The mitochondrial genome organization of the rice frog, Fejervarya limnocharis (Amphibia : Anura): a new gene order in the vertebrate mtDNA

The mitochondrial DNA of the rice frog, Fejervarya limnocharis (Amphibia, Anura), was obtained using long-and-accurate polymerase chain reaction (LA-PCR) combining with subcloning method. The complete nucleotide sequence (17,717 bp) of mitochondrial genome was determined subsequently. This mitochondrial genome is characterized by four distinctive features: the translocation of ND5 gene, a cluster of rearranged tRNA genes (tRNA(Thr), tRNA(Pro), tRNA(Leu) ((CUN))) a tandem duplication of tRNA(Mer) gene, and eight large 89-bp tandem repeats in the control region, as well as three short noncoding regions containing two repeated motifs existing in the gene cluster of ND5/tRNA(Thr)/tRNA(Pro)/tRNA(Leu)/tRNA(Phe). The tandem duplication of gene regions followed by deletions of supernumerary genes can be invoked to explain the shuffling of tRNAM(Met) and a cluster of tRNA and ND5 genes, as observed in this study. Both ND5 gene translocation and tandem duplication of tRNA(Met) were first observed in the vertebrate mitochondrial genomes. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Modular Organization in a Cell: Concepts and Applications

Network biology is conceptualized as an interdisciplinary field, lying at the intersection among graph theory, statistical mechanics and biology. Great efforts have been made to promote the concept of network biology and its various applications in life s

Genomic organization and sequence analysis of the vomeronasal receptor V2R genes in mouse genome

Two multigene superfamilies, named V1R and V2R, encoding seven-transmembrane-domain G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been identified as pheromone receptors in mammals. Three V2R gene families have been described in mouse and rat. Here we screened

Maintenance of Multifemale Social Organization in a Group of Nomascus concolor at Wuliang Mountain, Yunnan, China

Many short-term studies have reported groups of black crested gibbons containing >= 2 adult females (Nomascus concolor). We report the stability of multifemale groups in this species over a period of 6 yr. Our focal group and 2 neighboring groups included 2 breeding females between March 2003 and June 2009. We also habituated 1 multifemale group to observers and present detailed information concerning their social relationships over a 9-mo observation period. We investigated interindividual distances and agonistic behavior among the 5 group members. The spatial relationship between the 3 adult members (1 male, 2 females) formed an equilateral triangle. A subadult male was peripheral to the focal group, while a juvenile male maintained a closer spatial relationship with the adult members. We observed little agonistic behavior among the adult members. The close spatial relationship and lack of high rates of agonistic behavior among females suggest that the benefits of living in a multifemale group were equal to or greater than the costs for both females, given their ecological and social circumstances. The focal group occupied a large home range that was likely to provide sufficient food sources for the 2 females and their offspring. Between March 2003 and June 2009, 1 adult female gave 2 births and the other one gave 1 birth. All individuals in the focal group survived to June 2009. A long-term comparative study focused on females living in multifemale groups and females living in pair-living groups would provide insight into understanding the evolutionary mechanisms of the social system in gibbons.

Uganda Freshwater Fisheries Research Organization Annual Report 1977

Following the collapse of the East African Community on 30th June, 1977 Ugandan fisheries research employees who were stationed in Kenya and Tanzania were recalled by the Uganda Government. The return of these officers strengthened the staff position of the Department. Formally the Headquarters of the East African Freshwater Fisheries Research Organization (EAFFRO), the institution was re-named the Uganda Freshwater Fisheries Research Organization (UFFRO) and the Uganda Government took up the full responsibility for running and maintaining the Department. The Annual report presents activities and achievements during the reporting period 1977.

East African Freshwater Fisheries Research Organization Annual Report 1974

The Annual report covers activities of the organization during the reporting period. It explains the scientific work carried out by the organization, the establishment of the Lake Victoria Fisheries Commission and the African Journal of Tropical Hydrobiology and Fisheries.

East African Freshwater Fisheries Research Organization Annual Report 1973

The Annual report presents activities carried out by the Organization during the period 1973. It presents scientific work of the Organization which include: Tissue specificity of malate dehydrogenase in Astatoreochromis and two species of haplochromis, report on LaKe Babati Fishery, Observations on Engraulicypris orgenteus (PELLEGRIN) 1904 from Lake Victoria, Commercial trawl fishing on Lake Victoria: Fisheries development and conservation, Lunar periodicity and the breeding of Tilapia nilotica in the Northern part of Lake Victoria.

East African Freshwater Fisheries Research Organization Annual Report 1970

The Annual report presents activities carried out by the Organization during the reporting period 1970. It explains the scientific work carried out by the Organization which includes: bottom trawl survey, a limnological survey of Lake Victoria for the period January to December 1970, maturity, sex ration and fecundity of lung fish (protopterus aethiopicus Heckel) from Lake Victoria, On the fish species of Lake Baringo, identification of organisms in Lake Victoria responsible for ecosounder traces, further observations on the ecology of the Nile perch (Lates niloticus Linne) in Lake Victoria and Lake Kioga, fishery economics studies, The African journal of Tropical Hydrobiology and fisheries and observation on fish marketing experiments in Tanzania

Social organization and range use in the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey Rhinopithecus bieti

We studied social organization, behavior, and range use of the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus bieti) at Wuyapiya (99 degrees 12'E, 28 degrees 30'N, the People's Republic of China) over 12 months between May 1992 and June 1994. The Wuyapiya band contained greater than or equal to 175 members and had two levels of social organization. At one level, the monkeys formed multifemale, one-male units (OMUs) similar to those of many other colobines. At another level, 15 to 18 OMUs traveled together in a cohesive band. Unlike the bands of other species of Rhinopithecus, the Wuyapiya band of R. bieti did not show seasonal fission-fusion, although some social behavior, such as male-male aggression, was seasonal. With regard to range use, the Wuyapiya band had a large home range and long daily travel distances compared with other colobines. Minimum range size in 1 year at Wuyapiya is 16.25 km(2), although there is no asymptote for range size as a function of observation time. Range size for the Wuyapiya band is 25.25 km(2) over the 2-year study and appeared to cover 100 km(2) between 1985 and 1994. The primary food of R. bieti at Wuyapiya is lichens, which are ubiquitous in fir frees. The multitiered social organization of R. bieti appears to result from the interaction of food resource characters with the forces of mate competition, with band sizes based on female responses to the spatial and temporal characteristics of lichens and subdivisions within bands based on male competition for mates.

Social organization of black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti) at Deqin, China

Data on social organization of two bands of black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti) 14 were collected when the monkeys were crossing an open spot at Nanren and Bamei (northwest of Yunnan, China) using a sampling rule where individuals wit

Unified modelling in support of organization design and change

The aim of this research is to provide a unified modelling-based method to help with the evaluation of organization design and change decisions. Relevant literature regarding model-driven organization design and change is described. This helps identify the requirements for a new modelling methodology. Such a methodology is developed and described. The three phases of the developed method include the following. First, the use of CIMOSA-based multi-perspective enterprise modelling to understand and capture the most enduring characteristics of process-oriented organizations and externalize various types of requirement knowledge about any target organization. Second, the use of causal loop diagrams to identify dynamic causal impacts and effects related to the issues and constraints on the organization under study. Third, the use of simulation modelling to quantify the effects of each issue in terms of organizational performance. The design and case study application of a unified modelling method based on CIMOSA (computer integrated manufacturing open systems architecture) enterprise modelling, causal loop diagrams, and simulation modelling, is explored to illustrate its potential to support systematic organization design and change. Further application of the proposed methodology in various company and industry sectors, especially in manufacturing sectors, would be helpful to illustrate complementary uses and relative benefits and drawbacks of the methodology in different types of organization. The proposed unified modelling-based method provides a systematic way of enabling key aspects of organization design and change. The case company, its relevant data, and developed models help to explore and validate the proposed method. The application of CIMOSA-based unified modelling method and integrated application of these three modelling techniques within a single solution space constitutes an advance on previous best practice. Also, the purpose and application domain of the proposed method offers an addition to knowledge. © IMechE 2009.

Self-similar organization of arrays of individual carbon nanotubes and carbon nanotube micropillars

It is well-known that carbon nanotube (CNT) growth from a dense arrangement of catalyst nanoparticles creates a vertically aligned CNT forest. CNT forests offer attractive anisotropic mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties, and their anisotropic structure is enabled by the self-organization of a large number of CNTs. This process is governed by individual CNT diameter, spacing, and the CNT-to-CNT interaction. However, little information is known about the self-organization of CNTs within a forest. Insight into the self-organization is, however, essential for tailoring the properties of the CNT forests for applications such as electrical interconnects, thermal interfaces, dry adhesives and energy storage. We demonstrate that arrays of CNT micropillars having micron-scale diameters organize in a similar manner as individual CNTs within a forest. For example, as previously demonstrated for individual CNTs within a forest, entanglement of small-diameter CNT micropillars during the initial stage of growth creates a film of entwined pillars. This layer enables coordinated subsequent growth of the pillars in the vertical direction, in a case where isolated pillars would not grow in a self-supporting fashion. Finally, we provide a detailed overview of the self-organization as a function of the diameter, length and spacing of the CNT pillars. This study, which is applicable to many one-dimensional nanostructured films, demonstrates guidelines for tailoring the self-organization which can enable control of the collective mechanical, electrical and interfacial properties of the films. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evolutionary Conservation of Dazl Genomic Organization and its Continuous and Dynamic Distribution Throughout Germline Development in Gynogenetic Gibel Carp

To investigate germline development and germ cell specification, we identified a Dazl homolog (CagDazl) from gynogenetic gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio). Its cDNA sequence and BAC clone sequence analyses revealed the genomic organization conservation and conserved synteny of the Dazl family members and their neighborhood genes among vertebrates, especially in fish. Moreover, a polyclonal antibody specific to CagDazl was produced and used to examine its expression and distribution throughout germline development at protein level. Firstly, ovary-specific expression pattern of CagDazl was confirmed in adult tissues by RT-PCR and Western blot. In addition, in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence localization demonstrated its specific expression in germ cells, and both its transcript and protein were localized to germ plasm. Then, co-localization of CagDazl and mitochondrial cloud was found, confirming that CagDazl transcript and its protein are germ plasm component and move via METRO pathway during oogenesis. Furthermore, the CagDazl is abundant and continuous throughout germline development and germ cell specification including primordial germ cell (PGC) formation, oogonium differentiation, oocyte development, and embryogenesis, and the dynamic distribution occurs at different development stages. The data suggest that maternal CagDazl might play an important role in gibel carp PGC formation. Therefore, CagDazl is a useful and specific marker for tracing germ plasm and germ cell development in the gynogenetic gibel carp. In addition, in comparison with previous studies in sexual reproduction species, the continuous and dynamic distribution of CagDazl protein in the germ plasm throughout the life cycle seems to have significant implication in sex evolution of vertebrates. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Deu. Euol.) 312B:855-871, 2009. (C) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.