bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inhaled corticosteroids in COPD: the clinical evidence
Authors: Ernst Pierre , Saad Nathalie , Suissa Samy 
Published: December 2014

In this article, we focus on the scientific evidence from randomised trials supporting treatment with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including treatment with combinations of long-acting β-agonist (LABA) bronchodilators and ICS. Our emphasis is on the methodological strengths and limitations that guide the conclusions that may be drawn.The evidence of benefit of ICS and, therefore, of the LABA/ICS combinations in COPD is limited by major methodological problems. From the data reviewed herein, we conclude that there is no survival benefit independent of the effect of long-acting bronchodilation and no effect on FEV1decline, and that the possible benefit on reducing severe exacerbations is unclear. Our interpretation of the data is that there are substantial adverse effects from the use of ICS in patients with COPD, most notably severe pneumonia resulting in excess deaths.Currently, the most reliable predictor of response to ICS in COPD is the presence of eosinophilic inflammation in the sputum. There is an urgent need for better markers of benefit and risk that can be tested in randomised trials for use in routine specialist practice. Given the overall safety and effectiveness of long-acting bronchodilators in subjects without an asthma component to their COPD, we believe use of such agents without an associated ICS should be favoured.
Linking Costs to Health Outcomes for Allocating Scarce Public Health
Resources
Authors: Corso Phaedra , Ingles Justin B. , Taylor Nathaniel , Desai Samir 
Published: December 2014

Introduction: Resources for public health (PH) are scarce and policymakers face
tough decisions in determining their funding priorities. The difficulty of making these
decisions is compounded by current PH accounting systems, which are ill-equipped to link
fiscal resources to PH outcomes. This paper examines the types of revenues and
expenditures, health services, and health outcomes that are being tracked at the local
and state PH levels. The authors provide recommendations for strengthening the ability
of local and state governments to link expenditures to PH outcomes, both within and
across jurisdictions.Framework and Next Steps: The source of revenue data for most local
jurisdictions is the accounting systems used for the budgeting and auditing of fiscal
activities, and these are primarily linked to specific PH programs. In contrast,
expenditure data are mostly generic and typically span multiple PH programs with no link
to specific PH activities. Many challenges exist to then link PH activities to health
outcomes data, which are often collected through separate reporting systems at the
local, state, and national levels. Policy change at the state level and implementation
strategies that are standardized across local health departments are required to assess
the costs and health outcomes of PH activities.Conclusion: Information linking PH
expenditures to health outcomes of PH services could greatly inform the decision-making
process. This information will allow investments in PH to be better understood and will
provide a strong foundation for the PH services and systems research community to
understand variation and drive improvement. Ultimately, these data could be used to
improve accountability at the local and state PH department levels.
The Future of Public Health Informatics: Alternative Scenarios and Recommended
Strategies
Authors: Edmunds Margo , Thorpe Lorna , Sepulveda Martin , Bezold Clem , Ross David A. 
Published: December 2014

Background: In October 2013, the Public Health Informatics Institute (PHII) and
Institute for Alternative Futures (IAF) convened a multidisciplinary group of experts to
evaluate forces shaping public health informatics (PHI) in the United States, with the
aim of identifying upcoming challenges and opportunities. The PHI workshop was funded by
the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as part of its larger strategic planning process for
public health and primary care.Workshop Context: During the two-day workshop, nine
experts from the public and private sectors analyzed and discussed the implications of
four scenarios regarding the United States economy, health care system, information
technology (IT) sector, and their potential impacts on public health in the next 10
years, by 2023.Workshop participants considered the potential role of the public health
sector in addressing population health challenges in each scenario, and then identified
specific informatics goals and strategies needed for the sector to succeed in this
role.Recommendations and Conclusion: Participants developed recommendations for the
public health informatics field and for public health overall in the coming decade.
These included the need to rely more heavily on intersectoral collaborations across
public and private sectors, to improve data infrastructure and workforce capacity at all
levels of the public health enterprise, to expand the evidence base regarding
effectiveness of informatics-based public health initiatives, and to communicate
strategically with elected officials and other key stakeholders regarding the potential
for informatics-based solutions to have an impact on population health.
Filling the Gaps in Data and Methods for Public Health Services and Systems
Research (PHSSR)
Authors: Holve Erin , Mays Glen 
Published: December 2014

Introduction: The goal of aligning the delivery of public health and medical care
services so as to achieve population-wide improvements in health status is not new. Yet
the urgency to achieve greater alignment has increased as the prevalence of costly and
preventable diseases and injuries grows, and as incentives for health care system
redesign take hold through Affordable Care Act implementation. The science of public
health services and systems research (PHSSR) can leverage this opportunity for change by
bringing data together from public health and health care systems to support a holistic
and integrated learning health system that maximizes the value of new data streams.Issue
Overview: This joint issue of eGEMs and Frontiers in PHSSR displays the viewpoints of
diverse authors to enhance the types and sources of data that are available to
understand and improve population health, and to integrate these data where possible.
Four primary themes emerge from the papers: (1) the vision and strategy needed to
support the role of data and methods in advancing population health in the United
States; (2) the need to improve the infrastructure required to understand public health
financing and organization; (3) the importance of making early, meaningful use of health
information technology (IT) to achieve these goals; and (4) the need for new approaches
and partners to improve measurement strategies and assess population health.Next Steps
and Considerations for the Field: eGEMs and Frontiers in PHSSR hope that, over time,
this literature will continue to grow, identifying opportunities for multidisciplinary
teams to work with communities and address common priorities that fill in existing
information gaps such as those identified in the special issue.
Comparison between bottom-up and top-down approaches in the estimation of measurement uncertainty
Authors: Lee Jun Hyung , Choi Jee-Hye , Youn Jae Saeng , Cha Young Joo , Song Woonheung , Park Ae Ja 
Published: December 2014

AbstractMeasurement uncertainty is a metrological concept to quantify the variability of measurement results. There are two approaches to estimate measurement uncertainty. In this study, we sought to provide practical and detailed examples of the two approaches and compare the bottom-up and top-down approaches to estimating measurement uncertainty.We estimated measurement uncertainty of the concentration of glucose according to CLSI EP29-A guideline. Two different approaches were used. First, we performed a bottom-up approach. We identified the sources of uncertainty and made an uncertainty budget and assessed the measurement functions. We determined the uncertainties of each element and combined them. Second, we performed a top-down approach using internal quality control (IQC) data for 6 months. Then, we estimated and corrected systematic bias using certified reference material of glucose (NIST SRM 965b).The expanded uncertainties at the low glucose concentration (5.57 mmol/L) by the bottom-up approach and top-down approaches were ±0.18 mmol/L and ±0.17 mmol/L, respectively (allWe presented practical and detailed examples for estimating measurement uncertainty by the two approaches. The uncertainties by the bottom-up approach were quite similar to those by the top-down approach. Thus, we demonstrated that the two approaches were approximately equivalent and interchangeable and concluded that clinical laboratories could determine measurement uncertainty by the simpler top-down approach.
Preliminary evaluation of 14C and 36Cl
in nuclear waste from Ignalina Nuclear
Power Plant decommissioning
Authors: Mažeika Jonas , Lujanienė Galina , Petrošius Rimantas , Oryšaka Nadežda , Ovčinikov Sergej 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
On a first attempt, the determination of 14C and 36Cl activity concentrations in basic operational waste (spent ion-exchange resins and perlite mixture), in decommissioning waste (construction concrete, sand, stainless steel and serpentinite) and irradiated graphite from the Ignalina NPP has been performed. The samples for measurement of the specific activity of 14C and 36Cl were obtained from the selected places, where the highest values of the dose rate and the activity concentrations of gamma emitters were found. The performed study of the total 14C and 36Cl activity concentrations was based on estimated chemical forms of 14C (inorganic and organic compounds) and 36Cl as Cl- ion. The tested methods used in this study were found to be suitable for estimation of activity concentrations of measured radionuclides.
Immobilization of Amano Lipase A onto Stöber silica surface: process characterization
and kinetic studies
Authors: Zdarta Jakub , Sałek Karina , Kołodziejczak-Radzimska Agnieszka , Siwińska-Stefańska Katarzyna , Szwarc-Rzepka Karolina , Norman Małgorzata , Klapiszewski Łukasz , Bartczak Przemysław , Kaczorek Ewa , Jesionowski Teofil 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
The immobilization of Amano Lipase A from Aspergillus niger by adsorption onto Stöber silica matrix obtained by sol-gel method was studied. The effectiveness of the enzyme immobilization and thus the usefulness of the method was demonstrated by a number of physicochemical analysis techniques including Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
(FT-IR), elemental analysis (EA), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), porous structure of the support and the products after immobilization from the enzyme solution with various concentration at different times. The analysis of the process’ kinetics allowed the determination of the sorption parameters of the support and optimization of the process. The optimum initial concentration of the enzyme solution was found to be 5 mg mL-1, while the optimum time of the immobilization was 120 minutes. These values of the variable parameters of the process were obtained by as ensuring the immobilization of the largest possible amount of the biocatalyst at
Plasma recycling of chloroorganic wastes
Authors: Jędrzejczyk Tomasz , Kołaciński Zbigniew , Koza Dariusz , Raniszewski Grzegorz , Szymański Łukasz , Wiak Sławomir 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
A high temperature of thermal plasma provides
more efficient decomposition of the wastes in comparison
to traditional combustion. Due to the high temperature
and high density of energy in the plasma, the destruction
rate is high, which determines a high efficiency waste
decomposition. The main products of pyrolysis plasma
chloroorganic compounds are pyrolysis gas and pyrolysis
coke.

In order to reduce carbon soot, the steam supported
reaction was used. Application of plasma at a temperature
range from 1000 to 1750 K enabled destruction of the
chloroorganic compounds with a very good yield. Several
degradation products were received , which were analyzed.
In the research electric arc plasma was used in the process
of pyrolysis chloroorganic waste utilization. The reactor
with a rotating arc was applied. Selected chloroorganic
compounds were selected as the model: chloromethane
(CH3Cl), carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), chlorobenzene
(C6H5Cl) and dichlorobiphenyl (PCB-C12H8Cl2). Based on
the amount of the individual components, chloroorganic
in the exhaust gases, and the amount introduced to the
plasma decomposition, percentage yield was calculated.

Research results indicated that decomposition
efficiency was more than 99,8% with the exception of CCl4
pyrolysis, which in the exhaust had a content of 0.2%
CCl4.
Functional polypropylene composites filled
with ultra-fine magnesium hydroxide
Authors: Pilarska Agnieszka , Bula Karol , Myszka Kamila , Rozmanowski Tomasz , Szwarc-Rzepka Karolina , Pilarski Krzysztof , Chrzanowski Łukasz , Czaczyk Katarzyna , Jesionowski Teofil 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
Magnesium hydroxide was prepared under controlled conditions from aqueous Mg(NO3)2 and NaOH solutions. The small, nanoplate-shaped particle size distribution was monomodal from 164 to 459 nm. Functional polypropylene/Mg(OH)2 and polypropylene/polypropylene 1% maleic anhydride/Mg(OH)2 composites were prepared containing 10% or 30% Mg(OH)2. The composites have a high Young’s modulus (twice that of polypropylene) and comparable tensile strength but less ductility. EDX examination of the fractured composite surfaces suggested a homogeneous Mg(OH)2 distribution for composites produced with the addition of polypropylene grafted with maleic anhydride. The polypropylene/Mg(OH)2 composites showed good antibacterial activity. The polypropylene/polypropylene 1% maleic anhydride/Mg(OH)2 composites were less effective.
Determination of Ag+ and Cu2+ ions in mixture samples obtained in the microwave assisted polyol process by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) method
Authors: Markowski Piotr , Dzido Grzegorz , Baranowska Irena , Jarzębski Andrzej B. 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
A simple and selective differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) method for the determination of Ag+ and Cu2+ ions in mixture samples obtained in the microwave assisted polyol process was developed and validated. Analytical methods for the preparation of the reaction mixture for voltammetric analysis (dilute samples in the supporting electrolyte) were worked out and optimized. All measurements were conducted in three-electrode cell system equipped with glassy carbon electrode (GCE) as a working electrode, silver/silver chloride (Ag|AgCl|KCl(sat.)) as a reference and platinum wire as a auxiliary electrode. The optimal conditions for quantitative determination were obtained in an mixture Britton–Robinson buffer at pH 4.1 / ethylene glycol (100/1; v/v). The calibration curves of analysed compounds are linear within the range of concentration: 0.032 − 0.420 μg mL-1 and 0.075 − 0.960 μg mL-1 for Ag+ and Cu2+, respectively. Good linear behaviour over the investigated concentration ranges were observed with the values of r2 higher than 0.996 for the silver and cooper ions. The accuracy of analytical determinations ranged from 0.4 to 3.6%. The levels of analysed ions in the reaction mixture can be successfully determined using this developed method with no matrix effect.
Physical features of atmospheric pressure microdischarge system with vortex gas flows
Authors: Prysiazhnevych Iryna , Lendel Vasyl , Chernyak Valeriy , Solomenko Oksana , Martysh Eugene , Iukhymenko Vitalii 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
The parameters for microdischarges of plasma medicine in air and argon vortex flows at atmospheric pressure for different shapes of electrodes (outlet nozzle and axis electrode diameters ratio set) have been investigated. The current-voltage characteristics of the designed systems have been analyzed, the parameters of the generated jets plasma have been investigated by means of the optical emission spectroscopy, and the form of plasma jets has been studied by using video camera.
Properties of atmospheric pressure plasma oxidized layers on silicon wafers
Authors: Skácelová Dana , Sládek Petr , Sťahel Pavel , Pawera Lukáš , Haničinec Martin , Meichsner Jürgen , Černák Mirko 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
In this research a new process of plasma oxidation of crystalline silicon at room temperature is studied. The plasma oxidation was carried out using Diffuse Coplanar Surface Barrier Discharge (DCSBD) operating in ambient air and oxygen at atmospheric pressure. The influence of exposition time, plasma parameters and crystallographic orientation of silicon on oxidized layers and their dielectric properties were investigated. Thickness, structure and morphology of these layers were studied by ellipsometry, infrared absorption spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. During the treatment time, from 1 to 30 minutes, oxidized layers were obtained with thickness from 1 to 10 nm. Their roughness depends on the crystallographic orientation of silicon surface and exposure time. Electrical parameters of the prepared layers indicate the presence of an intermediate layer between silicon substrate and the oxidized layer.
Crystallographic and structural characterization
of heterometallic platinum clusters Part VIII.
Heteronona- and heterodecanuclear clusters
Authors: Melník Milan , Mikuš Peter , Holloway Clive E. 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
This review classifies and analyses fifty heteronona- and heterodecanuclear Pt clusters of metal composition: Pt4Ru5, Pt3Ru6, Pt20sr PtRh8, PtAu8; Pt6M4, Pt5M5, Pt4M6, Pt3M2, Pt2M8, PtM9, Pt3Ru6M and PtAu8M. There are nine different heterometals: M = Ru, Au, Ag, Cu, Hg, Os, Rh, Ir and Fe, of which Ru and Au are the most frequent. The clusters crystallize mostly into two crystal classes, monoclinic (74%) and triclinic (18%), and their structures are complex. Three triangular layers of nine metal atoms arranged in the form of a face-shared bioctahedron are common in the series of heterononanuclear clusters. In the series of heterodecanuclear clusters distorted skeletal icosahedrons, where a central platinum atom is surrounded by nine metal atoms, and face (edge) shared (fused) bioctahedral cluster of the metal atoms are the most common. The most frequent ligands are CO and PPh3. The shortest metal-metal bond distances are: 2.540(4) Å (Pt-Fe), 2.580(2) Å (Ru-Ru), 2.584 Å (Pt-Pt) and 2.629(4) Å (Cu-Au). Several relationships between the structural parameters were found and are discussed. Some clusters contain two crystallographically independent molecules within the same crystal and are examples of distortion isomerism.
Influence of electrode material on hydrogen peroxide generation by DC pinhole discharge
Authors: Vyhnánková Edita , Kozáková Zdenka , Krčma František , Hrdlička Aleš 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
In this work, several materials were studied as electrodes in a pinhole configuration of a DC plasma discharge to estimate their effect on the efficiency of the discharge, indicated by hydrogen peroxide production. Detection was carried out using a specific titanium reagent. This was combined with ICP-OES analysis of the final solutions to determine the difference between the amount of electrode material released during the discharge operation and electrolysis experiment carried out under the same conditions. It was found that from seven studied electrode materials, graphite gives the best results, while lower cost aluminum and titanium-zinc still work well. The most unsuitable materials were copper and brass; in these cases, no hydrogen peroxide was detected in the cathode part of the reactor. Results obtained by ICP analysis indicate that even in the case of brass, the absence of hydrogen peroxide is due to the presence of copper in the material. It probably affects both directly the phase of discharge creation and propagation and the decomposition reactions.
A comparison of carbon tetrachloride decomposition using spark and barrier discharges
Authors: Ulejczyk Bogdan , Krawczyk Krzysztof , Młotek Michał , Schmidt-Szałowski Krzysztof , Nogal Łukasz , Kuca Bolesław 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
The decomposition of CCl4 in air was investigated at atmospheric pressure in two discharges. Reactors used to generate electrical discharges were powered by the same electric power supply. In both reactors, nearly 90% conversion of CCl4 was obtained. All chlorine was in the form of Cl2 in the process carried out in the barrier discharge, while in the spark discharge, COCl2 was formed. The conversion of CCl4 to COCl2 ranged from 2 to 12%. NO was formed in both discharges but the NO content in the gas leaving the reactors was 1.7–2.7% for the spark discharge and 0.045–0.06% for the barrier discharge.
O3 was produced only in the barrier discharge and its content ranged from 0.1 to 0.2%.
Acetic acid hydroconversion over mono-
and bimetallic indium doped catalysts supported on alumina and silicas of various textures
Authors: Onyestyák György , Harnos Szabolcs , Badari Cecília Andrea , Drotár Eszter , Klébert Szilvia , Kalló Dénes 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
Consecutive hydroconversion of acetic acid (AA) to ethanol was compared over monometallic and novel bimetallic (containing In as guest metal) catalysts on alumina and silica supports (inter alia highly ordered SBA-15) of different porosity and pore structure.
The transformation was studied in a fixed bed, flow-through reactor in the temperature range of 220–380°C using hydrogen flow at 21 bar total pressure. AA hydroconversion activity of Cu and Pt catalysts and the yield of selectively produced alcohol were increased drastically by applying SBA-15 as highly ordered, mesoporous silica support instead of alumina. The most active nickel catalysts do not allow the selective addition of hydrogen to carbon-oxygen bonds independently of supports producing mainly CH4; however, indium doping can completely eliminate the hydrodecarbonylation activity as found in earlier studies. The textural properties of studied silica supports of various textures such as SBA-15, CAB-O-SIL, and Grace Sylobead have a profound impact on the catalytic performance of Ni and Ni2In particles.
Modification of PET surface properties using extremely non-equilibrium oxygen plasma
Authors: Junkar Ita , Modic Martina , Mozeti Miran 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) foils have been exposed to oxygen plasma and its afterglow in order to reveal compositional and structural modifications of the surface layer. Oxygen plasma was created by electrode-less RF discharge in a glass chamber so the O-atom density was close to 1022 m-3 although the density of charged particles was only about 1 × 1016 m-3. Long-living reactive particles created in plasma were leaked into the afterglow chamber using a two-stage rotary pump of pumping speed
4.4 × 10-3 m3 s-1. The density of O-atoms in the afterglow as measured with a catalytic probe was 3 × 1021 m-3, while the density of reactive oxygen molecules was estimated theoretically. The functionalization was accomplished even after a brief exposure to either plasma or afterglow since all samples were saturated with oxygen-rich functional groups as revealed by XPS. The water contact angle measurements, however, showed that only plasma treatment allowed for super-hydrophilicity, explained by rich surface morphology as detected by AFM. The differences in morphological properties between plasma and afterglow treated samples were explained by different interaction mechanisms between low and high energy particles impinging the polymer surface.