Preparing manuscripts with figures and tables for camera repro duction was a formidable task. Care has been taken for consistency and typographic accuracy. However, I make no claim that no errors exist in this volume., I hope, however, that the reader will under stand and ignore any error and find this compendious volume useful for numerous biologic studies, physiologic explorations and clinical app lications of radiolabeled cellular blood elements in years to come. M. L. Thakur Editor, and the ASI Director ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Dr. Max Hardeman of the University of Amsterdam and Dr. Michael Ezekowitz of Yale University served as the codirectors of the Advanced Study Institute (ASI). Dr. Hardeman spent countless hours and contri buted to the scientific program, took care of mailings in Europe, organized transportation in Italy, and communicated with the hotel management on numerous occasions. I cannot thank him enough Dr. Ezekowitz collected some manuscripts and corrected a few. I am grateful to him. I take this opportunity once again to thank all the guest fac ulty, who, despite their busy schedules and time constraints, accepted my invitation and made valuable contributions to the ASI. I am also grateful to all participants, who were so friendly and were primary resources for many lively discussions. They made the ASI profession ally beneficial and socially enjoyable."

Scintigraphic imaging with radiolabeled blood elements has continued to be a useful diagnostic modality. The major trust of recent investigation has been in simplifying labeling techniques and developing new agents that will label blood elements selectively in vitro. The VI Symposium of the International Society of Radiolabeled Blood Elements was held in Barcelona (Spain) during November 23 to 27, 1992.The conference was sponsored by the NATO Scientific Affairs Division, the USA Department of Energy and the Spanish National Health Service. This monograph comprises articles that represent most of the 85 papers (70 oral and 15 posters) presented during the symposium. The meeting was attended by 110 investigators hailed from 21 countries. Although lllIn-oxine and 99mTc-HMPAO remain the choice agents for labeling blood components for routine applications, there was heavy emphasis on developing new labeling agents that will either simplify the in vitro labeling procedure, or, even better, will label blood components selectively in vivo, by injecting the radioactive agents directly into patients. The degree of success in imaging target lesions in humans by using these agents has been excellent.

The book provides detailed information on residential status, relative abundance, conservation status etc. of eight species of vultures recorded in Kangra valley of Himachal Pradesh. It contains ecological information on 19 breeding sites of Indian White-backed Vulture. Information on socio-cultural practices of disposal of carcasses and accessibility of Diclofenac to the vultures has also been presented. Most of the breeding sites of Indian White-backed Vultures in Kangra valley were reported around the roads therefore, human activity and motor interference was a cause of the concern. Besides, monkeys were also reported as the source of interference in some of the nesting colonies.

A total of 322 species of birds belonging to 190 genera, spread over 60 families and 17 orders were recorded in Himachal Pradesh. Intensive studies on residential status revealed that of a total of 322 species explored, 289 species showed short or long-range migrations and rest 33 were residents. Of 289 migrant species, 123 were altitudinal migrants, 72 were seasonal-local migrants, 61 were winter visitors, 28 were summer visitors, 4 species showed winter and 1 showed summer influx. Analyses of data on relative abundance showed that Himachal Pradesh is very rich in avifauna and acts as a home to 143 very common, 109 common, 47 uncommon and 23 rare species. Studies on avian diversity along the altitudinal gradient showed that there was a decrease in bird diversity with an increase in elevation. An insight into the bird diversity of the localities separated by altitudinal gradient revealed that the bird species present in one locality were replaced by another species in other localities. Based upon present studies it has been found that there are 11 globally threatened species of birds in Himachal Pradesh.