bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic outcome of tattoo removal with a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser in Thai students – Comparison of two rural regions within a tattoo removal program
Authors: Mungnirandr Akkrapol , Bunyaratavej Sumanas , Thuangtong Rattapon , Thoamphoemphol Anchana , Supasynth Piyaporn , Hatthanirun Pakawadee , Outtarawichian Wanwilai , Buathong Chaiwat , Vajaradul Yongyuth 
Published: August 2012

AbstractTo review the results of laser tattoo removal in Thai students of Saraburi province.This is a retrospective review study of the students participating in our tattoo removal program at Saraburi province, Thailand. The laser used was a 1064 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (spot size, 3 mm; pulse duration, 6 ns, fluencies, 1.25–12 J/cmThe 78 students involved were aged between 10 years 4 months and 21 years. The mean time of tattoo existence was 2.3 ± 1.4 years. The majority of the students were tattooed by amateur practitioners and by hand. The costs of tattoo procedure ranged between 0 and 1800 Thai Bahts. A clinical clearance of 76–100% was achieved in 41.6% of the treated tattoos. Observed side effects were textural changes, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, and scarring which occurred in 11.4%, 8.8%, 5.1%, and 5.9% of the cases, respectively. There was no statistically significant correlation between the person who did the tattoo, or the age of tattoo to the complications or side effects after laser tattoo removal.In a rural area of Thailand, more male Thai students chose to have a tattoo than female students. Nearly all of the students did the tattoo themselves or had it done by friends. The students did not initially know or had not realized the possible medical complications or social consequences of having a tattoo. From our study (students in the rural area and dark skin prototype), the lower applied laser fluencies caused a lower rate of scarring. More laser sessions may be required to achieve standard clinical clearance.
Ablation and thermal effects in treatment of hard and soft materials and biotissues using ultrafast-laser pulse-train bursts
Authors: Marjoribanks Robin S. , Dille Christian , Schoenly Joshua E. , McKinney Luke , Mordovanakis Aghapi , Kaifosh Patrick , Forrester Paul , Qian Zuoming , Covarrubias Andrés , Feng Yuanfeng , Lilge Lothar 
Published: August 2012

AbstractUltrafast laser pulses (≤1 ps) are qualitatively different in the nature of their interaction with materials, including biotissues, as compared to nanosecond or longer pulses. This can confer pronounced advantages in outcomes for tissue therapy or laser surgery. At the same time, there are distinct limitations of their strong-field mode of interaction. As an alternative, it is shown here that ultrafast laser pulses delivered in a pulse-train burst mode of radiant exposure can access new degrees of control of the interaction process and of the heat left behind in tissues. Using a laser system that delivers 1 ps pulses in 20 μs pulse-train bursts at 133 MHz repetition rates, a range of heat and energy-transfer effects on hard and soft tissue have been studied. The ablation of tooth dentin and enamel under various conditions, to assess the ablation rate and characterize chemical changes that occur, are reported. This is compared to ablation in agar gels, useful live-cell-culture phantom of soft tissues, and presenting different mechanical strength. Study of aspects of the optical science of laser-tissue interaction promises to make qualitative improvements to medical treatments using lasers as cutting and ablative tools.
Gel filtration chromatography analysis and modeling the process of pullulan depolymerization
Authors: Savic Ivan M. , Nikolic Goran S. , Zerajic Stanko A. , Savic Ivana M. 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
Different fractions of pullulan oligosaccharide can be applied in the synthesis of pharmaceutical active compounds. Thus, the object of this study was to model the depolymerization process of pullulan polysaccharide with the change of pH, temperature and depolymerization time. The samples were analyzed by gel filtration chromatography (GFC). The chromatography separation of polymer fractions was achieved by using a Zorbax PSM-300 HP-SEC column (250×6.2 mm, 5 μm) at a temperature of 25°C. The flow rate of the mobile phase (redistilled water) was 1 cm3 min-1. The fractions were recorded by a refractive index detector. The obtained data were converted by thin plate spline interpolation function into matrixes. By the mathematical processing matrixes, the models of molar mass distribution in the function of pH, temperature and depolymerization time were obtained. The intervals of depolymerization parameters can be defined for obtaining the desirable pullulan oligomers, which have the efficient applications in macromolecule technology.
Zusammenhänge zwischen Wortstellungen und Subjekt-Verb-Kongruenz in der lernersprachlichen Entwicklung bei L2-Lernern des Deutschen
Authors: Lee Mi-Young 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
The present work deals with production difficulties associated with German word order rules and examines how word order and subject-verb agreement relate to one another in the interlanguage development of learners of German as a second language, paying particular attention to the perspective of the learner regarding their language production. It will be argued that the production difficulties with subject-verb inversion (INVERSION) and verb-final placement in subordinate clauses (V-FINAL) as well as the tendency in learners to produce SVO structures instead of INVERSION and V-FINAL, are consequences caused by a specific way of processing used by the leaner in trying to realize the subject-verb agreement that is typical of German. Over the course of the interlanguage development, the processing of word order, in turn, influences the processing of subject-verb agreement so that learners rarely produce subject-verb agreement errors in structures having SVO word order, while on the other hand, they occur frequently in structures that deviate from SVO word order. It is assumed that factors such as the acquisition context (natural/instructed), transfer from previously acquired languages and age-related, cognitive maturity play an important role in the acquisition of subject-verb agreement.
Lower Life Satisfaction Related to Materialism in Children Frequently Exposed to Advertising
Authors: Opree Suzanna J. , Buijzen Moniek , Valkenburg Patti M. 
Published: August 2012

OBJECTIVE:
Research among adults suggests that materialism and life satisfaction negatively influence each other, causing a downward spiral. So far, cross-sectional research among children has indicated that materialistic children are less happy, but causality remains uncertain. This study adds to the literature by investigating the longitudinal relation between materialism and life satisfaction. We also investigated whether their relation depended on children’s level of exposure to advertising.

METHODS:
A sample of 466 children (aged 8–11; 55% girls) participated in a 2-wave online survey with a 1-year interval. We asked children questions about material possessions, life satisfaction, and advertising. We used structural equation modeling to study the relationship between these variables.

RESULTS:
For the children in our sample, no effect of materialism on life satisfaction was observed. However, life satisfaction did have a negative effect on materialism. Exposure to advertising facilitated this effect: We only found an effect of life satisfaction on materialism for children who were frequently exposed to advertising.

CONCLUSIONS:
Among 8- to 11-year-old children, life satisfaction leads to decreased materialism and not the other way around. However, this effect only holds for children who are frequently exposed to television advertising. It is plausible that the material values portrayed in advertising teach children that material possessions are a way to cope with decreased life satisfaction. It is important to reduce this effect, because findings among adults suggest that materialistic children may become less happy later in life. Various intervention strategies are discussed.
Breastfeeding, Childhood Milk Consumption, and Onset of Puberty
Authors: Kwok Man Ki , Leung Gabriel M. , Lam Tai Hing , Schooling C. Mary 
Published: August 2012

OBJECTIVE:
Early nutrition has been postulated as programming pubertal timing. Limited observational studies, mainly from Western settings, suggest puberty occurs later with breastfeeding and earlier with higher cow’s milk (including infant formula) consumption. However, these observations may be socioeconomically confounded. This study examined whether breastfeeding or childhood milk consumption was associated with pubertal onset in a setting with different associations of breastfeeding and puberty with socioeconomic position.

METHODS:
The adjusted associations of breastfeeding or milk consumption at 6 months, 3 years, and 5 years with clinically assessed age at pubertal onset (Tanner stage II) were assessed by using interval-censored regression in a population-representative Hong Kong Chinese birth cohort, “Children of 1997,” with 90% follow-up (N = 7523).

RESULTS:
Compared with never breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding for 3+ months was unrelated to age at pubertal onset (time ratio [TR] 1.001, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.987–1.015), as was partial breastfeeding for any length of time or exclusive breastfeeding for &lt;3 months (TR 1.003, 95% CI 0.996–1.010), adjusted for gender, socioeconomic position, birth weight-for-gestational age, birth order, second-hand smoke exposure, and mother’s age and place of birth. Daily milk consumption at 6 months (TR 1.004, 95% CI 0.991–1.018), 3 years (TR 0.995, 95% CI 0.982–1.008), or 5 years (TR 0.998, 95% CI 0.988–1.009) was also unrelated to age at pubertal onset compared with milk consumption for ≤1 time per week at the corresponding ages.

CONCLUSIONS:
In a non-Western setting, neither breastfeeding nor childhood milk consumption was associated with age at pubertal onset, suggesting that associations may vary by setting.
Timing of Measles Immunization and Effective Population Vaccine Coverage
Authors: Bielicki Julia A. , Achermann Rita , Berger Christoph 
Published: August 2012

OBJECTIVE:
To describe measles vaccination patterns in a cohort of Swiss children aged up to 3 years insured with a single health insurer.

METHODS:
A dynamic cohort study evaluating measles immunizations patterns in children born between 2006 and 2008 was conducted. Time-to-event analysis was used to describe timing of measles immunization. Effective vaccine coverage was calculated by using an area under the curve approach.

RESULTS:
In the study cohort, 62.6% of 13-month-old children were up-to-date for the first measles immunization (recommended at 12 months of age). Approximately 59% of 25-month-old children were up-to-date for the second measles immunization (recommended at 15–24 months of age). Most doses were delivered during months in a child’s life when well-child visits are recommended (eg, 12 months of age). For second measles vaccine dose, accelerations in vaccine delivery occurred at time points for well-child visits during the months 19 and 25 of age but with lower final uptake than for the first measles vaccine dose. Until their second birthday, children in our cohort spent on average 177 days and 89 days susceptible to measles due to policy recommendations and additional delays, respectively. In a group of children aged 6 months to 2 years reflecting the age distribution in our cohort, effective vaccine coverage was only 48.6%.

CONCLUSIONS:
Timing and timeliness of measles immunizations influence effective population vaccine coverage and should be routinely reported in addition to coverage whenever possible. Proposed timing and relation of recommended vaccinations to well-child visits could be relevant aspects in optimizing measles vaccine coverage to reach measles elimination.
One-Year Outcomes of Prenatal Exposure to MDMA and Other Recreational Drugs
Authors: Singer Lynn T. , Moore Derek G. , Min Meeyoung O. , Goodwin Julia , Turner John J.D. , Fulton Sarah , Parrott Andrew C. 
Published: August 2012

OBJECTIVE:
A widely used illicit recreational drug among young adults, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) or ecstasy, is an indirect monoaminergic agonist/reuptake inhibitor affecting the serotonin system. Preclinical studies found prenatal exposure related to long-term learning and memory impairments. There are no studies of sequelae of prenatal MDMA exposure in humans, despite potential harmful effects to the fetus.

METHODS:
A total of 96 women in the United Kingdom (28 MDMA users; 68 non-MDMA) were interviewed about recreational drug use during pregnancy. Their infants were seen at 12 months using standardized assessments of cognitive, language, and motor development (Preschool Language Scale, Bayley Mental and Motor Development and Behavior Rating Scales [Mental Development Index, Psychomotor Development Index, Behavioral Rating Scale]). Mothers completed the Child Domain Scale of the Parenting Stress Index, The Home Observation of the Environment Scale (in interview), the Brief Symptom Inventory, and the Drug Abuse Screening Test. Women were primarily middle class with some university education, in stable partner relationships, and polydrug users. MDMA and other drug effects were assessed through multiple regression analyses controlling for confounding variables, and analysis of covariance comparing heavier versus lighter and nonexposed groups.

RESULTS:
Amount of prenatal MDMA exposure predicted poorer infant mental and motor development at 12 months in a dose-dependent manner. Heavily exposed infants were delayed in motor development. Lighter-exposed infants were comparable to nonexposed infants. There were no effects on language, emotional regulation, or parenting stress.

CONCLUSIONS:
Findings document persistent neurotoxic effects of heavier prenatal MDMA exposure on motor development through the first year of life.
“I Am the Professor of Myself”: How Our Patients and Their Loved Ones Become Our Teachers and Models
Authors: Savett Laurence A. 
Published: August 2012

As health care professionals, we commit ourselves to lifelong learning. In that quest, wise professionals know that our patients and their loved ones become our most important teachers. In no uncertain terms my new patient, who also was a long-standing friend, challenged me and put me in my place as I continually urged her to change her previous antihypertensive medicines that just weren't working. Finally closing the discussion as she declined to make a change, she said, “Larry, I am the professor of myself.”
Négociation et co-construction du sens en français langueétrangère (FLE) lors d’une immersion dans un environnement virtuel d’apprentissage (EVA)
Authors: Mroz Aurore 
Published: August 2012

Résumé:Cette étude a visé à l’exploration des compétences critiques développées et acquises par un groupe d’apprenants américains en français langue étrangère (FLE) de niveau intermédiaire, dans le cadre d’une expérience pédagogique d’immersion dans un environnement virtuel d’apprentissage (EVA), où les étudiants avaient pour objectif la résolution d’un problème complexe de manière coopérative. L’étude s’est concentrée sur le concept de négociation et de co-construction du sens comme phénomène paradigmatique de compétences critiques émergentes chez les apprenants en langue étrangère, et visait d’abord à évaluer la nature des schémas discursifs du discours produit par les apprenants au cours de leurs interactions par chat dans l’EVA, afin de sonder ce que ces schémas indiquaient de la qualité des compétences critiques de ces apprenants. Par ailleurs, cette étude visait à explorer le point de vue des apprenants dans la perception qu’ils ont eu de l’impact de l’immersion dans l’EVA sur le développement de leurs compétences critiques en français, pour mieux informer l’utilisation qui doit être faite des EVA dans les cours de langue étrangère. Cette étude a été basée sur un protocole méthodologique mixte de recherche, favorisant la complémentarité de données quantitatives et qualitatives pour permettre une validité et une crédibilité accrues des résultats.
Predominance of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus -ST88 and new ST1797 causing wound infection and abscesses
Authors: Moremi Nyambura , Mshana Stephen E , Kamugisha Erasmus , Kataraihya Johannes , Tappe Dennis , Vogel Ulrich , Lyamuya Eligius F , Claus Heike 
Published: August 2012

Introduction: Although there has been a worldwide emergence and spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), little is known about the molecular epidemiology of MRSA in Tanzania. Methodology: In this study, we characterized MRSA strains isolated from clinical specimens at the Bugando Medical Centre, Tanzania, between January and December 2008. Of 160 S. aureus isolates from 600 clinical specimens, 24 (15%) were found to be MRSA. Besides molecular screening for the Panton Valentine leukocidin (PVL) genes by PCR, MRSA strains were further characterized by Multi-Locus Sequence Typing (MLST) and spa typing. Results: Despite considerable genetic diversity, the spa types t690 (29.1%) and t7231 (41.6%), as well as the sequence types (ST) 88 (54.2%) and 1797 (29.1%), were dominant among clinical isolates. The PVL genes were detected in 4 isolates; of these, 3 were found in ST 88 and one in ST1820. Resistance to erythromycin, clindamicin, gentamicin, tetracycline and co-trimoxazole was found in 45.8%, 62.5%, 41.6%, 45.8% and 50% of the strains, respectively. Conclusion: We present the first thorough typing of MRSA at a Tanzanian hospital. Despite considerable genetic diversity, ST88 was dominant among clinical isolates at the Bugando Medical Centre. Active and standardized surveillance of nosocomial MRSA infection should be conducted in the future to analyse the infection and transmission rates and implement effective control measures.
ICOS-Expressing CD4 T Cells Induced via TLR4 in the Nasal Mucosa Are Capable of Inhibiting Experimental Allergic Asthma
Authors: Shalaby Karim H. , Jo Taisuke , Nakada Emily , Allard-Coutu Alexandra , Tsuchiya Kimitake , Hirota Nobuaki , Qureshi Salman T. , Maghni Karim , Rioux Clément R. , Martin James G. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractModulation of adaptive immune responses via the innate immune pattern recognition receptors, such as the TLRs, is an emerging strategy for vaccine development. We investigated whether nasal rather than intrapulmonary application of Protollin, a mucosal adjuvant composed of TLR2 and TLR4 ligands, is sufficient to elicit protection against murine allergic lower airway disease. Wild-type, Tlr2−/−, or Tlr4−/− BALB/c mice were sensitized to a birch pollen allergen extract (BPEx), then received either intranasal or intrapulmonary administrations of Protollin or Protollin admixed with BPEx, followed by consecutive daily BPEx challenges. Nasal application of Protollin or Protollin admixed with BPEx was sufficient to inhibit allergic lower airway disease with minimal collateral lung inflammation. Inhibition was dependent on TLR4 and was associated with the induction of ICOS in cells of the nasal mucosa and on both CD4+Foxp3+ and CD4+Foxp3− T cells of the draining lymph nodes (LNs), as well as their recruitment to the lungs. Adoptive transfer of cervical LN CD4+ICOS+, but not CD4+ICOS−, cells inhibited BPEx-induced airway hyperresponsiveness and bronchoalveolar lavage eosinophilia. Thus, our data indicate that expansion of resident ICOS-expressing CD4+ T cells of the cervical LNs by nasal mucosal TLR4 stimulation may inhibit the development of allergic lower airway disease in mice.
Dupuytren's Contracture in AlabamaHFEHemochromatosis Probands
Authors: Barton James C. , Barton J. Clayborn 
Published: August 2012

BackgroundDupuytren's contracture (DC) and HFE hemochromatosis occur in some of the same at-risk populations and present with similar comorbid conditions.MethodsWe estimated DC prevalence in two cohorts of white Alabama hemochromatosis probands (294 C282Y homozygotes, 67 C282Y/H63D compound heterozygotes) in a retrospective study. We performed logistic regressions on DC using the following independent variables: age, body mass index, heavy ethanol consumption, serum ferritin, elevated serum AST/ALT, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, and diabetes.ResultsOne man and two women with C282Y homozygosity had DC (prevalence 1.02%; 95% CI 0.35%–2.96%). A man with C282Y/H63D had DC (prevalence 1.49%; 95% CI 0.26%–7.98%). DC occurred as an autosomal dominant trait in his kinship. In regression analyses, no single variable predicted DC. We observed no new DC cases after the diagnosis of hemochromatosis (mean follow-up 12.9 ± 7.5 years (1 SD), and 9.0 ±5.1 years, respectively).ConclusionsOur prevalence estimates of DC in white Alabama hemochromatosis probands are similar to those found in the white US population cohorts. DC risk was unrelated to the variables we studied.
Singularité et perception visuelle1
Authors: Porto André da Silva , Prado Neto Bento 
Published: August 2012

Cet article poursuit un double but : d’une part, situer dans le parcours philosophique de Wittgenstein une partie de l’histoire du « problème du champ visuel », thème clé de sa période intermédiaire ; d’autre part, mettre en lumière sa critique de l’idée d’un champ visuel (et celle de l’idée d’un objet interne). Nous croyons que ses arguments sont nouveaux, pénétrants, et ainsi leur intérêt dépasse les limites d’un exposé purement exégétique.
Wittgenstein sur Héraclite et sur la phénoménologie
Authors: Venturinha Nuno 
Published: August 2012

Cet article vise à examiner la critique wittgensteinienne d’Héraclite et des idées de ce dernier selon lesquelles « tout coule » et « on ne peut entrer deux fois dans la même rivière ». Dans la première section, j’examinerai les sources et les interprétations traditionnelles de ces idées. Dans la seconde section, je discuterai le lien établi par David G. Stern entre les remarques de Wittgenstein sur l’image de la rivière et l’étude qu’il a faite de Platon à partir de 1931. Dans la troisième section, je m’attacherai aux notes sur Héraclite antérieures à 1931 et je les relierai à la question d’un langage phénoménologique. Puis, dans les sections quatre et cinq, je critiquerai le portrait que dresse Hintikka de Wittgenstein en phénoménologue et je fournirai une analyse approfondie de la phénoménologie de Wittgenstein. Enfin, dans la sixième section, je tenterai de faire une synthèse de l’ensemble et de porter un nouveau regard sur la dernière philosophie de Wittgenstein.
Transformación de los agroecosistemas y degradación de los recursos naturales en el territorio mapuche: una aproximación históricoecológica
Authors: Montalba-Navarro René 
Published: August 2012

El presente artículo expone la tensión existente entre las diversas hipótesis explicativas del proceso de degradación de los recursos naturales del territorio mapuche de Chile. Por una parte, desde el discurso oficial, se plantea que esta degradación ambiental tiene su origen en la pobreza mapuche, aumento de población y el uso de prácticas intrínsecamente degradativas. Por otro lado, hipótesis alternativas procedentes de campos disciplinarios como la agroecología y la historia ecológica, consideran como causa principal de este proceso la “relación desigual de los mapuche con la sociedad chilena” y la imposición de modelos extractivos de relación con la naturaleza. Mediante una aproximación de tipo histórico-ecológica al proceso de transformación del sistema agroalimentario mapuche, el presente trabajo aporta información que refuta la hipótesis planteada desde el discurso oficial y entrega elementos que permiten avanzar respecto de hipótesis alternativas.