bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of high-temperature O2 annealing on Al2O3 blocking layer and Al2O3/Si3N4 interface for MANOS structures
Authors: Xu Zhongguang , Zhu Chenxin , Huo Zongliang , Zhao Shengjie , Liu Ming 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
In this paper, we have investigated the effects of O2 post-deposition annealing (PDA) on metal/Al2O3/Si3N4/SiO2/Si (MANOS) devices. Compared with low-energy plasma oxygen pre-treatment and the N2 PDA process, the O2 PDA process can lead to a significant retention improvement. The improvement is attributed to the removal of oxygen vacancies in Al2O3 block oxide and the oxygen incorporation at the Si3N4/Al2O3 interfacial layer which is determined by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) depth profiling and electrical characteristics. Metal/Al2O3/SiO2/Si (MAOS) devices are also studied to confirm these effects. As a result, we consider that the O2 PDA process is a crucial process for future MANOS-type memory devices.
A visual environment for the manipulation and integration of JAVA beans.
Authors: Boyle J 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
MOTIVATION: Visual programming has the potential to allow non-programmers to redesign and rebuild applications to suit their individual needs. We have built such a visual programming environment, which allows non-programmers to interrogate and combine software components graphically to form new applications. As the needs of the biological community grow, so too will the need for more powerful and easy to use software tools. Intelligent visual programming environments will allow users to design and develop applications easily, so that they can concentrate on the application they wish to build rather than how it is to be done. RESULTS: The environment can read in JAVA Beans, and present relevant information about the beans to the user. The user can then graphically specify how they would like information to flow between the beans by performing simple docking operations. Unnecessary complexities associated with such visual design have been removed by providing intelligent docking of components and visual feedback. With such mechanisms, the complexities of building new applications are reduced. When the biologist has finished the visual construction, the design system is able to generate the new application automatically. The system has been designed specifically to meet the needs of the biological community, and a range of 'BioBeans' are being developed. These include beans for visualization (sequence displays and data visualizers), analysis (feature recognition, error detection) and communication (database access, URL retrieval, DDE communication). AVAILABILITY: Freely available. CONTACT: boyle@synomics.com
PPCMatrix: a PowerPC dotmatrix program to compare large genomic sequences against protein sequences
Authors: Burglin TR 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
Summary : An interactive dotmatrix program for the MacOS was designed that allows comparison of DNA to protein sequences using nested 3-frame translations. Availability : Shareware, available at http://copan.bioz.unibas.ch/software/ Contact : burglin@ubaclu. unibas.ch
Policosanol Content and Composition of Korean Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Cultivars
Authors: Kim Jae Kwang , Park Soo‐Yun , Jung Ji Yun , Ha Sun‐Hwa , Lim Sun‐Hyung , Lee Si Myung , Woo Hee‐Jong , Park Sang Un , Suh Seok‐Cheol 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTPolicosanols (PCs) are a group of long‐chain alcohols that have been reported to have many beneficial physiological activities. In this study, the total content and composition of PCs in 15 rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars from Korea were characterized by gas chromatography–time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. This method proved to be sufficiently precise and accurate with respect to the degree of endogenous biological variability found in the rice samples. Octacosanol (C28) and triacontanol (C30) were the major components of PCs in all cultivars. In addition, there were positive correlations among the determined PC contents. Given its high PC content, the Heughyangbyeo cultivar may appear to be a good candidate for future breeding programs.
First Report of Tomato Gray Leaf Spot Disease Caused by Stemphylium solani in Malaysia
Authors: Nasehi A. , Kadir J. B. , Abidin M. A. Zainal , Wong M. Y. , Mahmodi F. 
Published: April 2012

In June 2011, tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) in major growing areas of the Cameron Highlands and the Johor state in Malaysia were affected by a leaf spot disease. Disease incidence exceeded 80% in some severely infected regions. Symptoms on 50 observed plants initially appeared on leaves as small, brownish black specks, which later became grayish brown, angular lesions surrounded by a yellow border. As the lesions matured, the affected leaves dried up and became brittle and later developed cracks in the center of the lesions. A survey was performed in these growing areas and 27 isolates of the pathogen were isolated from the tomato leaves on potato carrot agar (PCA). The isolates were purified by the single spore technique and were transferred onto PCA and V8 agar media for conidiophore and conidia production under alternating light (8 hours per day) and darkness (16 hours per day) (4). Colonies on PCA and V8 agar exhibited grey mycelium and numerous conidia were formed at the terminal end of conidiophores. The conidiophores were up to 240 μm long. Conidia were oblong with 2 to 11 transverse and 1 to 6 longitudinal septa and were 24 to 69.6 μm long × 9.6 to 14.4 μm wide. The pathogen was identified as Stemphylium solani on the basis of morphological criteria (2). In addition, DNA was extracted and the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) was amplified by universal primers ITS5 and ITS4 (1). The PCR product was purified by the commercial PCR purification kit and the purified PCR product sequenced. The resulting sequences were 100% identical to published S. solani sequences (GenBank Accestion Nos. AF203451 and HQ840713). The amplified ITS region was deposited with NCBI GenBank under Accession No. JQ657726. A representative isolate of the pathogen was inoculated on detached 45-day-old tomato leaves of Malaysian cultivar 152177-A for pathogenicity testing. One wounded and two nonwounded leaflets per leaf were used in this experiment. The leaves were wounded by applying pressure to leaf blades with the serrated edge of a forceps. A 20-μl drop of conidial suspension containing 105 conidia/ml was used to inoculate these leaves (3). The inoculated leaves were placed on moist filter paper in petri dishes and incubated for 48 h at 25°C. Control leaves were inoculated with sterilized distilled water. After 7 days, typical symptoms for S. solani similar to those observed in the farmers' fields developed on both wounded and nonwounded inoculated leaves, but not on noninoculated controls, and S. solani was consistently reisolated. To our knowledge, this is the first report of S. solani causing gray leaf spot of tomato in Malaysia. References: (1) M. P. S. Camara et al. Mycologia 94:660, 2002. (2) B. S. Kim et al. Plant Pathol. J. 15:348, 1999. (3) B. M. Pryor and T. J. Michailides. Phytopathology 92:406, 2002. (4) E. G. Simmons. CBS Biodiversity Series 6:775, 2007.
Dynamics of soil carbon following destruction of tropical rainforest and the subsequent establishment of Imperata grassland in Indonesian Borneo using stable carbon isotopes
Authors: Yonekura Yusuke , Ohta Seiichi , Kiyono Yoshiyuki , Aksa Darul , Morisada Kazuhito , Tanaka Nagaharu , Tayasu Ichiro 
Published: April 2012

AbstractSoutheast Asia has the highest rate of tropical rainforest deforestation worldwide, and large deforested areas have been replaced ultimately by the highly invasive grass Imperata cylindrica. However, information on the carbon (C) budget with such land transition is very scarce. This study presents the dynamics of soil C following rainforest destruction and the subsequent establishment of Imperata grassland in the lowland humid tropics of Indonesian Borneo using stable C isotopes. To evaluate the relative contribution of organic matter originating from primary forest (C3) and grasslands (C4), we compared soil C stock and natural 13C abundance from six sites to a depth of 100 cm using samples with a wide range of soil textures. Twelve years after the first soil sampling in the grasslands, we re‐sampled to examine temporal changes in soil organic matter. The grassland topsoil (0–5 cm) is an active layer with rapid decomposition and incorporation of fresh C (mean residence time: 7.5 year) and a substantial proportion of the stable C pool (37%). The decline in forest‐derived C was slight, even at 5–10 cm depths, and subsoil (20–100 cm depth) forest‐derived C did not change along the forest‐to‐grassland chronosequence. Grassland‐derived C stock increased significantly in the subsurface and subsoils (5–100 cm). Simulation indicated that total soil C stock (0–100 cm) increased by 18.6 Mg ha−1 from initial primary forest (58.0 Mg ha−1) to a new equilibrium state of the grassland (76.6 Mg ha−1) after 30–50 years of grassland establishment. This research indicates that the soil did not function as a CO2 source when the deforested area was replaced by Imperata grassland on the Ultisols of the Asian humid tropics. Instead, increased soil C stocks offset CO2 emissions, with the C offset accounting for 6.6–7.4% of the loss of biomass C stock.
Defining the needs of ICU patient families in a suburban/rural Greek population: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Chatzaki Maria , Klimathianaki Maria , Anastasaki Maria , Chatzakis Georgios , Apostolakou Eleni , Georgopoulos Dimitrios 
Published: April 2012

Aim.  To define the needs of intensive care unit patients’ families in the specific suburban/rural population of Crete Island.Background.  Families of intensive care unit patients have specific needs that should also be addressed by the intensive care unit‐care team. Current research has mostly concentrated on families from an urban setting, therefore may not be applicable to other populations.Design.  Prospective cohort study.Methods.  Family members of patients admitted in the intensive care unit for ≥48 hours over 18 months, in a mixed medical‐surgical, 11 bed closed intensive care unit. Questionnaire: The Greek translation of Critical Care Family Need Inventory, which consists of 45 need items covering the information, reassurance, proximity, support and comfort domains. Each item was scored on a four‐point scale (1 = very important to 4 = not important). Participants were also asked to single out the most important need from the Critical Care Family Need Inventory and complete a questionnaire on basic demographic characteristics.Results.  Two hundred and thirty (65%) family members completed the questionnaire. Mean score for each of the 45 items ranged from 1·03–3 (scale from 1: very important–4: not important). Fourteen items were rated by responders as very important (mean score <1·25). Reassurance need items were consistently singled out as most important regardless of the participant’s background. Participants with a lower educational and socio‐economical status rated support need items as more important than those with a higher status.Conclusion.  In this particular suburban/rural population, both ‘universal’ reassurance needs and specific support needs related to responders’ educational or socio‐economical background were identified.Relevance to clinical practice.  Enhanced recognition of these needs may improve quality of care offered by intensive care unit‐care team to families of their patients.
Effects of Malassezia yeasts on serum Th1 and Th2 cytokines in patients with guttate psoriasis
Authors: Aydogan Kenan , Tore Okan , Akcaglar Sevim , Oral Barbaros , Ener Beyza , Tunalı Sukran , Saricaoglu Hayriye 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackground  Systemic and focal infections caused by microorganisms have been known to induce or exacerbate psoriasis. Although the role of yeast species of the genus Malassezia in the pathogenesis of psoriasis is not fully understood, it is thought that these lipophilic yeasts may represent a triggering factor in the exacerbation of psoriatic lesions.Objectives  This study investigated the effects of Malassezia yeasts on serum Th1 and Th2 cytokines in patients with guttate psoriasis (GP) in order to define their role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.Methods  Fifty patients with GP and 29 clinically healthy individuals were included in the study. All samples consisted of scales and scrapings taken from the scalps, trunks, and upper limbs of both psoriasis patients and healthy subjects. Psoriasis patients and healthy subjects were grouped according to their positivity or negativity for Malassezia yeasts as ascertained by direct microscopy and/or culture. An enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure serum levels of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in these groups.Results  No significant differences in positivity for Malassezia yeasts were found between psoriatic skin and healthy skin in samples taken from different body sites. Serum interleukin‐13 (IL‐13) levels were significantly lower in the psoriasis group compared with the control group (P = 0.04). Levels of other cytokines did not differ significantly between the psoriasis and control groups. Mean levels of Th2 cytokines (IL‐4, IL‐10, IL‐13), but not of Th1 cytokines (IL‐2 and IFN‐γ), were significantly lower in psoriasis patients positive for Malassezia yeasts compared with those negative for Malassezia yeasts and control subjects (P = 0.04, P < 0.001 and P = 0.01, respectively).Conclusions  The isolation of Malassezia yeasts from GP lesions does not necessarily mean that these species are pathogenic, but their downregulating effects on anti‐inflammatory Th2 cytokines may contribute to the occurrence of GP.
Cardiovascular risk factors in subjects with psoriasis: a cross‐sectional general population study
Authors: Jensen Peter , Thyssen Jacob P. , Zachariae Claus , Hansen Peter R. , Linneberg Allan , Skov Lone 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackground  Epidemiological data have established an association between cardiovascular disease and psoriasis. Only one general population study has so far compared prevalences of cardiovascular risk factors among subjects with psoriasis and control subjects. We aimed to determine the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in subjects with and without psoriasis in the general population.Methods  During 2006–2008, a cross‐sectional study was performed in the general population in Copenhagen, Denmark. A total of 3471 subjects participated in a general health examination that included assessment of current smoking status, weight, height, waist and hip circumferences, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, resting heart rate, and plasma lipids, hemoglobin A1c, fasting glucose, and insulin levels.Results  Physician‐diagnosed psoriasis was reported by 238 (7.1%) of 3374 participants. There were no differences between subjects with and without psoriasis with regard to traditional cardiovascular risk factors.Conclusions  Our results contrast with the hitherto‐reported increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome in subjects with psoriasis in the general US population. However, our results agree with those of other previous studies in which the association between mild psoriasis and cardiovascular risk factors is often non‐significant. Further controlled research is needed to describe the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in subjects with mainly mild to moderate psoriasis in the general population.
Hydrogen peroxide is involved in nitric oxide‐induced cell death in maize leaves
Authors: Kong X. , Zhang D. , Pan J. , Zhou Y. , Li D. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractRecent evidence indicates that nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in plant hypersensitive cell death. Here, we report that NO treatment led to rapid cell death and induced hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) accumulation in maize leaves. We also show that NO induced the expression of Zmrboh genes. Pharmacological study suggests that NO‐induced cell death is in part mediated via H2O2. In addition, semi‐quantitative RT‐PCR revealed that NO induced expression of the systemic acquired resistance (SAR) genes, ZmPR1 and ZmPR5.
Partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection and pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: SAHAY SANDEEP , KRASUSKI RICHARD A. , TONELLI ADRIANO R. 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  Isolated partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection (PAPVC) has been implicated as a cause of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH); however this condition is often overlooked in the diagnostic work up of patients with PH. We studied the prevalence of PAH both in patients with isolated PAPVC or associated with other congenital heart diseases (CHD) such as atrial septal defect (ASD). We also aimed to identify factors related to the presence of PAH in these patients.Methods:  We retrospectively analyzed data from the Adult CHD database at the Cleveland Clinic, USA between October 2005–2010. We included all patients diagnosed with PAPVC with or without other CHD. We excluded all patients with previous corrective surgeries.Results:  We identified 14 (2.5%) patients with PAPVC. Group I included patients with PAPVC (with or without patent foramen ovale (PFO)). Group II included patients with PAPVC associated with other CHD. PAH was seen in six (6/14, 42.8%) patients, two (2/7, 28.5%) in group I and four (4/7, 57.1%) in group II (P = 0.3). The mean pulmonary artery pressure in all patients (n = 14) was 29.5 ± 13.8 mm Hg. Group I had a mean PAP of 23.6 ± 6.6 mm Hg as compared to 33.7 ± 16.5 mm Hg for group II (P = 0.34). The two patients in group I with PAH had either two anomalous pulmonary veins or a condition (sickle cell disease) that could potentially explain the haemodynamic findings.Conclusions:  Patients with PAPVC (with or without PFO) in the absence of other CHD had normal pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) unless they have two pulmonary veins with anomalous return or associated conditions known to cause PAH.
Foliar freezing resistance of Australian alpine plants over the growing season
Authors: VENN SUSANNA E. , MORGAN JOHN W. , LORD JANICE M. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractWe assessed the freezing resistance of leaves ex situ of 25 Australian alpine plant species. We compared the freezing resistance of forb, graminoid and shrub species from three alpine summits of different altitudes; from a low altitude site just above treeline, to a fully alpine tundra site. Foliar freezing resistance (LT50) in spring varied from −5.9°C to −18.7°C and standardized LT50 values within species were significantly related to site altitude. Additionally, when comparing all the species in the study, freezing resistance was significantly related to site; the LT50 of samples from a low‐altitude summit (1696 m) were significantly lower than those of samples from mid‐ (1805 m) and high‐altitude (1860 m) summits. The LT50 of juvenile foliage did not differ significantly from that of adult foliage. Shrubs were highly resistant to freezing. At the highest summit, we examined the course of seasonal freezing resistance from early summer to early autumn across three alpine plant communities that differed in the time of natural snowmelt; from sheltered (snowpatch) to exposed (open heath). No differences in freezing resistance over the growing season were detected for exposed or sheltered communities and there were no consistent trends indicating frost hardening over the growing season. Overall, the common Australian alpine species we investigated appear well adapted to freezing conditions throughout the snow‐free growing season. We have no evidence to suggest that freezing temperatures soon after snowmelt in spring are especially damaging to the alpine plants at these summits.
Morphological patterns of the collateral sulcus in the human brain
Authors: Huntgeburth Sonja C. , Petrides Michael 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThe collateral sulcal complex is an important landmark on the medial surface of the temporal lobe. Anteriorly, it delineates the limbic regions of the parahippocampal gyrus from the visual‐processing areas of the fusiform gyrus. Posteriorly, it continues into the occipital lobe, bearing no relationship to the memory‐related limbic regions. Given the considerable extent of the sulcus and functional heterogeneity of the surrounding cortex, an investigation of the morphology of this sulcus was carried out to examine whether it is continuous or a series of sulcal parts, i.e. independent sulci classified together under the name collateral sulcus. We investigated the collateral sulcal complex using magnetic resonance images taking into account the three‐dimensional nature of the brain. Our examination demonstrated three separate sulcal segments: (i) an anterior segment, the rhinal sulcus, delineating the uncus from the adjacent temporal neocortex, (ii) a middle segment, the collateral sulcus proper, forming the lateral border of the posterior parahippocampal cortex, and (iii) a caudal segment, the occipital extent of the collateral sulcus, within the occipital lobe. Three relationships exist between the rhinal sulcus and collateral sulcus proper, only one being clearly identifiable from the surface. Posteriorly, the collateral sulcus proper and the occipital collateral sulcus, although appearing continuous on the brain surface, can be separated in the depth of the sulcus in all cases. These results provide quantification of the location and variability within standard stereotaxic space for the three collateral sulcus segments that could be used to aid accurate identification of functional activation peaks derived from neuroimaging studies.
Thinking of Co2+‐staining explant tissue or cultured cells? How to make it reliable and specific
Authors: Aurousseau Mark R. P. , Osswald Ingrid K. , Bowie Derek 
Published: April 2012

AbstractCa2+ and/or Zn2+ entry into neurons and glial cells is often a key step driving the processes of neurodevelopment and disease. As a result, a major pre‐occupation of many neuroscientists has been in tracking down when and where nervous tissues express ion channels with appreciable divalent ion permeability. The cobalt (Co2+)‐staining technique is one of the few techniques that allow a snapshot of the entire neuronal circuit, and selectively labels cells expressing divalent‐permeable ion channels with a brown–black precipitate. Despite this, its use has been remarkably limited in the past decade. Reluctance to employ this approach has largely been related to an earlier concern with obtaining a reliable and reproducible means of visualizing transported Co2+. Here we show that recent advances have resolved these issues, opening this straightforward and valuable technique to a much larger neuroscience audience.