bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Henry III and the Sicilian Business: a reinterpretation*
Authors: Weiler Björn 
Published: March 2003

Abstract
Henry III of England (1216–72) is frequently portrayed as a hapless fool and simpleton, and the so-called Sicilian Business, i.e. the attempt to secure the Sicilian throne for his son Edmund, is often cited as an example for this. However, once viewed in its broader European context, the undertaking seems less preposterous. Henry showed himself to be a careful planner and talented diplomat; only an inability to settle existing tensions in England prevented him from realizing his ambitions. This, however, was the result not of any personal deficiencies, but of the underlying structures and realities of royal lordship in thirteenth-century Europe.
Law reform and legal education in Interregnum England
Authors: Prest Wilfrid 
Published: March 2003

Abstract
Having compounded as a delinquent for attending Charles I at Oxford, the common lawyer Sir Peter Ball (1598–1680) sought to make his peace with the Commonwealth. Ball's scheme for remodelling both the law itself and legal education at the inns of court is transcribed below, together with a covering letter forwarded to Bulstrode Whitelocke in 1649. His criticisms and positive proposals provide further evidence that the traditional mode of legal education by aural learning exercises had become widely perceived by the mid seventeenth century as both pedagogically ineffective and practically irrelevant to the training of common lawyers.
The power of images: the model universe of the First Emperor and its legacy*
Authors: Rawson Jessica 
Published: March 2003

Abstract
Elaborately glazed Chinese pottery figures of camels and servants, dating to the Tang dynasty (A.D. 618–906), have been much prized by collectors and museums over the last three quarters of a century. They have been readily admired as a category of sculpture, but little attention has been paid to their functions within the tomb complex. An examination of the tomb of the First Emperor (d. 210 B.C.) reveals tomb figures as just one part of a large complex of structures and images. The famous terracotta warriors were an element in the elaborate burial of the Emperor, which also included ‘real’ people and animals, miniature bronze chariots, models of palaces and images of the heavenly bodies. If we are to understand the purposes of this complex of many different parts, we need to consider how the ancient Chinese viewed images of all categories. It would appear that in the eyes of the ancient Chinese, images were equivalent to the subject of the image. By creating images in bronze, pottery or in pictures, the ancient Chinese were presenting a universe for the dead Emperor. This article describes the philosophical concepts that informed this understanding of images and illustrates the discussion with archaeological finds and textual information. The archaeological discoveries of recent years have made a reassessment of Chinese tomb models necessary. The powers of these images were deemed to be considerable. The Chinese have never collected tomb figures because, in their view, such figures were the actual servants and soldiers of the dead.
Moral Agency, Moral Worth and the Question of Double Standards in Medical Research in Developing Countries
Authors: Tangwa Godfrey B. 
Published: March 2003

International regulations governing medical research, healthcare and medical practice, are, obviously, meant to be guidelines and not detailed procedural rules of thumb that can be applied unreflectively without any danger of doing moral wrong. Moreover, such regulations are meant to apply internationally, and no set of straight‐jacketed rules of thumb can conceivably apply to all societies and communities of the world, extremely diverse and differently situated as they are. The mark of a good international guideline or regulation, in my view, is that it should provide a clear principle of action that applies equally to all global communities and societies without seeking to foist the particular or momentary moral dilemmas, quandaries, obsessions and preoccupations of some on all.In this paper, I propose to argue that, because moral obligations are obligations only from the point of view of a particular moral agent, we should avoid making the peculiar problems of any particular moral agent(s) the obsessive concern of all moral agents, and that we need, in particular, to make appropriate distinctions between the ethics of developed world research in the developing world, collaborative or cooperative research between the developed and developing worlds, developed world research in the developed world and developing world research in the developing world. A consequence of looking at things this way is that, while it should be clear that there are ethical concerns, imperatives and obligations at all levels, different standards may and, in fact, cannot but be applied in different contexts at different levels, without resorting to the use of double standards, which can never be morally justified. Finally, I venture to propose a formula for a solemn pledge of moral integrity and noble intent, from the perspective of the agent, that is to say, the investigator, sponsor and funder of any research, to complement and balance the widely accepted informed consent requirement, from the perspective of the patient, the subject of any biomedical research.
From a Short‐Life Project to a Mainstream Service: Convincing Commissioners to Fund a Community Adolescent Mental Health Team
Authors: Kaplan Tony , Team The SAFE 
Published: March 2003

Background: Community‐based mental health services specifically for adolescents and their families remain an unusual provision. Our service (Service for Adolescents and Families in Enfield – SAFE) has been running since 1995. To justify the funding for our service, the health authority required us to demonstrate its effectiveness and efficiency.Method: We developed pragmatic retrospective methods of evaluation in line with the criteria set down by the funding body to demonstrate utilisation, efficiency, acceptability, relevance, effectiveness and consumer satisfaction.Results: Results on all these criteria were positive. Of greatest influence was being able to demonstrate that we were reaching the target adolescents with high levels of morbidity, that we were able to intervene relatively quickly, over time reducing rates of self‐harm and para‐suicide, improving global functioning, and reducing the referrals out‐of‐borough to specialist placements. With regard to the latter, we were notionally able to save the health authority more money than it would cost to run the health component of the service.Conclusion: This evaluation was manageable in a short period of time, applied retrospectively, and highly influential in persuading the commissioners that our service should be funded indefinitely.
Prescribing Practices of General Practitioners for Children with Mental Health Problems
Authors: Montoliu Leonor , Crawford Tanya 
Published: March 2003

Method: Fifty‐two general practitioners (GPs) were surveyed to establish their prescribing practice and attitudes to the use of psychotropic medication in children and adolescents.Results: Most GPs have no training in child psychiatry and only a quarter felt confident about their knowledge of drug treatment. Three‐quarters of GPs wished to consult with a child psychiatrist before prescribing.Conclusions: This survey has highlighted the training needs of GPs in the use of psychotropic medication for children with mental health problems. It also revealed the importance of providing accessible child psychiatry consultation to support GPs in using psychotropics appropriately and effectively.
The Resilience of the Health Care Safety Net, 1996–2001
Authors: Felland Laurie E. , Lesser Cara S. , Benoit Staiti Andrea , Katz Aaron , Lichiello Patricia 
Published: March 2003

Objective To determine how the capacity and viability of local health care safety nets changed over the last six years and to draw lessons from these changes.Data Source The first three rounds (May 1996 to March 2001) of Community Tracking Study site visits to 12 communities.Study Design Researchers visited the study communities every two years to interview leaders of local health care systems about changes in the organization, delivery, and financing of health care and the impact of these changes on people. For this analysis, we collected data on safety net capacity and viability through interviews with public and not‐for‐profit hospitals, community health centers, health departments, government officials, consumer advocates, academics, and others. We asked about the effects of market and policy changes on the safety net and how the safety net responded, as well as the impact of these changes on care for the low‐income uninsured.Principal Findings The safety net in three‐quarters of the communities was stable or improved by the end of the study period, leading to improved access to primary and preventive care for the low‐income uninsured. Policy responses to pressures such as the Balanced Budget Act and Medicaid managed care, along with effective safety net strategies and supportive conditions, helped reinforce the safety net. However, the safety net in three sites deteriorated and access to specialty services remained inadequate across the 12 sites.Conclusions Despite pessimistic predictions and some notable exceptions, the health care safety net grew stronger over the past six years. Given considerable community variation, however, this analysis indicates that policymakers can apply a number of lessons from strong and improving safety nets to strengthen those that are weaker, particularly as the current economy poses new challenges.
Two‐Year Outcomes of Fee‐for‐Service and Capitated Medicaid Programs for People with Severe Mental Illness
Authors: Cuffel Brian J. , R. Bloom Joan , Wallace Neal , Jaclyn W. Hausman  , Hu Teh‐wei 
Published: March 2003

Objective. To examine the effects of two models of capitation on the clinical outcomes of Medicaid beneficiaries in the state of Colorado.Data Source. A large sample of adult, Medicaid beneficiaries with severe mental illness drawn from regions where capitation contracts were (1) awarded to local community mental health agencies (direct capitation), (2) awarded to a joint venture between local community mental health agencies and a large, private managed behavioral health organization, and (3) not awarded and care continued to be reimbursed on a fee‐for‐service basis.Study Design. The three samples were compared on treatment outcomes assessed over 2 years (total n=591).Data Collection Methods. Study participants were interviewed by trained, clinical interviewers using a standardized protocol consisting of the GAF, BPRS, QOLI, and CAGE.Principal Findings. Outcomes were comparable across most outcome measures. When outcome differences were evident, they tended to favor the capitation samples.Conclusions. Medicaid capitation in Colorado does not appear to have negatively affected the outcomes of people with severe mental illness during the first 2 years of the program. Furthermore, the type of capitation model was unrelated to outcomes in this study.
Specialty Health Care, Treatment Patterns, and Quality: The Impact of a Mental Health Carve‐Out on Care for Depression
Authors: Busch Susan H 
Published: March 2003

Objectives. To assess the effect of a mental health carve‐out on treatment patterns and quality of care for outpatient treatment of depression.Data Sources. Outpatient and pharmaceutical claims from September 1993 through March 1997 for one large managed care organization in the Midwest that carved‐out mental health and substance abuse benefits in September 1995.Research Design. Using the treatment episode as the unit of analysis (n=1,747), changes in treatment patterns associated with the change to a carve‐out were evaluated. Logistic regression was used to assess whether in the postperiod a treatment episode was more likely to be treated with (1) an antidepressant and (2) a type and intensity of treatment with proven efficacy. To strengthen confidence in a causal relationship, I search for structural breaks in treatment patterns across a wide range of dates, assuming no a priori knowledge of the timing of the impact of the carve‐out.Results. I find the carve‐out to be associated with an increase in the use of drug treatments. Although I find a decrease in the use of guideline‐level treatment over the entire study period, there is an increase in the number of episodes treated with guideline‐level treatment over what would be the case in the absence of the carve‐out.Conclusions. The increase in the use of drug treatments suggests previous research that excluded these costs may have overestimated the savings attributable to carve‐outs. Guideline‐level care appeared to increase as a result of carve‐out implementation suggesting the use of management and specialization to reduce costs is not antithetical to quality improvement.
Complete mattress encasing is not superior to partial encasing in the reduction of mite allergen
Authors: Vichyanond P , Uthaisangsook S , Ruangruk S , Malainual N 
Published: March 2003

Background: Partial mattress encasing was found to be effective in reducing exposure to mite allergen in our previous investigation. We aimed to compare the short‐term efficacy of partial and complete mattress encasing and to study mite‐allergen levels within these mattresses. Methods: Thirty‐one mattresses with high mite‐allergen content were selected and were randomized into one of three study groups (10 for the control group [CG], 11 for the partial encasing group [PE], and 10 for the complete encasing group [CE]). A special mite‐impermeable membrane was used. In the PE group, mattresses were encased on tops and sides only, whereas complete mattress encasement was undertaken in the CE group. Regular bedsheets were applied to all groups. Dust samples were collected over bedsheets at baseline and at months 3 and 6, and over mattresses at baseline and at the end of the study. Group I mite allergens in these samples were measured and compared. Results: At baseline, mattress mite allergens were similar in all groups (P=0.84). Mite allergen at the surfaces of bedsheets (over membranes) from both encasing groups were significantly reduced as compared to the CG group (P=0.003). Such reduction was maintained throughout the 6‐month study. At the end of the study, mite antigens within mattresses in the CG and CE groups were increased as compared to baselines, whereas a decrease was observed in the PE group. Significant difference was observed only between the CG and PE groups (P=0.006). Conclusions: Mattress encasing with a special membrane in this study was highly efficacious in the reduction of mite allergen (>90%). However, with complete encasing, mite allergens within mattresses were increased at the end of the study. Complete mattress encasing in a tropical environment does not offer any advantage over partial encasing.
Epitope‐dependent synergism and antagonism between CD40 antibodies and soluble CD40 ligand for the regulation of CD23 expression and IgE synthesis in human B cells
Authors: Challa A , Pound JD , Gordon J , Armitage RJ 
Published: March 2003

Background: The induction of IgE synthesis in naïve B cells requires two T‐cell‐derived signals: one delivered through CD40 and the other via interleukin‐4 (IL‐4). The natural counterstructure to CD40 is the CD40 ligand (CD40L). We have asked about the interplay between CD40L and CD40 mAb that recognize distinct epitopes in delivering signals for regulating IL‐4‐dependent IgE synthesis and the expression of CD23, the low‐affinity IgE receptor, in resting B cells. Methods: After culture of purified human tonsillar B cells with CD40 agonists and IL‐4, surface CD23 was determined by flow cytometric analysis. CD23 levels in cell lysates and supernatants were quantified by ELISA, as were those of secreted IgE. Results: With regard to both induction of CD23 and IgE production, soluble CD40L trimer (sCD40LT) showed synergistic interaction with two mAb to CD40 which bind to epitopes located outside the ligand binding site (EA5 and 5C3), but not with a mAb (G28‐5) which effectively competes for CD40L binding to CD40. Each of the two noncompeting mAb to CD40 was able to cooperate strongly with sCD40LT in promoting high‐level induction of CD23 even in the absence of IL‐4, an effect mirrored in the promotion of strong homotypic clustering and high‐rate DNA synthesis. G28‐5, uniquely, induced a down‐regulation in IL‐4‐induced CD23 expression with time, a change that was accompanied by an increase in the amount of soluble CD23 detected. While the two noncompeting mAb consistently synergized with sCD40LT for the promotion of IL‐4‐dependent IgE synthesis, sCD40LT and G28‐5 (which, by itself, was the most potent of the CD40 mAb at inducing IL‐4‐dependent IgE production) exhibited mutual antagonism in this regard, the level of which could be quite profound. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that appropriate targeting of CD40 can modulate IgE synthesis either positively or negatively.
Aeropollinic sampling at three different heights by personal volumetric collector (Partrap FA 52)
Authors: Fiorina A. , Mincarini M. , Sivori M. , Scordamaglia A. , Canonica G.W. , Brichetto L. 
Published: March 2003

Background: Aeropollinic sampling is usually performed by volumetric pollen traps located on the top of buildings at a height of 15–20 m. The present study aimed to determine whether pollen concentration is similar, at the same time, at different heights. Methods: Pollen concentrations were measured at the same time for 3 days each month (March–October 1997), with three Partrap FA 52 devices respectively located at 1.5, 5, and 15 m above the ground. A Burkard sampler was used as control at the 15‐m level. Results: No significant difference in either the total count or the single pollen counts was observed between the Partrap and Burkard samplers at 15 m. The total pollen count did not differ significantly between the Partrap at 1.5 m and 15 m (130±19 and 123±18, respectively), whereas the sampler at 5 m collected an amount of pollen (84±14) significantly lower than at 1.5 and 15 m (P<0.0001 and P<0.001, respectively). The amount of Urticaceae pollen was significantly higher at 1.5 m (97±17) than at 15 m (80±12) and 5 m (58±11); P<0.02 and P<0.001, respectively. Regarding grass pollen, the collector at 5 m captured significantly less pollen (4.5±0.8) than at 1.5 m (9.5±1.3) and 15 m (7.2±1.3) (P=0.002 and P=0.02, respectively). No significant difference was observed between the data obtained from samplers at 1.5 and 15 m. In addition, the Oleaceae, Cupressaceae, and Corylaceae pollen counts were significantly higher when collected at 15 than at 5 and 1.5 m. Conclusions: These data show that differences exist in pollen sampling performed at different heights.
Comparison of methods to assess airborne rat and mouse allergen levels. I. Analysis of air samples
Authors: Hollander A , Thissen J , Doekes G , Heederik D , Gordon S , Venables KM , Renström A , Larsson PH , Malmberg P 
Published: March 2003

Airborne laboratory‐animal allergens can be measured by several methods, but little is known about the effects of important differences in methodology. Therefore, methods used in research projects in The Netherlands, the UK, and Sweden were compared. Seventy‐four sets of three parallel inhalable dust samples were taken by a single operator in animal facilities in the three countries, and analyzed in parallel by the three institutes for rat and mouse urinary allergen. Rat‐allergen levels measured by RAST inhibition (UK) were 3000 and 1700 times higher than levels measured by enzyme immunoassay (EIA)‐sandwich methods with polyclonal rabbit (The Netherlands) or monoclonal mouse (Sweden) antibodies, while the difference between the two EIA‐sandwich methods was much smaller: a factor of 2.2. For mouse allergen, an inhibition radioimmunoassay (RIA) with rabbit antimouse antibodies (UK) gave 4.6 and 5.9 times higher concentrations than sandwich EIAs with rabbit polyclonal antibodies (Sweden and The Netherlands), while the difference between the two sandwich EIAs was, on average, 1.6‐fold. Thus, although levels of rat and mouse aeroallergens are significantly correlated, the assay type gives large differences in absolute concentrations, and interlaboratory technical differences affect even the same assay type. Conversion factors can aid comparison between studies, and, in the long term, assay standardization is desirable. Abbreviations: NHLI: National Heart and Lung Institute (UK); WAU: Wageningen Agricultural University (The Netherlands); NIWL: National Institute for Working Life (Sweden); EIA: enzyme immunoassay; RAST: radioallergosorbent test; RIA: radioimmunoassay; MUA: mouse urinary allergen; RUA: rat urinary allergen; BSA: bovine serum albumin; HSA: human serum albumin; PBS: phosphate‐buffered saline; PTFE: polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon); CI: confidence interval.
Serum levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule‐1, vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1, and interleukin‐2 receptor in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis and allergic conjunctivitis
Authors: Uchio E. , Ono S. , Ikezawa Z. , Ohno S. 
Published: March 2003

Background: Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is characterized by severe ocular allergic inflammation that may have a poor visual prognosis. Due to the high frequency of the presence of atopic dermatitis (AD) in VKC, most systemic parameters are dependent on the clinical severity of AD. Methods: Serum levels of sICAM‐1, sVCAM‐1, and sIL‐2R were measured by enzyme‐linked immunoassay using samples from 30 VKC patients, 30 allergic conjunctivitis (AC) patients, and 20 normal subjects, to determine whether the concentrations of these molecules are elevated. Results: Circulating sICAM‐1 and sIL‐2R levels were increased in patients with VKC with AD compared with those in VKC without AD, AC, and normal controls. Serum levels of sVCAM‐1 in VKC patients with and without AD were significantly higher than those in controls. No significant difference was found in the levels of sVCAM‐1 between patients with VKC with and without AD. In VKC patients with AD, the sIL‐2R level correlated significantly with severity of AD, whereas no such correlation was found for sICAM‐1 and sVCAM‐1. Conclusions: These results suggest that serum sVCAM‐1 can be used as a marker to differentiate VKC from nonproliferative ocular allergic diseases, and specific immunologic features of VKC may underlie the upregulation of serum sVCAM‐1.
IgE levels in surgery: effect of ranitidine and prednisolone
Authors: Kampen GT , Poulsen LK , Nielsen HJ , Schulze S , Petersen LJ 
Published: March 2003

Background: Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is important in allergic reactions and in host defense against parasites. IgE may also participate in the acute‐phase response to physical stress. This study aimed to determine whether major abdominal surgery induced increased serum IgE levels, and whether treatment with ranitidine or prednisolone influenced the IgE response to surgery. Methods: For assessment of the IgE response to surgery and the effect of ranitidine, 24 patients scheduled for major abdominal surgery were randomized to receive either perioperative treatment with ranitidine or no treatment. To evaluate the effect of glucocorticoids, 24 patients undergoing major elective abdominal surgery were randomized to receive preoperative treatment with either prednisolone or placebo. IgE levels were determined in serum samples drawn pre‐ and postoperatively. Results: In the ranitidine study, both the control group and the ranitidine‐treated group displayed a postoperative increase (P<0.001) of serum IgE. In the prednisolone study, a postoperative increase (P<0.05) of serum IgE was detected in the placebo group. No significant increase was found in the prednisolone‐treated group. Conclusions: Major abdominal surgery induces an increase of serum IgE. This increase can be prevented by preoperative treatment with prednisolone, but not with ranitidine.