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I studied breeding ecology of White-rumped Vultures (Gyps bengalensis) in Himachal Pradesh, northern India, 2009–2012. Twenty-four breeding colonies of White-rumped Vultures were found, mainly in the Shahpur, Nurpur, and Kangra regions of Kangra District. In 2011–2012, the colonies contained a total of 102 nests, at which 81 pairs bred successfully. Nest success increased slightly from 56.1% in 2009–2010 to 79.4% in 2011–2012. All the nests of White-rumped Vultures were built in pine trees (Pinus roxburghii), at an average height of 15.4 m. In 2011–2012, approximately 65% of the nests were newly built, possibly indicating a high percentage of intra-colony movements. The number of adult and immature birds counted at the nesting colonies during the breeding season ranged from 13.3–27.3 individuals/colony; the ratio of immatures/adults varied from 0.44–0.97. Disturbance due to human activity and roads is a cause of concern for most of the breeding sites of White-rumped Vultures in Himachal Pradesh.

Let k be a field with characteristic different from 2 and 3. Let B be a central simple algebra of degree 3 over a quadratic extension K/k, which admits involutions of second kind. In this paper, we prove that if the Albert algebras \( J(B,\sigma,u,\mu) \) and \( J(B,\tau,v,\nu) \) have same \( f_3 \) and \( g_3 \) invariants, then they are isotopic. We prove that for a given Albert algebra J, there exists an Albert algebra J' with \( f_3(J')=0 \), \( f_5(J')=0 \) and \( g_3(J')=g_3(J) \). We conclude with a construction of Albert division algebras, which are pure second Tits' constructions.

Vitamin E, the most active form is alpha-tocopherol, widely distributed in nature with different biological activities. It is a major lipid-soluble antioxidant responsible for protecting membranes against lipid peroxidation which could slow the aging process in humans or animals. Several roles of vitamin E have been reported such as antioxidant, intermediary in arachidonic acid and prostaglandin metabolism, nucleic acid, protein and lipid metabolism, mitochondrial function, sex hormones production, in maintaining the integrity of membranes, in protection against hemolytic anemia and impaired erythropoiesis, reducing the risks of heart disease, cancer, neurological diseases, cataract, retinopathy of premature infants and arthritis. Vitamin E deficiency results in neurological syndrome in people with chronic malabsorption. It is useful in the neurological diseases such as Parkinson's, Huntington's, epilepsy and tardiv dyskinesia. Several clinical applications of vitamin E are known in diseases such as abetalipoproteinemia, cystic fibrosis, cholestic liver disease, hemolytic anemias, respiratory distress, epilepsy, burns, aging, cancer, ischemic heart disease and cataract. The future study of vitamin E in humans or animal models should provide more definitive evidence of its absorption, transport, utilization and retention in various body organs and tissues as well as in protection and prevention of major neurological diseases.

Effect of food restriction on (i) polysomal profiles (ii) distribution of 14 C-phenylalanine and 3 H-orotate into membrane bound ribosomes, free polysomes and monoribosomes, (iii) poly-U stimulated incorporation and (iv) the effect of pH-5 enzyme on the incorporation of phenylalanine by the ribosomes was investigated in the brain of rats from well (WF) and dietary restricted groups during the period of gestation alone (EI) and during the period of growth, gestation and lactation (EII). Polysomal profile showed a considerable lowering in the membrane bound ribosomes of EI and EII groups and free polysomes of EI group of rat brain compared with WF group. However, the membrane bound and free polysomes were higher in EII group compared with EI group. Monoribosomes decreased condiderably in the EII group compared with WF and EI group. Distribution of 14 C-phenylalanine/mg protein was higher in the membrane bound ribosomes and monoribosomes in the brains of EI and EII groups and also in the free polysomes in EII group compared with WF group. Distribution of radioactive orotate/mg RNA was higher in all the three components of polysomal profile of EI and EII group brain compared with WF group but it was higher only in the monoribosomes of the EII group compared with EI group. Brain ribosomes from EI and EII groups responded more actively to the addition of poly-U than WF group. Synthesis of protein/synthesis of polyphenylalanine ratio (which roughly represents polysomes/monosomes ratio) showed lower polysomal content in the EII group brain compared with WF group. WF polysomes when incubated with EI or EII group pH-5 enzyme showed considerable increases in the incorporation compared with WF pH-5 enzymes. EI group polysomes when incubated with EII group pH-5 enzyme showed remarkable increase in the incorporation compared with WF and EI pH-5 enzyme. EII polysomes when incubated with any of the three pH-5 enzyme did not show any change. These results clearly demonstrate that brain polysomes are very sensitive to dietary restriction no matter at whatever physiological conditions they are exposed to this restriction.

Effect of maternal dietary restriction during the period of gestation (EI) and during the period of growth, gestation and lactation (EII) on (i) the polysomal profiles (ii) distribution of 14 C-phenylalanine and 3 H-orotate into membrane bound and free polysomes and ribosomes and (iii) ribosomal response to the addition of poly-U in the incorporation of 14 C-phenylalanine was investigated in the brain of the neonatal (N) and 21-day-old (T) progeny. Polysomal profile showed variable degrees of reductions in the membrane bound ribosomes, free polysomes and monoribosomes in the brain of N and T progeny of EI and EII groups compared with WF group. Distribution of radioactive phenylalanine and orotate also showed variable responses in the membrane bound ribosomes free polysomes and the monoribosomes of the brain of N and T progeny of EI and EII groups. EII N progeny generally had a lower distribution and EII group T progeny had a higher distribution than EI group in each component of the polysomal profile. Ribosomes from the brain of N and T progeny of EI and EII groups responded less actively to the addition of poly-U than WF group. Synthesis of protein/synthesis of polyphenylalanine ratio (which roughly represents polysomes/monosomes ratio) demonstrated variable responses in the brain of N and T progeny of EI and EII groups compared with WF group. In T progeny when WF polysomes were incubated with EI or EII group pH-5 enzymes, the incorporation increased significantly and was higher in EII group than EI group. Incubation of EI polysomes with EII pH-5 enzyme demonstrated a significant increase in the incorporation. These results clearly demonstrate that maternal food restriction during various physiological periods had a profound effect on brain polysomes and consequently the protein synthesizing machinery in the N and T progeny.

The effect of maternal dietary insult during the period of gestation (El) and during the period of growth, gestation and lactation (Eli) on the body, and cellular growth (DNA, RNA and protein content), protein and RNA synthesis in the brain and various cellular fractions of the brain of the neonatal (N) and 21-day old (T) progeny was investigated. It was noted that body and organ weight failed to increase normally in the N and T progeny of EI and Eli groups as compared to a well-fed (WF) group. DNA content did not show any change in the N progeny but was lower in the T progeny of EI and Eli groups. RNA content and protein content showed lowering to variable degrees in various cellular fractions of N and T progeny of E1 and EII groups as compared to a WF group. RNA to DNA, and protein to DNA ratio were lower in most of the cellular fractions whereas organ weight to DNA ratios was lower in the N progeny and was higher in the T progeny of EI and EII groups. The content of total nucleotides and amino acids and their specific activities showed variable responses in the N and T progeny of E1 and Eli groups. The synthesis of protein was higher in most of cellular factions of N progeny of E1 group and T progeny of E1 group. The synthesis of RNA generally was higher in most of the cellular fractions in the N progeny of E1 group and Eli group and in the T progeny of Eli group and showed variable responses in the T progeny of E1 group compared to progeny of WF group. These result indicate the profound effect of maternal dietary insult during the period of gestation and periods of gestation and lactation on the molecular and cellular development of brain of neonatal and 21-days-old progeny and also demonstrate that how these effects on the molecular and cellular development of brain will be modulated by the changes in the various cellular fractions of the brain.

Body and brain weight; DNA, RNA, and protein content; total free nucleotides; amino acids and their specific activities; as well as the in vitro incorporation of 14C-phenylalanine into protein and of 2H-orotate into RNA of homogenates and various cellular brain fractions were measured in well-fed (WF) and undernourished rats during gestation (EI) and during growth, gestation, and lactation (EII). Body weight was significantly decreased in both EI and EII while brain weight and DNA content per organ were lower in EII than in WF and EI rats. The brain weight:DNA ratio was increased significantly in EII animals compared with the WF group. RNA content did not show any significant alterations in homogenates, nuclear, microsomal and pH-5 enzyme fractions but was elevated in mitochondrial and soluble fractions of the brain of EI rats compared with the WF group. Brain RNA content in EII animals was decreased in homogenates and all cellular fractions with the exception of the nuclear fraction in which it did not change significantly. The RNA:DNA ratio tended to increase (non-significantly) in the EI and EII groups as compared with the WF controls. Protein content was decreased in homogenates and all cellular fractions of EII rats while it was reduced only in the mitochondrial and pH-5 enzyme fractions of the EI group. The RNA:protein ratio fell in the microsomal fraction and rose in the soluble and pH-5 enzyme fractions of EI and EII animals. The protein:DNA ratio increased significantly in homogenates and the nuclear fraction of the EII Group: 14C-phenylalanine/mg protein incorporation was augmented in homogenates, mitochondrial, and soluble fractions, was diminished in the microsomal fraction, and did not change in the nuclear fraction of the brain of EI and EII rats. 3H-Orotate/mg RNA incorporation was decreased in the nuclear and microsomal fractions and was increased in the soluble and pH-5 enzyme fractions of the brain of EI and EII groups. Incorporation was also elevated in brain homogenates of EII rats and was reduced in the EI group. It was increased in the mitochondrial fraction of EI animals but did not show any change in the EII group. From these results, it can be concluded that dietary stress during gestation alone (EI) and during growth, gestation, and lactation (EII) modulates the metabolism of nucleic acids and proteins in the whole brain and in various cellular brain fractions.

The effect of exogenous administration of glutamic acid (GL), aspartic acid (A) and glycine (G) on individual amino acids in the free amino acid pool was studied in skeletal muscles of 60- to 70-day-old normal (N) and dystrophic (D) mice. Both N and D mice received either 0.25 ml of saline (S) or 250 mg/kg weight of GL, A or G in 0.25 ml S subcutaneously for 13 days. GL, A, G or S did not cause any significant changes in the body and skeletal muscle weights of either group. Most of the individual amino acids were increased in skeletal muscles of GL-treated mice and were decreased in A- or G-treated animals compared to S administration in the N group. The picture was more dramatic in the D group: GL-induced amino acid elevations were more pronounced than the values of N- or S-treated D controls. A and G elicited amino acid increases in D mice compared to their S-treated counterparts. Most of the individual amino acids in skeletal of the D group were decreased relative to N mice after S, GL or A administration. This was evident when the D/N ratio was calculated for S, GL and A. The situation was very different after G administration since of the individual amino acids were augmented in the skeletal muscle of D mice compared to N animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Two sets of experiments were performed to investigate the nonantioxidant functions of alpha-tocopherol. Eighteen rabbits in the first set and 48 rabbits in the second set were equally divided into three groups. The first group received a basal tocopherol-deficient diet supplemented with all-rac-alpha-tocopherol for 3 wk and the second group was fed the basal diet. The third group received vitamin E supplementation for 1 wk after 2 wk of consuming a tocopherol-deficient diet. In the first set of animals, skeletal muscle concentration, metabolism and turnover of various adenine nucleotides were measured by incubating the muscles of the three groups with [8-3H]adenine. The second set of experiments investigated in vivo concentration of various adenine nucleotides before incubation with radioactive substrate and quantity of newly formed adenine nucleotides after incubation with four different specific radioactive substrates: [8-14C]ATP; [8-14C]cAMP; [8-14C]5'AMP and [8-14C]adenosine. The results expressed per milligram of DNA were compared between the tocopherol-supplemented and tocopherol-deficient rabbits. Cyclic-AMP concentration (measured after a 2-h incubation with [8-3H]adenine) was lower and 5'-AMP concentration was very high in the tocopherol-deficient rabbits. The results of incorporation studies indicated that the turnover of ATP + ADP, cAMP, 5'-AMP and adenosine was higher in the tocopherol-deficient rabbits. Administration of tocopherol to tocopherol-deficient rabbits restored the turnover of cAMP to nearly normal values. These observations provided new insights concerning nonantioxidant functions of alpha-tocopherol.

The m-RNA level and its translational capacity were determined in the liver, brain and kidney of rats which had been exposed to under nutrition early in life. To achieve this objective, lactating females were divided into 2 groups 1 week after they gave birth to offspring. These control and experimental groups were made to suckle 8–11 and 13–16 pups, respectively, for a period of 2 weeks. The young of both groups were then killed and their livers, brains and kidneys were isolated. Polyadenylated RNA (poly A + RNA) was fractionated by affinity chromatography on an oligo-dT-cellulose column. Poly A + RNA content as well as the percentage of poly A + RNA in relation to total RNA were both lower in the malnourished pups in comparison to the controls. Analysis of the in vitro translation product primed by poly A + RNA of the liver, brain and kidney revealed a decrease of 35 S-methionine-incorporation in the liver and brain of the dietary-insulted offspring, the reduction being greater in the liver than in the brain. No significant variation was noted in the kidney of the control and PCM groups. Sodium dodecyl sulfatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, autoradiography and densitometric autoradiographic tracings confirmed these findings and demonstrated that proteins were synthesized at a lower rate in the livers and brains of the malnourished rats than in the controls. These data indicate that malnutrition early in life modulates the metabolism of m-RNA and, consequently, protein synthesis in the liver, brain and kidney of rats.

Summary The anthocyanin pigments of flax (Linum usitatissimum L. var. Linott) were isolated and identified as malvidin-3-glucoside, malvidin-3-xylosylglucoside, malvidin-3,5-diglucoside, hirsutidin-3-diglucoside and hirsutidin-3,5-diglucoside. Since hirsutidin is considered a rare pigment, its identity was confirmed by co-chromato-graphy and the comparison of its coumarin derivative with 3,5,7-trihydroxycoumarin (a degradation product of an anthocyanidin-3,5-diglucoside). The biosynthetic relationship of the flavones in cotyledons and the anthocyanidins in hypo-cotyls was studied using labelled procursors. The results indicate that flavones are formed prior to anthocyanidins, with no marked difference in the activities of monohydroxy- and dihydroxyflavones. The higher specific activities of hirsutidin, as compared with malvidin, suggest that the pool of anthocyanin synthesis is towards the former pigment and that 7-0-methylation of malvidin to hirsutidin may involve a separate gene in flax hypocotyls.

A cathode-ray polarographic method has been developed for the determination of microgram quantities of gadolinium with the use of an azo-dye, Solochrome Violet RS. Disadvantages in the use of 0sd1 M potassium chloride, commonly recommended as electrolyte for the polarographic determination of rare earths, have been demonstrated. The influence of pH, temperature, ligand concentration and purity, and the stability of the complex, have been investigated for the optimum performance of the method. The linear range is 0·5–12 μg/ml of gadolinium. Interferences by some lanthanides and other cations have been examined.

The 21-day-old male progeny of dietary-restricted rats were administered 14 C-orotic acid intraperitoneally to study the metabolism of high-molecular weight soluble (sRNA) and transfer RNA (tRNA) in their livers, which were removed at various time intervals ranging from 6 to 120 minutes after the injection. DNA and total RNA were extracted from each liver sample, and nucleic acids were fractionated with 2M NaCl into insoluble (high-molecular weight) and soluble (DNA and tRNA) fractions. All the preparations were analyzed by sucrose density gradient sedimentation, and the distribution of radioactivity was determined. Dietary-restricted progeny experienced significant increases of RNA (p

We studied the effects of graded dietary restriction on the amount and translatability of messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule coding for brain proteins during the developmental period of life. Control experiments were performed on new born, 1-, 3-, 6- and 27-week-old rats, whereas the dietary restriction studies, involving 10, 30 or 50% food deprivation, were conducted on weanling rats for periods of 3 or 24 weeks. Graded dietary restriction for 3 or 24 weeks caused a progressive reduction of the amount and translatability of mRNA in the rat brain. Complementary DNA (cDNA) probe and hybridization studies with (3H)cDNA revealed that food depriva tion elicited a shorter species of mRNA or shorter sequences of the same species of mRNA coding for brain proteins and that not all polyadenylates mRNA (poly(A)+ mRNA) sequences found in control rats were present in the dietary-restricted animals. Furthermore, it appeared that food deprivation produced a shorter species of pre- mRNA via decreased polynucleotide elongation. The mRNA content of 27-week-old rat brains increased 12.5 times in comparison to newborns, representing an augmenta tion that was progressive and related to the developmental period of life of the ani mals. The translatability of mRNA was enhanced in the brain of 3-week-old rats, as compared to 1-week-old pups, and did not show any change thereafter. From these studies, it can be concluded that graded dietary restriction considerably modified the metabolism of mRNA in the rat brain, whereas minor alterations occurred during the developmental period of life in control animals. J. Nutr. 114: 2353-2364, 1984. INDEXING KEYWORDS brain messenger RNA • content • translatability • developmental age • dietary restriction

The distribution of radioactivity in the rat has been studied following the administration of ionic 111In CI3, and of chelates of 111In with lactic, citric and acetic acids, HEDTA, bleomycin and TPP. The ionic form is excreted least, and HEDTA and bleomycin most, the others being intermediate. Allowing for differences in excretion there is no significant difference in the distribution in normal tissues of the retained part of any of the compounds studied, with the exception of TPP which gave high levels in the liver.

Variations in the content and translatability of the poly(A)+ RNA and mRNA molecules coding for myosin (M) were studied in the hind leg muscles of genetically dystrophic mice. The poly(A)+ RNA content of total skeletal muscle failed to increase normally during progression of the disease. M mRNA, isolated from dystrophic murine muscle poly(A)+ RNA, was mostly found to be associated with the 26S RNA species. The translation of M mRNA in an in vitro heterologous wheat germ system was lower at 8 and 16 weeks in the dystrophic group as compared with the controls. Analysis of the translation products via sodium dodecyl sulfate – polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, autoradiography, and densitometric autoradiographic tracing demonstrated the gradual disappearance of a protein band corresponding to M, the major component of skeletal muscle. cDNA was synthesized, using M mRNA that was isolated and purified from normal and dystrophic mouse muscle as a template. Total radioactivity was measured in some cDNA fractions produced from normal and dystrophic mouse muscle, while other fractions were utilized for separation and sizing of cDNA by disc gel electrophoresis. The cDNA from normal muscle was hybridized with M mRNA from normal and 16-week-old dystrophic mouse muscles. The cDNA probe, hybridization experiments, and studies involving the content and synthesis of M mRNA suggest that murine muscular dystrophy elicited a shorter species of mRNA or shorter sequences of the same species of mRNA coding for M. Not all poly(A)+ mRNA sequences coding for M, found in control mice, were present in their dystrophic counterparts. In conclusion, it appears that murine muscular dystrophy produces a shorter species of pre-M mRNA via decreased polynucleotide elongation.

Mitochondria specific dye, rhodamine-123 (Rh-123), has been labeled with radioactive iodine and tissue distribution of the radiolabeled product has been studied in mice. Transplantable KHT sarcoma and a spontaneous adenomammary carcinoma served as tumor models. The FAB mass spectra of iodinated Rh-123 indicated that mono and di-iodo products were formed which, as shown by other in vitro tests, were positively charged, and were heavily taken up by the mitochondria of living cells in culture. In animals, it was observed that, initially the radioactivity was taken up by all major organs from which it cleared rapidly including that from the KHT sarcoma; but not from the spontaneous adenomammary carcinoma. As a result, the spontaneous tumors retained much higher radioactivity than the equal weight of blood (×4.3) or muscle (×9.5), and were unequivocally detectable by extermal scintigraphy. The mitochondria selectivity and the specificity of the radioiodinated Rh-123 for the tumors of epithelial origin are exciting and warrant further studies of its use in diagnosis and therapy.