bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inherited corneal opacifications with an unusual distribution
Authors: Fagerholm Per , Dellby Anette , Bäckman Lennart 
Published: September 2006

Abstract.Purpose:  To describe corneal opacities of a new type and distribution in a small family.Methods:  Family members were interviewed and examined to establish a pedigree and to detect any corneal abnormalities.Results:  Two family members presented with corneal opacities. Both had, in the very peripheral cornea, flat, greyish, rounded opacities, 20–200 µm in diameter, on the Descemet's membrane. In addition, the mother had the same type of opacities over the central cornea just inside the Bowman's layer. The remaining parts of the corneas were clear. Vision was unaffected and the opacities caused no discomfort. There was no other corneal pathology. The subjects' general health was good.Conclusions:  To our knowledge, these types and distribution of corneal opacities have not been described previously. Although the mode of inheritance at this point is uncertain, we believe the changes are of a dystrophic nature.
Mirtazapine: only for depression?
Authors: San Luis , Arranz Belen 
Published: September 2006

Background:Mirtazapine is an antidepressant first approved in the Netherlands in 1994 for the treatment of major depressive disorder. However, evidence suggests its effectiveness in a variety of other psychiatric disorders and non-psychiatric medical conditions.Objective:The present paper reviews the published literature on the off-label indications of Mirtazapine.Methods:A search of the relevant literature from MEDLINE, PsycLIT and EMBASE databases, included in the Science Citation Index and available up to March 2006, was conducted using the terms mirtazapine, case-reports, open-label trials and randomized controlled trials. Only articles referring to conditions other than major depression were included in this present review.Results:Off-label use of mirtazapine has been reported in panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, dysthymia, menopausal depression, poststroke depression, depression as a result of infection with human immunodeficiency virus, elderly depression, Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-induced depression, hot flashes, alcohol and other substance use disorders, sleep disorders, sexual disorders, tension-type headaches, cancer pain, fibromyalgia, schizophrenia and other less frequent conditions.Conclusions:So far, data on the off-label usefulness of mirtazapine are limited and mainly based on observations from case reports or open-label studies. However, positive cues suggest that confirmation of these preliminary data with randomized controlled trials may give sufficient evidence to warrant the use of mirtazapine in a broad range of disorders.
Seasonal influences on first-episode admission in affective and non-affective psychosis
Authors: Hallam Karen T , Berk Michael , Kader Linda F. , Conus Phillipe , Lucas Nellie C. , Hasty Melissa , Macneil Craig M. , McGorry Patrick D. 
Published: September 2006

Background:Since bipolar affective disorder has been recorded, clinicians treating patients with this disorder have noted the cyclic nature of episodes, particularly an increase in mania in the spring and summer months and depression during winter.Objective:The aim of this study was to investigate seasonality in symptom onset and service admissions over a period of 10 years in a group of patients (n= 359) with first-episode (FE) mania (n= 133), FE schizoaffective disorder (n= 49) and FE schizophrenia (n= 177).Method:Patients were recruited if they were between 15 and 28 years of age and if they resided in the geographical mental health service catchment area. The number of patients experiencing symptom onset and service admission over each month and season was recorded.Results:In terms of seasonality of time of service admission, the results indicate a high overall seasonality (particularly in men), which was observed in both the schizoaffective and the bipolar groups. In terms of seasonality of symptom onset, the results indicate that seasonality remains in the male bipolar group, but other groups have no seasonal trend.Conclusions:This provides further evidence that systems mediating the entrainment of biological rhythms to the environment may be more pronounced in BPAD than in schizoaffective disorder and schizophrenia. These results may help facilitate the preparedness of mental heath services for patients at different times of the year.
Neuropsychological function in bulimia with comorbid borderline personality disorder and depression
Authors: Bourke Cecilia M. , Porter Richard J. , Sullivan Patrick , Bulik Cynthia M. , Carter Frances A. , McIntosh Virginia V. , Joyce Peter R. 
Published: September 2006

Background:In bulimia nervosa (BN), borderline personality disorder (BPD) and major depression (MDD) are frequently comorbid conditions. Executive function has been found to be impaired in BPD and MDD, but the impact of comorbidity on neuropsychological function has rarely been investigated.Objective:To investigate neuropsychological function in BN with a focus on comorbid BPD and MDD.Methods:One hundred forty-four medication-free female patients entering a study of psychological treatments for BN performed a brief battery of neuropsychological tests. Comorbid MDD and BPD were systematically identified using standard interviews. Neuropsychological test results were compared.Results:Forty-one subjects had comorbid BPD and 35 had comorbid MDD, while 15 had both. There was no effect of comorbid MDD, but there was a significant effect of BPD and a significant interaction between the diagnosis of MDD and BPD on executive tasks (trail making and Stroop). Thus, compared with subjects without BPD, subjects with BPD performed significantly worse on tests of executive function, while the group with both comorbidities performed even worse.Conclusions:There appears to be an additive effect of BPD and MDD resulting in impaired executive neuropsychological function. Future studies on either disorder and on BN should examine and account for the effect of comorbidity.
Neural mechanisms of the cognitive control of emotion
Authors: Green Melissa J. , Malhi Gin S. 
Published: September 2006

Background:Emotion regulation involves the initiation of new emotional responses and continual alteration of current emotions in response to rapidly changing environmental and social stimuli. The capacity to effectively implement emotion regulation strategies is essential for psychological health; impairments in the ability to regulate emotions may be critical to the development of clinical levels of depression, anxiety and mania.Objective:This review provides a summary of findings from current research examining the neural mechanisms of emotion regulation by means of conscious cognitive strategies of reappraisal. These findings are considered in the context of related concepts of emotion perception and emotion generation, with discussion of the likely cognitive neuropsychological contributions to emotion regulation and the implications for psychiatric disorders.Results:Convergent evidence implicates an inhibitory role of prefrontal cortex and cingulate regions upon subcortical and cortical emotion generation systems in the cognitive control of emotional experience. Concurrent modulation of cortical activity by the peripheral nervous system is highlighted by recent studies using simultaneous physiological and neuroimaging techniques. Individual differences in emotion perception, generation of affect and neuropsychological skills are likely to have direct consequences for emotion regulation.Conclusions:Emotion regulation relies on synergy within brain stem, limbic and cortical processes that promote the adaptive perception, generation and regulation of affect. Aberrant emotion processing in any of these stages may disrupt this self-sustaining regulatory system, with the potential to manifest in distinct forms of emotion dysregulation as seen in major psychiatric disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
Addressing the learning deficit in breastfeeding: strategies for change
Authors: Renfrew Mary J. , McFadden Alison , Dykes Fiona , Wallace Louise M. , Abbott Stephen , Burt Sue , Anderson Joanna Kosmala 
Published: September 2006

AbstractThis paper summarizes the findings of the learning needs assessment described in this issue. Limitations and strengths are discussed. The paper describes a national, multi‐sectoral, multidisciplinary picture. Our respondents may over‐represent those with an interest in breastfeeding; if so, the true picture may be even more problematic than described here. Major deficits were identified in the knowledge and skills of practitioners from all backgrounds and all sectors. Many professionals report poor knowledge about breastfeeding and have low levels of confidence and clinical competence. Organizational constraints and barriers to effective education and practice include fragmentation of care and education, lack of facilities, and a low priority being given to breastfeeding. There is a range of current educational provision, although not all is fit for purpose. Voluntary organizations seem to have higher standards than do some current professional learning opportunities. Preferred methods of training include practical observation and mentorship, volunteer counsellor involvement in training programmes, as well as self‐study and online opportunities. Recommendations include: a funded, mandatory, interagency and multidisciplinary approach; appropriate content; support at local and national levels; breastfeeding education to be included in clinical governance and audit mechanisms; and further research and evaluation to examine optimum ways of providing education and training. Organizational barriers could be addressed through a public health policy and evidence‐based approach.
Stimulant Medications: A Trade‐off? The Lived Experience of Adolescents With ADHD
Authors: Meaux Julie B. , Hester Carla , Smith Billy , Shoptaw Amy 
Published: September 2006

PURPOSE.  The purpose of this study was to gain information and insight about prescription stimulant medication use among children and adolescents with attention deficit–hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) across developmental stages. DESIGN AND METHODS.  Investigators conducted semistructured qualitative interviews with 15 college students with ADHD. Follow‐up interviews confirmed and validated information obtained during initial interviews. RESULTS.  Qualitative data analysis resulted in three global categories related to the use of prescription stimulant medication from childhood to late adolescence: (a) the early years, (b) “the trade‐off,” and (c) stimulant medications in college. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS.  Increased education about prescription stimulant medications and closer management is needed to reduce side effects and minimize the risks of misuse.
Assessing Emergency Preparedness of Families Caring for Young Children With Diabetes and Other Chronic Illnesses
Authors: Stallwood Lynda G. 
Published: September 2006

PURPOSE.  To help children with chronic illnesses and their caregivers assess emergency preparedness. CONCLUSIONS.  Little work has been done to ascertain patient adherence levels to these recommendations. Additionally, little is known about the seeking patterns of healthcare providers and/or changes in interventions based on certain elements of emergency preparedness, such as the presence of medical alert identification and an emergency kit. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS.   Healthcare providers must discover their patients’ level of emergency preparedness and facilitate the acquisition and implementation of elements of emergency preparedness that meet their patients’ needs.
Recruitment and Retention of Latino Adolescents to a Research Study: Lessons Learned from a Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Villarruel Antonia M. , Jemmott Loretta S. , Jemmott John B. , Eakin Brenda L. 
Published: September 2006

PURPOSE.  To describe facilitators and barriers to participation and retention of Latino adolescents in a randomized clinical trial. DESIGN AND METHODS.  Participants were part of a randomized clinical trial designed to reduce HIV sexual risk behavior among Latino youth. Responses from 106 randomly selected respondents from the 3‐month follow‐up were content analyzed. RESULTS.  Four main facilitator patterns emerged: peer/family support, program incentives, commitment, and desire to help. Participation barriers included conflicts with other commitments, embarrassment, and lack of peer support. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS.  Recruitment and retention of Latino adolescents in research studies is critical to building a research base for nursing practice.
Quick Minds Don't Blink: Electrophysiological Correlates of Individual Differences in Attentional Selection
Authors: Martens Sander , Munneke Jaap , Smid Hendrikus , Johnson Addie 
Published: September 2006

Abstract
A well-established phenomenon in the study of attention is the attentional blink—a deficit in reporting the second of two targets when it occurs 200–500 msec after the first. Although the effect has been shown to be robust in a variety of task conditions, not every individual participant shows the effect. We measured electroencephalographic activity for “nonblinkers” and “blinkers” during execution of a task in which two letters had to be detected in an sequential stream of digit distractors. Nonblinkers showed an earlier P3 peak, suggesting that they are quicker to consolidate information than are blinkers. Differences in frontal selection positivity were also found, such that nonblinkers showed a larger difference between target and distractor activation than did blinkers. Nonblinkers seem to extract target information better than blinkers do, allowing them to reject distractors more easily and leaving sufficient resources available to report both targets.
A Reevaluation of the Electrophysiological Correlates of Expert Object Processing
Authors: Scott Lisa S. , Tanaka James W. , Sheinberg David L. , Curran Tim 
Published: September 2006

Abstract
Subordinate-level object processing is regarded as a hallmark of perceptual expertise. However, the relative contribution of subordinate- and basic-level category experience in the acquisition of perceptual expertise has not been clearly delineated. In this study, participants learned to classify wading birds and owls at either the basic (e.g., wading bird, owl) or the subordinate (e.g., egret, snowy owl) level. After 6 days of training, behavioral results showed that subordinate-level but not basic-level training improved subordinate discrimination of trained exemplars, novel exemplars, and exemplars from novel species. Event-related potentials indicated that both basic- and subordinate-level training enhanced the early N170 component, but only subordinate-level training amplified the later N250 component. These results are consistent with models positing separate basic and subordinate learning mechanisms, and, contrary to perspectives attempting to explain visual expertise solely in terms of subordinate-level processing, suggest that expertise enhances neural responses of both basic and subordinate processing.
The Involvement of the Inferior Parietal Cortex in the Numerical Stroop Effect and the Distance Effect in a Two-digit Number Comparison Task
Authors: Liu Xun , Wang Hongbin , Corbly Christine R. , Zhang Jiajie , Joseph Jane E. 
Published: September 2006

Abstract
The neural mechanism of number representation and processing is currently under extensive investigation. In this functional magnetic resonance imaging study, we designed a number comparison task to examine how people represent and compare two-digit numbers in the brain, and whether they process the decade and unit digits in parallel. We manipulated the decade-unit-digit congruency and numerical distance between the pairs of numbers. We observed both Stroop-like interference and the distance effect in the participants' performance. People responded more slowly to incongruent pairs of numbers and pairs of a smaller distance. The inferior parietal cortex showed common and distinct patterns of activation for both attentional selection and number comparison processes, and its activity was modulated by the Stroop-like interference effect and the distance effect. Taken together, these results support both parallel and holistic comparison of two-digit numbers in the brain.
Electrophysiological Correlates of Retrieval Processing: Effects of Consistent versus Inconsistent Retrieval Demands
Authors: Johnson Jeffrey D. , Rugg Michael D. 
Published: September 2006

Abstract
Studies employing event-related potentials (ERPs) during tests of recognition memory have reported differences in neural activity elicited by new test items according to the specific demands of the retrieval task, such as retrieving studied words versus pictures. The present study investigated whether differential processing of new items is possible when retrieval demands vary unpredictably on a trial-by-trial basis. In separate study-test phases, subjects encoded lists of intermixed words and pictures, and undertook retrieval tests with words as test items. Each test item was preceded by a task cue that signaled whether subjects were to attempt to retrieve a word or a picture from the study list. In the “blocked”condition, the targeted study material remained constant throughout the test, whereas in the “mixed”condition, the targeted material varied unpredictably across trials. New-item ERPs were more positive-going when words rather than pictures were targeted in the “blocked” condition, replicating previous findings, but this effect was absent in the “mixed”condition. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that differential processing of retrieval cues depends upon the adoption of different task sets (“retrieval orientations” that develop over multiple trials and cannot be adjusted merely in response to an instructional cue. Unlike the new-item ERPs, ERPs elicited by the task cues in the mixed condition differed according to targeted material, but only on trials when there was a switch between target material. The implications of these findings for understanding the different retrieval strategies engaged when retrieval demands are consistent versus inconsistent are discussed.
Coming Unbound: Disrupting Automatic Integration of Synesthetic Color and Graphemes by Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of the Right Parietal Lobe
Authors: Esterman Michael , Verstynen Timothy , Ivry Richard B. , Robertson Lynn C. 
Published: September 2006

Abstract
In some individuals, a visually presented letter or number automatically evokes the perception of a specific color, an experience known as color-grapheme synesthesia. It has been suggested that parietal binding mechanisms play a role in the phenomenon. We used a noninvasive stimulation technique, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), to determine whether the posterior parietal lobe is critical for the integration of color and shape in color-grapheme synesthesia, as it appears to be for normal color-shape binding. Using a color-naming task with colored letters that were either congruent or incongruent with the synesthetic photism, we demonstrate that inhibition of the right posterior parietal lobe with repetitive TMS transiently attenuates synesthetic binding. These findings suggest that synesthesia (the induction of color from shape) relies on similar mechanisms as found in normal perception (where the perception of color is induced by wavelength).
Facilitating Effect of 15-Hz Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Tactile Perceptual Learning
Authors: Karim Ahmed A. , Schüler Anne , Hegner Yiwen Li , Friedel Eva , Godde Ben 
Published: September 2006

Abstract
Recent neuroimaging studies have revealed that tactile perceptual learning can lead to substantial reorganizational changes of the brain. We report here for the first time that combining high-frequency (15 Hz) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the primary somatosensory cortex (SI) with tactile discrimination training is capable of facilitating operant perceptual learning. Most notably, increasing the excitability of SI by 15-Hz rTMS improved perceptual learning in spatial, but not in temporal, discrimination tasks. These findings give causal support to recent correlative data obtained by functional magnetic resonance imaging studies indicating a differential role of SI in spatial and temporal discrimination learning. The introduced combination of rTMS and tactile discrimination training may provide new therapeutical potentials in facilitating neuropsychological rehabilitation of functional deficits after lesions of the somatosensory cortex.
Baghy in Islamic Law and the Thinking of Ibn Taymiyya
Authors: bin Mohd Sharif Mohd Farid 
Published: September 2006

AbstractThe paper focuses on the opinion of the jurists about the concept of baghy and its significance in Islamic law. The objective of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the issue of baghy, and the thinking of Ibn Taymiyya within the context of jihàd. The paper starts with a brief explanation of the lexical meaning of baghy and its position in classical texts. The paper continues with a discussion about the legal status of baghy in Ibn Taymiyya's view. Later, it attempts to shed some light on the issue of baghy and jihàd against unjust or corrupt imàms, and what is the relationship between them from the perspective of the two prime sources of Islam: the Qur'an and hadith, with special focus on Ibn Taymiyya's point of view. This topic is treated in detail in the present study, and most of this problem is as pertinent to the umma today as it was in the time of Ibn Taymiyya. It is hoped that the following exposition will have some valuable impact on the on-going debate about baghy and jihàd. It bears noticing, however, that this paper is only concerned with the views of the jurists of the four major Sunni schools. The views of other schools, including Shia, although interesting, will not be discussed.
The Influence of Quran and Islamic Financial Transactions and Banking
Authors: Halabi Abdel , Kazi Ashraf 
Published: September 2006

AbstractThe Quran is the holy book of the followers of Islam, where simple solutions to the day-to-day problems of life are discussed in detail. Whatever the nationality of a Muslim, the Quran and Islamic prayers remain in a single universal language called "Arabic". Thus, uniformity has been maintained throughout the world from the days of the Prophet Mohammed, in the seventh century to the twenty-first century. Financial transactions and banking based upon Shariah are growing rapidly today. Islamic banking has been widely accepted in many countries such as Pakistan, Malaysia, Brunei, and Saudi Arabia, and are an increasing presence in Canada and Australia. Islamic banking and financial transactions are different from conventional banks, and this has led to some criticisms. After tracing the history of Islamic Banking some of these criticisms are discussed. While Islamic Banking does face some challenges, it continues to grow, and this growth reflects the desire for social, political and economic systems based on Islamic principles.