Trust in scientists and their role in society across 68 countries.

Science is crucial for evidence-based decision-making. Public trust in scientists can help decision makers act on the basis of the best available evidence, especially during crises. However, in recent years the epistemic authority of science has been challenged, causing concerns about low public trust in scientists.

Perceptions of science, science communication, and climate change attitudes in 68 countries - the TISP dataset.

Science is integral to society because it can inform individual, government, corporate, and civil society decision-making on issues such as public health, new technologies or climate change. Yet, public distrust and populist sentiment challenge the relationship between science and society. To help researchers analyse the science-society nexus across different geographical and cultural contexts, we undertook a cross-sectional population survey resulting in a dataset of 71,922 participants in 68 countries.

Affective Polarization and Political Belief Systems: The Role of Political Identity and the Content and Structure of Political Beliefs.

We investigate the extent that political identity, political belief content (i.e., attitude stances), and political belief system structure (i.

Classified out of society? How educational classification induces political alienation through feelings of misrecognition.

Less educated citizens are both descriptively and substantively outnumbered by higher educated citizens in political and societal institutions. While social science has devoted much time to explain why such education effects exist, it has largely neglected the role of feelings of misrecognition in inducing political alienation among less educated citizens. We argue that education has become so central in processes of economic and social stratification that it is likely that less educated citizens feel misrecognized due to their marginal presence in societal and political institutions, which would then lead to their political alienation.

When and Why People Prefer Higher Educated Politicians: Ingroup Bias, Deference, and Resistance.

When choosing between political candidates of different educational levels, do voters show ingroup bias or base their vote choice on candidates' perceived competence? We aim to investigate how (fictional) political candidates of different educational levels are evaluated and voted for, how this is affected by voters' educational level, and the role of perceived (Study 1) and manipulated competence (Study 2). Higher educated participants preferred higher to less educated candidates over and above their level of competence, particularly when they identified strongly with their educational level. This reflects ingroup bias among the higher educated.

Conflict thinking: Exploring the social basis of perceiving the world through the lens of social conflict.

Both human rights organisations and studies in political communication have noticed an increasing use of conflict frames in contemporary politics within Western societies. As such frames are only interesting for political actors if they find resonance among a substantial share of the population, these observations raise the question as to who supports conflict thinking and why? Whereas public opinion research has studied many attitudes that are based on conflict thinking (e.g.

Long term survival after admission for COPD exacerbation: A comparison with the general population.

Background And Objective: Life expectancy data of COPD patients in comparison to the general population are primarily based upon long-term population cohort studies. These studies are limited by a poor definition of clinically significant COPD. The key element in the course of COPD is a clinical exacerbation.

In Vitro, Pharmacokinetic, Pharmacodynamic, and Safety Comparisons of Single and Combined Administration of Tiotropium and Salmeterol in COPD Patients Using Different Dry Powder Inhalers.

In vitro Andersen cascade impactor-sized mass (ISM) and aerodynamic fine particle mass (FPM) <5 μm for tiotropium and salmeterol combined in a novel inhalation powder formulation containing 7.5 μg tiotropium/25 μg salmeterol (TSHH) were similar (within ±15%) to reference products containing 18 μg of tiotropium (Spiriva® HandiHaler®) (TioHH) and 50 μg of salmeterol (Serevent® Diskus®) (SalD). The pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics, safety, and tolerability of the novel fixed-dose TSHH formulation administered once daily was compared with the single-agent therapies TioHH (once daily [qd]) and SalD (twice daily [bid]) and with the jointly administered combination of TioHH (qd) plus SalD (bid) in a randomized, 22-week, open-label, four-way crossover study in 50 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of tiotropium solution and tiotropium powder in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The aim of the study was to characterize pharmacokinetics of tiotropium solution 5 µg compared to powder 18 µg and assess dose-dependency of tiotropium solution pharmacodynamics in comparison to placebo. In total 154 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were included in this multicenter, randomized, double-blind within-solution (1.25, 2.

Flyingfish feeding ecology in the eastern Pacific: prey partitioning within a speciose epipelagic community.

To test the hypothesis that prey partitioning contributes to community stability in flyingfish, the gut contents of 359 flyingfish specimens (representing five genera and eight species within Exocoetidae and Hemiramphidae) were collected at 50 dip-net stations during hour-long night-time fishing in oceanic waters of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean between August and November 2007. Analyses using multidimensional scaling, and analysis of similarity revealed significant dietary differences among species, and similarity percentages tests helped identify the specific prey taxa responsible for these differences. Six species specialized on copepods (58·3-96·9% by number), but targeted different families.

Stepping-across controlled asthmatic patients to extrafine beclometasone/formoterol combination.

Background: Asthma management focuses on achieving and maintaining asthma control. Few studies have assessed whether complete and sustained asthma control is maintained in clinical practice after stepping-across ICS/LABA fixed combinations. Aim of this double-blind, double-dummy, randomized, parallel group, controlled study was to demonstrate clinical equivalence between equipotent doses of extrafine beclometasone/formoterol (BDP/F) pMDI and fluticasone/salmeterol (FP/S) Diskus® in maintaining lung function and asthma control.

Efficacy and safety profile of fluticasone/formoterol combination therapy compared to its individual components administered concurrently in asthma: a randomised controlled trial.

Background: The potent inhaled corticosteroid, fluticasone propionate (fluticasone), and the long-acting β2-agonist with a rapid onset of action, formoterol fumarate (formoterol), have now been combined in a single aerosol inhaler, fluticasone/formoterol (flutiform). This study investigated the efficacy and safety of fluticasone/formoterol combination therapy compared with its individual components administered concurrently via two separate inhalers.

Methods: Patients ≥ 12 years (N = 210) with mild to moderate-severe persistent, reversible asthma were evenly randomised to 12 weeks of treatment (b.

Prediction and course of symptoms and lung function around an exacerbation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Frequent exacerbations induce a high burden to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). We investigated the course of exacerbations in the published COSMIC study that investigated the effects of 1-year withdrawal of fluticasone after a 3-month run-in treatment period with salmeterol/fluticasone in patients with COPD.

Methods: In 373 patients, we evaluated diary cards for symptoms, Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF), and salbutamol use and assessed their course during exacerbations.

Safety and efficacy of dual therapy with GSK233705 and salmeterol versus monotherapy with salmeterol, tiotropium, or placebo in a crossover pilot study in partially reversible COPD patients.

Background: GSK233705 is an inhaled, long-acting muscarinic antagonist in development for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study was performed to see if the addition of GSK233705 to salmeterol would provide greater bronchodilation than salmeterol or tiotropium alone in COPD.

Methods: In an incomplete-block, three-period, crossover design, dually responsive patients received three of the following five treatments: GSK233705 20 μg plus salmeterol 50 μg twice-daily; GSK233705 50 μg plus salmeterol 50 μg twice-daily; salmeterol 50 μg or placebo, each twice-daily; and tiotropium 18 μg or placebo once-daily for 7 days.

Efficacy and safety of once-daily NVA237 in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD: the GLOW1 trial.

Background: NVA237 is a once-daily dry-powder formulation of the long-acting muscarinic antagonist glycopyrronium bromide in development for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The glycopyrronium bromide in COPD airways clinical study 1 (GLOW1) evaluated the efficacy, safety and tolerability of NVA237 in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD.

Methods: Patients with COPD with a smoking history of ≥ 10 pack-years, post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) < 80% and ≥ 30% predicted normal and FEV1/forced vital capacity < 0.

24-hour bronchodilation following a single dose of the novel β(2)-agonist olodaterol in COPD.

Background: Current guidelines recommend long-acting bronchodilators as maintenance therapy in COPD when symptoms are not adequately controlled with short-acting agents. Olodaterol is a novel long-acting β(2)-adrenoceptor agonist with a pre-clinical profile that suggests 24-h bronchodilation may be achieved with once-daily administration.

Objective: To assess dose- and time-response in terms of bronchodilator efficacy, and to evaluate pharmacokinetics, safety and tolerability of single doses of olodaterol administered via Respimat(®) Soft Mist™ Inhaler in COPD patients.

Tiotropium improves lung function in patients with severe uncontrolled asthma: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Some patients with severe asthma remain symptomatic and obstructed despite maximal recommended treatment. Tiotropium, a long-acting inhaled anticholinergic agent, might be an effective bronchodilator in such patients.

Objective: We sought to compare the efficacy and safety of 2 doses of tiotropium (5 and 10 μg daily) administered through the Respimat inhaler with placebo as add-on therapy in patients with uncontrolled severe asthma (Asthma Control Questionnaire score, ≥ 1.

QVA149 demonstrates superior bronchodilation compared with indacaterol or placebo in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: This randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled, four-period crossover study assessed the efficacy and safety of once-daily QVA149, a dual bronchodilator consisting of the long-acting β2-agonist indacaterol and the long-acting muscarinic antagonist glycopyrronium (NVA237), in patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: Patients (N=154) were randomly assigned to receive QVA149 (indacaterol/NVA237) 300/50 μg, indacaterol 300 μg, indacaterol 600 μg, or placebo, once daily for 7 days with a 7-day washout period between each treatment. The primary endpoint was trough forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) (mean of 23 h 15 min and 23 h 45 min post-dose values) on day 7.

Combining tiotropium and salmeterol in COPD: Effects on airflow obstruction and symptoms.

Background: Clinical information on 24-h spirometric efficacy of combining tiotropium and salmeterol compared to single-agent therapy is lacking in patients with COPD.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, four-way crossover study of 6-week treatment periods comparing combination therapy of tiotropium 18 microg plus qd or bid salmeterol 50 microg versus single-agent therapy. Serial 24-h spirometry (FEV(1), FVC), effects on dyspnea (TDI focal score) and rescue salbutamol use were evaluated in 95 patients.

The efficacy of tiotropium administered via Respimat Soft Mist Inhaler or HandiHaler in COPD patients.

Background: Tiotropium, a once daily inhaled anticholinergic delivered via HandiHaler, provides bronchodilation for >24h and improves patient-centred outcomes. The Respimat Soft Mist Inhaler (SMI), a novel, propellant-free inhaler, has been developed and proposed as an alternative delivery device for use with tiotropium.

Methods: In a pre-specified, pooled analysis of two 30-week, double-blind, double-dummy, crossover studies, 207 patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) were randomised to receive once daily tiotropium 5 microg or 10 microg (aqueous solution delivered via Respimat SMI), tiotropium 18 microg (inhalation powder via HandiHaler) or placebo.

Improvements with tiotropium in COPD patients with concomitant asthma.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma have different diagnostic criteria and treatment paradigms. Both are common and can occur in the same patient. We sought to determine the spirometric effects of tiotropium in COPD patients with concomitant asthma.

Effects of tiotropium with and without formoterol on airflow obstruction and resting hyperinflation in patients with COPD.

Background: The combination of short-acting beta(2)-agonists and anticholinergics in the treatment of COPD has been well documented, but data on combination of long-acting agents are lacking.

Methods: A randomized, open-label, placebo-controlled, three-way crossover study was conducted comparing 2-week treatment periods of tiotropium alone to tiotropium plus formoterol once or twice daily following a 2-week pretreatment period with tiotropium. Lung function (FEV(1), FVC, and resting inspiratory capacity [IC]) serially over 24 h was measured in 95 patients with stable COPD at baseline and after 2 weeks of each treatment.

Comparison of tiotropium once daily, formoterol twice daily and both combined once daily in patients with COPD.

This study compared the bronchodilator effects of tiotropium, formoterol and both combined in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A total of 71 COPD patients (mean forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) 37% predicted) participated in a randomised, double-blind, three-way, crossover study and received tiotropium 18 microg q.d.

Comparable efficacy and tolerability of formoterol (Foradil) administered via a novel multi-dose dry powder inhaler (Certihaler) or the Aerolizer dry powder inhaler in patients with persistent asthma.

Background: For maximum treatment compliance there is a need to provide asthma patients with devices that suit their particular preferences. The Foradil Certihaler is a novel multi-dose dry powder inhaler developed to increase the choice of devices available.

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of formoterol administered via the Foradil Certihaler, or via the single-dose inhaler Foradil Aerolizer.

One-year cost-effectiveness of tiotropium versus ipratropium to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The aim of this paper is to assess the health economic consequences of substituting ipratropium with the new, once-daily bronchodilator tiotropium in patients with a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This prospective cost-effectiveness analysis was performed alongside two 1-yr randomised, double-blind clinical trials in the Netherlands and Belgium. Patients had a diagnosis of COPD and a forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) < or = 65% predicted normal.