by estrogen when kept under short day condition.

Three fatty acid glycosides, designated pescaprosides A, B, and E, have been isolated from Ipomoea pescaprae (family Convolvulaceae). Chemical studies on pescaproside E, the major product, led to its characterisation as a pentaglycoside of 11-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid. Its sugar chain was esterified with 2-methylbutanoic and lauric acids. The structure of the pentaglycoside has been established as O -α- l -rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)- O -[α- l -rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)]- O -α- l -rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)- O -β- d - fucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)- O -α- l -rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 11)-oxyhexadecanoic acid.

Two new triterpene glycosides, glochidioside N and glochidioside Q were isolated from G. heyneanum, besides nine known compounds, glochidone, glochidonol, glochidiol, lup-20(29)-en-1β,3β-diol, epimachaerinic acid, β-amyrin, stigmasterol, sitosterol-β- d -glucoside and d -mannitol.