Marihuana continues to be a controversial topic in todays society. The plant material is used recreationally as a stupefacient and has a purported medicinal use. In fact, anecdotal information about its medicinal properties has been such that Health Canada has recently started an initiative to provide a well characterized supply of plant tissue to researchers interested in examining its potential medicinal properties. Simultaneously this same material is being provided for those subjects who are licensed to use marihuana as a medicine. <p>In order to further study marihuana and its component cannabinoids it is essential to be able to discern both the cannabinoid content in the product being supplied and more importantly the cannabinoid profile in the delivery system. At present the most common route of administration is via inhalation of the combusted plant material. Consequently methods capable of measuring the cannabinoid content in combusted plant material would be very useful in order to make meaningful study of the pharmacokinetics of the cannabinoids delivered by this route. <p>Investigations were carried out to develop a method and study the volatile constituents of combusted marihuana plant material in a semi-enclosed environment. Thus the hypothesis of this research is that qualitative and quantitative information can be obtained from the combustion products of cannabis plant tissue. The method relies upon the solid phase extraction of smoke arising from the combustion of plant material in a variety of combustion chambers. The combustion chambers were designed to reflect the current marihuana paraphernalia in use as well as a high efficiency in vitro system. Both the qualitative and quantitative levels of a limited number of cannabinoids were evaluated before and after combustion. A quantitative Liquid Chromatography Ultra Violet (LC-UV) detector method was validated for the analysis of a selected group of cannabinoids ( Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabinol (CBN), cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) . When this method was applied to plant material available through the medical marijuana initiative the following observations were made on the combustion products:<p> <table style="text-align: left; width: 397px;" border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 119px;">Material</td> <td style="width: 59px;">CBD</td> <td style="width: 59px;">CBN</td> <td style="width: 59px;">THC</td> <td style="width: 59px;">THCA</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 119px;">Analyzed</td> <td style="width: 59px;">(ug/ml)</td> <td style="width: 59px;">(ug/ml)</td> <td style="width: 59px;">(ug/ml)</td> <td style="width: 59px;">(ug/ml)</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 119px;">Plant</td> <td style="width: 59px;">BLQ</td> <td style="width: 59px;">BLQ</td> <td style="width: 59px;">BLQ</td> <td style="width: 59px;">890</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 119px;">Combusted</td> <td style="width: 59px;">20</td> <td style="width: 59px;">14</td> <td style="width: 59px;">420</td> <td style="width: 59px;">28</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> 5 mg plant tissue extracted using a validated HPLC-UV method <p> 5 mg plant tissue combusted in a closed combustion chamber.<p> BLQ: below level of quantification (<12.5 ug/mL)<p>These results sparked further research into the quantitative transformation of cannabinoids during the combustion process. In this regard, it was shown that THC, CBD and CBN all could be recovered at approximately a 90% ratio upon combustion However, THCA was thermally converted such that very little remains after combustion and furthermore, its degradation product, THC can only account for 50% of the THCA. The latter observation is important since there has been a prevailing thought that THCA is quantitatively transformed during combustion to THC while in fact this transformation is approximately 50%. This finding must be considered when pharmacokinetic studies are carried out using inhalation of combusted plant material as the delivery system.<p>A further finding of this research is that not all popular combustion devices yield identical quantitative cannabinoid profiles. In this regard, the simpler pipe systems result in the highest yields of heat transformed cannabinoids while the vaporizer systems have the lowest cannabinoid yields.

The main idea of Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) is to combine with multimedia and all interesting shareholders, and concentrate on the major audiences. It has been used in several fields because of its integrated characteristic. In the past, the field of health communication only focused on the dimension of public health, but now both of the smoke industry and drug industry use the varieties of promotion skills to persuade people to buy tobacco and patent medicine. Therefore, the field of health communication should try to use integrated conception to promote correct ideas and then measure the effect of promotion and revise the strategy. The research studies the effect of using IMC strategy in popularizing smoke-free restaurant. The author uses the secondhand data of the popularization program of smoke-free restaurant and then uses questionnaire to try to understand the cognition¡Battitude and behavior of people who eat in the smoke-free restaurant in Kaohsiung city. The research also wants to measure whether or not the program sends ¡§one voice¡¨ to the consumers. The results of the empirical research find out the popularization program of smoke-free restaurant sends ¡§one voice¡¨ to the consumers so that the consumers can easily understand what smoke-free restaurant is. Besides, the cognition of the consumers is relevant with the attitude of the consumers and then the attitude of the consumers is relevant with the behavior of the consumers. Therefore, besides delivering the coherent message with IMC for promotion of Smoke-free restaurant, IMC also does achieve the best effect as a tool for promotion of health communication.

¡@¡@Recently due to the significant economic growth in Taiwan, buildings were constructed taller with usage diversified. However, the Building Code is difficult to cope with this rapid change and also sometimes with design negligence, fire accidents are not uncommon in this country. ¡@¡@Based on former experience, casualties occurred mainly due to the smoke hazard and inadequate time for egress. Therefore, quantitative assessment on these two items has become increasingly important, which is the main theme of this study. ¡@¡@During the design stage, a lot of constraints existed in adapting the local fire code, which is prescriptive in nature, especially in designing buildings with large spaces, atria, or malls. In that case, performance-based design was often attempted followed by quantitative risk assessment to validate its design effectiveness. ¡@¡@In this study, the ABRI Manual for Fire Risk assessment has been applied, followed by the F method for comparative study. The result indicated that both methods can be applied as reliable tools for fire risk assessment and warrants its application in engineering projects.

In Taiwan, the fire code is prescriptive in nature and is inappropriate to be utilized in buildings with large spaces and atria, where performance-based fire safety design method is applied. It is the goal of this dissertation to develop a design guide for this application. Through literature survey and theoretical analysis, the important parameters were induced, including: plume transport time lag, ceiling jet transport time lag, smoke entrainment rate, mechanical and natural ventilation rate. To predict smoke behavior and descending rate accurately, algebraic equations and field model were both used to calculate and compare with experimental result so that its applicability can be evaluated. Furthermore, a full-scale experiment has been conducted in the USTC campus to validate that the field model can predict the smoke behavior and descending rate accurately. Finally, the calculation models developed in this study were compiled into a guideline for fire engineering performance-based designs. Design examples were also demonstrated to explain its procedure in engineering application.

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The purpose of the critical review is understood to be a critical reflection and comment on the work presented in the papers. The critical review is centred on the papers, as they form the substance of the submission, and the wider tobacco control literature. This review has not attempted to re-analyse the findings of the studies but attempts to draw wider lessons from the studies and to contribute to the future implementation of tobacco control policy and programmes. It will be claimed that the contribution to the research studies, the publications and the critical review represents a significant body of work and contribution to the advancement of knowledge in tobacco control. The aim of the thesis is to present and critically review six publications on the social de-normalisation of tobacco use, as it relates to public and private smoke-free environments and professional engagement in Scotland. The publications are treated as a coherent body of tobacco control research and draw upon three studies conducted over the period 1999-2007. Breathing Space Study 1: 1999-2002 evaluated an intervention which aimed to produce a significant shift in community norms towards non-smoking in a lowincome area. A process evaluation, as part of a quasi-experimental design, was undertaken in the intervention area, using a range of qualitative methods, including observation, in-depth interviews and focus groups. Papers 1 and 2 explore the context of health promotion professional practice in the development and implementation of tobacco control interventions in one disadvantaged community. The Qualitative Community Study 2: 2005-2007 aimed to explore the impact of the Scottish smoke-free legislation on attitudes and behaviour, at both individual and community levels, in four socio-economically contrasting localities in Scotland. A longitudinal qualitative evaluation was conducted using observation, in-depth interviews with smokers and ex-smokers, key stakeholders and focus groups. Papers 3 and 4 explore qualitative differences in the experience of smoke-free legislation in advantaged and disadvantaged communities, with particular consideration of the unintended consequences of the legislation for some smokers. The Smoke-free Homes Study 3: 2006-2007 aimed to describe changes in smoking behaviour and attitudes to smoking following implementation of the smoke-free legislation. It sought to identify the potential enablers and barriers to reducing SHS exposure in the home. A cross-sectional study was conducted using qualitative interviews. Papers 5 and 6 explore the changing discourses about second-hand smoke exposure, and the development of smoking restrictions in the home, with a particular focus on motivation to protect children. In addition, insight into the changing culture of professional practice in creating smoke-free homes was gained. Key findings A synthesis of key findings from these publications supports the identification of three major themes: the experience of power at each stage of the process of the social de-normalisation of tobacco use; the experience of stigmatisation of smoking as a consequence of policy; and health promotion practice as both barrier to and enabler of the implementation of smoke-free environments in the community and the home. The thesis also highlights the benefits and challenges of two research methodologies, process evaluation and qualitative longitudinal research (QLLR), in capturing both intended and unanticipated aspects of policy and practice implementation. This synthesis of the key findings that cut across the three studies has generated four research questions that are explored in this critical review: 1. How can policy be evaluated in community settings and in the home? 2. How do smokers, particularly disadvantaged smokers, engage with tobacco control policies and interventions? 3. Is professional practice a barrier or facilitator to understanding the impact of tobacco control policies and interventions? 4. What are some of the key unintended consequences of recent tobacco control policies? Conclusion This thesis contributes to knowledge through a critical account of the reshaping of smoking as a collective lifestyle, in both public and private domains. The social de-normalisation of tobacco use is experienced differently in advantaged and disadvantaged social contexts. Population tobacco control strategies may benefit from contextual adjustments, particularly for those smokers who live in areas of disadvantage and thus experience dual stigmatisation. Additionally, the effectiveness of future interventions would be enhanced by a more nuanced understanding of smoking behaviour, as a collective social practice, embedded in specific spaces, places and times.

This cross-sectional study observed the association of smoke exposure and tuberculosis-related outcomes in Saskatchewan by individuals who had been exposed to someone with infectious TB. This study is unique in that we were quantifying the amount of smoke exposure that increases susceptibility to TB infection and/or active TB. Subjects who were at least 18 years old were enrolled into the study because they were contacts to infectious tuberculosis. The study involved a detailed interview. This interview involved questions on demographics, hair treatment (specifically, hair dying), tobacco smoke exposure, co-morbidities/risk factors, and alcohol consumption. After the interview was conducted, a small 10mg sample of hair was collected from each individual. This was to ensure a more accurate level of smoke exposure was attained. In total, 104 individuals were recruited to participate in this study. Linear regression analysis was used to compare cigarette consumption and nicotine concentration. A quadratic term was added to the linear model and the result was that reported cigarette consumption per day (x) was significantly associated with nicotine concentration (y) where y=0.91+1.35x-0.25x2 (p=0.001). A Fisher’s exact test was conducted to see if there was a relationship between smoking and TB disease; there was no statistically significant association between TB disease and smoking (OR= 3.28, 95%CI 0.37-29.1, p = 0.24). Logistic regression analysis was used to see if there was a relationship between smoking and TB infection. Of the five predictor variables, none were statistically significant. Smokers had an association with higher odds of TB infection (OR=2.03, 95%CI 0.71-5.80, p=0.19). Canadian-born Aboriginals had an association with lower odds of TB infection (OR=0.52, 95%CI 0.18-1.46, p=0.21). The results from this study could provide insight into creating a larger, more complex study involving TB and smoking.

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Thesis (B.S.)--University of Missouri, School of Mines and Metallurgy, 1914. / The entire thesis text is included in file. Typescript. Illustrated by authors. Title from title screen of thesis/dissertation PDF file (viewed March 31, 2009)

Thesis (M Nursing)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2008. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Wade G. Hill. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 30-33).