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The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships among the following perspectives: perception of family disharmony, parent-child relationships, disharmonious family relationships, and adolescent cigarette smoking. Participants from a southeastern university reported about whether they smoke daily, weekly, monthly, never, or no longer smoke. The independent variable was smoking status of participants. Four to eight rating scales served as dependent variables for the three perspectives. Independent groups (smoking status) multivariate analyses of variance with unequal cell sizes were performed on the rating scale measures. Because none of the comparison tests were significant, the results were interpreted to suggest that no association between perception of family disharmony, parent-child relationships, disharmonious family relationships, and adolescent cigarette smoking exists.

ABSTRACT Background: Electronic cigarettes are used to deliver nicotine to consumers. E-cigarettes are claimed to be an alternative method for smoking cessation. The use of electronic cigarettes is increasing among young people, especially current and former smokers. It is unknown what the harm or benefit that result from e-cigarettes’ use of the individuals on the well-being. Purpose: This study was conducted to explore the prevalence of e-cigarettes use and exposure among college-based health care students. Also to assess the awareness level and beliefs in regard to electronic cigarettes use among the college-based health care students. Methods: 217 college-based health care undergraduate students from nursing, nutrition and respiratory therapy programs were surveyed in this study. The survey was composed of 17 questions in regards to the awareness, prevalence of e-cigarettes use and beliefs about e-cigarettes use. The data analysis included descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test and one-way ANOVA. A significance level was set at 0.05. Results: The response rate was 98.1%, 87% of the respondents were female and 70% were between the ages of 19-25 years. Most of the respondents were nursing students (47.5%); followed by nutrition students (29.5%); and respiratory therapy students (23%). Most of the respondents were non-smokers (83.4%); former smokers were 13.8%; and smokers were 2.8%. Almost all the respondents had heard of e-cigarettes (99.5%), and 21.2% had tried e-cigarettes at least once in their lifetime. The mean awareness score was 5.1 (SD 0.11); smokers showed the highest mean awareness score of 6.0±2.28. The majority of the participants disagreed that e-cigarettes are less dangerous than traditional cigarettes or can help smokers to quit; and more than half of the participants disagreed that e-cigarettes are used only by smokers. There was a significant difference among male (5.71±1.51) and female (5.03±1.71) in regards to the e-cigarettes awareness level (p=0.047). The awareness level was significantly different among respondents who had previously used e-cigarettes (5.63±1.49) than participants who have not tried e-cigarettes at least once during their lifetime (4.98±1.72) (p=0.021) Conclusion: This study found that most of the students in the college of nursing and health professions were not e-cigarettes’ users. People who have tried e-cigarettes, have friends who have tried e-cigarettes as well. Furthermore, curiosity is the major reason that led them to try e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes’ awareness is high among smokers and e-cigarettes’ users; older students seem to have higher awareness than younger students. There were general disagreements on the use of e-cigarettes as a less dangerous alternative to tobacco cigarettes to help smokers to quit. Finally, male and female participants showed significant differences in their awareness of e-cigarettes.

This study examined factors that may protect African-American young adults in college from early onset of cigarette smoking, and factors that may place them at risk for cigarette smoking, using the framework of the Social Cognitive Theory. It was hypothesized that existing regulation of smoking, positive attitude toward academics and school connectedness would be related to low cigarette-smoking rates, while exposure to pro-tobacco promotions would be related to high cigarette smoking rates. A convenience sample of 576 undergraduates at Dillard University of New Orleans completed a Harvard College Alcohol Study survey. Forty six percent (n=269) completed the survey. Ninetyone percent were African American, and 13% of them were ever-smokers. Chi Square analysis was used to test for a statistically significant difference in response rates between eversmokers and non-smokers. Results indicated no significant differences between respondents for any outcome measures. The Social Cognitive Theory constructs were not supported by the findings.The results of this study do not support any of the hypotheses. The Social Cognitive Theory constructs used to examine the hypotheses are not supported by the findings. Future studies should address the limitations of this research by using a random sampling technique, sampling across all academic classification levels, and assessing the validity and reliability of the Harvard College Alcohol Study survey measures for cigarette smoking.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong. / Bibliography: leaves 78-79.

Em meio ao declínio do consumo de cigarros devido ao aumento das campanhas restritivas e a crescente consciência pública dos riscos associados à saúde dos fumantes, as indústrias de cigarros se deparam com o constante desafio de desenvolver novas tecnologias de fabricação e materiais que minimizem os efeitos da fumaça de cigarros sobre a saúde dos consumidores. O sabor e a composição da fumaça ingerida pelo fumante durante o ato de fumar dependem fundamentalmente da combinação do design do cigarro e do blend de fumo utilizado. O interesse na realização desta pesquisa foi avaliar a influência da densidade do filtro de cigarros na redução dos teores dos principais constituintes da fumaça. Para a realização do estudo, protótipos de cigarro foram fabricados em escala industrial, utilizando o mesmo blend de fumo e demais parâmetros de design do cigarro, apenas variando a especificação do denier do acetato de celulose utilizado na fabricação do filtro. O desempenho dos filtros como material filtrante da fumaça foi avaliado em termos da queda de pressão e das propriedades da fibra do cabo de acetato. E, utilizando métodos padronizados, os protótipos de cigarro foram fumados em máquina de fumar e a composição dos teores de alcatrão, nicotina e monóxido de carbono foi determinada para a avaliação da capacidade de retenção dos filtros de cigarro fabricados com diferentes densidades. Os resultados mostram que a utilização de cabos de acetato com menor denier por filamento nos filtros de cigarro apresenta grande desempenho na redução dos constituintes da fase particulada da fumaça, como o alcatrão e a nicotina, porém não apresenta efeito na redução do monóxido de carbono, substância volátil presente na fase vapor da fumaça. No entanto, cabos de acetato com menor espessura dos filamentos somente podem ser utilizados em filtros de cigarro se combinados com outros parâmetros de design de cigarro a fim de não apresentar prejuízo na aceitação do produto junto aos consumidores, devido ao aumento no esforço para a realização da tragada. / In the middle of the cigarette consumption decline caused by the increase of restrictive advertising campaigns and smokers’ health risk public awareness, tobacco industries now encounter the permanent challenge of developing materials and new manufacturing technologies to minimize cigarette smoke effects in regards to consumers’ health. The taste and formulation of the smoke absorbed in the smoking activity crucially depend on the combination between cigarette design and tobacco blend. The aim in this research was to evaluate the influence of cigarette filter density to reduce the level of smoke main constituents. In order to conduct the study, cigarette prototypes were manufactured at industrial proportion, using the same tobacco blend and respective cigarette design parameters, but only varying the denier specification of the cellulose acetate filter tow used to produce the filter. The performance of filters as smoke-filtering materials were evaluated in terms of pressure drop and filter tow fiber properties. And, according standardized methods, cigarette prototypes were smoked in smoking machines, and the composition of tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide levels was determined to evaluate the retention capacity of the cigarette filters manufactured with different densities. Results show that the use of filter tows with low denier per filament in cigarette filters increases smoke particulate phase components removal efficiency, such as tar and nicotine, but it does not present effects to reduce carbon monoxide, volatile substance that exists in the smoke vapor phase. However, filter tows with of filaments can only be used in cigarette filters if combined with other design parameters in order to avoid damage in the product acceptance by consumers due to the increase of effort in the cigarette puff.

Electronic cigarettes have grown in popularity across the U.S. and concerns have been raised about their abuse liability. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate and compare the abuse liability of an electronic cigarette with and without nicotine to a nicotine inhaler (the Nicotrol inhaler) and participants’ own brand of cigarettes. A total of 24 smokers attended four sessions in which the abuse liability of each product was examined using the Multiple-Choice Procedure (MCP), nicotine delivery, nicotine abstinence symptom suppression, and subjective reinforcing effects. Results revealed that the nicotine containing and non-nicotine containing electronic cigarette had a higher reinforcing efficacy on the MCP than the nicotine inhaler, but on average had a lower reinforcing efficacy than participants own brand of cigarettes. The nicotine containing electronic cigarette delivered nicotine to participants in amounts that did not differ significantly from participants’ own brand of cigarettes. The electronic cigarette with nicotine reduced nicotine abstinence symptoms to a greater degree than the electronic cigarette without nicotine, and both electronic cigarettes were rated as subjectively more reinforcing than the inhaler but less reinforcing than participants’ own brand of cigarettes. In sum, the results from this study suggest that the electronic cigarette examined had a moderate level of abuse liability that was higher than an FDA-approved nicotine inhaler but lower than traditional cigarettes. Furthermore, findings also suggest that electronic cigarette abuse liability may extend beyond factors related to nicotine delivery.

Industry documents and anecdotal evidence suggest that cigarette packaging can target women by enhancing brand appeal and influencing important beliefs about smoking. Little research has been conducted on how cigarette pack design might contribute to young women's faulty beliefs about smoking. This study sought to identify package designs that promote misleading beliefs about the health effects of smoking and the relationship between smoking and weight control, and that increase brand appeal among young women; as well as the extent to which plain packaging reduces these beliefs. A between-subjects experiment was conducted in which 512 participants between the ages of 18-25 years viewed cigarette packs using a computerized survey in one of four conditions: female-oriented (n = 141); female-oriented with descriptors (i.e., slims) removed (n = 125); female-oriented without brand imagery or descriptors (“plain”; n = 122); and standard non-female oriented (n = 124). Participants rated 8 cigarette packs on perceptions of appeal, taste, tar, and health risks; and answered questions about smoking and weight control and attitudes towards smoking. Results of the study indicated that women found the female-oriented packs most appealing. Participants also believed that the female-oriented packs had fewer health risks than the same packs with descriptors removed. Women who viewed the plain packs were less likely to believe that smoking helps people control their appetites compared to women who viewed the female-oriented and non-female oriented packs. Women with more weight concerns were more likely to believe in a relationship between smoking and weight control. Overall, this study demonstrates that as packages become “plainer” they become less appealing. Women viewing plain packs were less likely to endorse the belief that smoking can be used for appetite control, and that smoking helps people stay slim; and as descriptors were removed, packs were perceived to have more health risks. Results of the study extend the evidence base on the impact of cigarette packaging on women, and provide support for the implementation of plain packaging to reduce package appeal and faulty beliefs about smoking.

Industry documents and anecdotal evidence suggest that cigarette packaging can target women by enhancing brand appeal and influencing important beliefs about smoking. Little research has been conducted on how cigarette pack design might contribute to young women's faulty beliefs about smoking. This study sought to identify package designs that promote misleading beliefs about the health effects of smoking and the relationship between smoking and weight control, and that increase brand appeal among young women; as well as the extent to which plain packaging reduces these beliefs. A between-subjects experiment was conducted in which 512 participants between the ages of 18-25 years viewed cigarette packs using a computerized survey in one of four conditions: female-oriented (n = 141); female-oriented with descriptors (i.e., slims) removed (n = 125); female-oriented without brand imagery or descriptors (“plain”; n = 122); and standard non-female oriented (n = 124). Participants rated 8 cigarette packs on perceptions of appeal, taste, tar, and health risks; and answered questions about smoking and weight control and attitudes towards smoking. Results of the study indicated that women found the female-oriented packs most appealing. Participants also believed that the female-oriented packs had fewer health risks than the same packs with descriptors removed. Women who viewed the plain packs were less likely to believe that smoking helps people control their appetites compared to women who viewed the female-oriented and non-female oriented packs. Women with more weight concerns were more likely to believe in a relationship between smoking and weight control. Overall, this study demonstrates that as packages become “plainer” they become less appealing. Women viewing plain packs were less likely to endorse the belief that smoking can be used for appetite control, and that smoking helps people stay slim; and as descriptors were removed, packs were perceived to have more health risks. Results of the study extend the evidence base on the impact of cigarette packaging on women, and provide support for the implementation of plain packaging to reduce package appeal and faulty beliefs about smoking.

The application of a hollow waveguide (HW) was investigated as a gas cell for analytical infrared analysis. The analysis was the measurement of carbon monoxide (CO) and nitric oxide (NO) in sidestream cigarette smoke. An FT-IR analysis system was setup with a 3m multi-pass gas cell and a 55cm by 2mm i.d. Ag/AgI coated HW in tandem with individual CO and NO gas analyzers. The HW demonstrated response times an order of magnitude less than the larger volume multi-pass gas cell and slightly faster than the single analyte gas analyzer. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that the HW provides up to approx. 60% greater sensitivity on a per meter optical path basis than the multi-pass gas cell of the analytes investigated due to increased optical efficiency maximizing the light concentration within the gaseous sample volume. Simulations in 3-D showed the sensitivity could theoretically improve by more than an order of magnitude if the IR beam was coupled more efficiently into the waveguide. Both FT-IR configurations gave statistically equivalent results for CO to the independent analyzers. With the HW increased temporal resolution, inter-puff measurements comparable to the gas analyzer were achieved at a lower spectral resolution. The HW optical configuration was modeled for ray tracing in MATLAB. Simulations in 2-D and 3-D were accomplished. The simulations show a major drawback to HW optimization is the coupling of the infrared beam into the waveguide. As demonstrated in a 3-D simulation, approximately 97% of the rays are rejected when an off-axis parabolic mirror with 25.4mm focal length is used to focus the IR beam into the 2mm i.d. waveguide. Repeating the simulation with longer focal length mirrors showed improved in IR coupling into the waveguide from 3% to 85%. Simulations applying a compound parabolic concentrator show comparable performance to the traditional design of two OAP mirrors to collect rays from the HW and focus onto the detector, but in a much smaller configuration. The simulation routines can be used to further improve the design of this and other optical sensing systems and enhanced by incorporating a spectral component to the simulation.