Student Number : 9901196J - MSc dissertation - School of Pathology - Faculty of Science / Fragile sites are highly unstable regions of the genome, which have a tendency to form gaps and breaks in metaphase chromosomes under replication stress conditions. There are many common fragile sites in the human genome and exposure to carcinogens may affect several genes localised in fragile sites within a single cell, which could lead to activation of oncogenes and inactivation of tumour-suppressor genes simultaneously. FRA3B on chromosome 3 and FRA16D on chromosome 16 are the two most commonly expressed fragile sites and contain the FHIT and WWOX genes respectively. These genes are tumour suppressor genes and are inactivated in a number of different ways. Carcinogens found in cigarette smoke have been found to increase fragile site expression and could alter the integrity of theses genes in active smokers. Ten healthy non-smoking (control) individuals and twenty active smokers were recruited for the purpose of this study. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation was performed with probes spanning spanning the FHIT gene and RT-PCR was performed to assess both FHIT and WWOX expression. No significant difference in breaks at fragile sites was observed between controls and active smokers in the FISH experiments. In addition, no aberrant transcripts were detected for either FHIT or WWOX with RT-PCR. Although the sampling group was limited and heterogenous, no increase in the expression of breaks at fragile sites was seen in active smokers in the present study.

Thesis (M.A.)--Humboldt State University, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 46-51). Also available via Humboldt Digital Scholar.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 195-206).

Thesis (M.A.)--Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, 1999. / Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 45-06, page: 2778. Typescript. Abstract included as two unpaged leaves at back of volume. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 30-35).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego and San Diego State University, 2010. / Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 69-80).

The purpose of this study was to compare a group of college smokers with a similar group of college nonsmokers on eleven Rorschach indices. The sources of data were thirty-five smokers and thirty-five nonsmokers enrolled in Introductory English courses at Texas Christian University during the 1971-1972 academic year.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2007. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 75 p. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 48-54).

Smoking patterns were described and compared retrospectively for 5395 participants in the Lung Health Study at 12 and 24 months. 3592 participants were assigned to a special intervention (SI) group that received a counseling assisted smoking cessation intervention that included nicotine gum and 1803 participants were assigned to a usual care (UC) group that received no assistance in quitting smoking. Participants were smokers diagnosed with mild to moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and averaged 31.4 cigarettes/day at entry. Significant differences were found regarding smoking outcomes and smoking patterns between groups as well as within each group. Counseling assisted participant's continuous abstinence rate at 24 months was 25.1% compared to 3.5% for unassisted smokers. Counseling assisted men were more successful at remaining abstinent at 24 months (27.1%) compared to (21.8%) for counseling assisted women. No gender differences were found for unassisted smokers. Abstinence rates were biochemically validated. Differences were also found in smoking patterns between groups for those unable to achieve continuous abstinence at 24 months. Counseling assisted participants smoked fewer cigarettes, made more quit attempts, smoked fewer months and stayed quit longer. Mixed results were found for baseline demographic and smoking history variables. Age started smoking, other smokers in the household, education and social support were not significant. Cigarettes smoked per day, previous quit attempts, longest period quit and alcoholic drinks per week were significant. / Graduation date: 1992

The current study examines two psychological experiences—rationalization and regret—among smokers from Thailand and Malaysia and the behavioural impact of rationalization and regret—intentions to quit. More specifically, the goals of the study were not only to examine differences between the two countries in rationalization, regret, and intentions to quit, but also to explain country differences by using the psychological constructs of social norms and the cultural psychological construct of collectivism (via mediation and moderation analyses). The data were from the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Policy Evaluation Southeast Asia Survey, a cohort survey of representative samples of adult smokers in Thailand (N = 2,000) and Malaysia (N = 2,006). The ITC Southeast Asia Survey was conducted January-March 2005. Participants were asked to complete a 40-minute in-person survey. Thai smokers were more likely to have intentions to quit smoking than Malaysian smokers and this country difference in quit intentions were, in part, explained by differences between the two countries in rationalization and regret, and that those variables, in turn, were significant predictors of quit intentions. Next, the psychological constructs of social norms and the cultural psychology construct of collectivism were used to explain the country differences in rationalization and regret. Thai smokers were more traditional and family oriented (high in vertical collectivism) and thus, they are more sensitive about their social norm and familial rejections about smoking. This, in part, contributed the fact that Thai smokers, compared to Malaysian smokers, were less likely to rationalize and more likely to regret smoking. Finally, the predictive models of rationalization and regret for Thailand and Malaysia were mirror images. The current study points to the importance of understanding smokers’ rationalization and regret. Rationalization and regret are negatively related and have an important implication for future behaviour. Different social norms against smoking, which are shaped by different regulatory environments and cultural values, contribute to the country differences in rationalization and regret. This study has demonstrated the benefits/value of psychological constructs in understanding smoking in a cultural context.

The current study examines two psychological experiences—rationalization and regret—among smokers from Thailand and Malaysia and the behavioural impact of rationalization and regret—intentions to quit. More specifically, the goals of the study were not only to examine differences between the two countries in rationalization, regret, and intentions to quit, but also to explain country differences by using the psychological constructs of social norms and the cultural psychological construct of collectivism (via mediation and moderation analyses). The data were from the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Policy Evaluation Southeast Asia Survey, a cohort survey of representative samples of adult smokers in Thailand (N = 2,000) and Malaysia (N = 2,006). The ITC Southeast Asia Survey was conducted January-March 2005. Participants were asked to complete a 40-minute in-person survey. Thai smokers were more likely to have intentions to quit smoking than Malaysian smokers and this country difference in quit intentions were, in part, explained by differences between the two countries in rationalization and regret, and that those variables, in turn, were significant predictors of quit intentions. Next, the psychological constructs of social norms and the cultural psychology construct of collectivism were used to explain the country differences in rationalization and regret. Thai smokers were more traditional and family oriented (high in vertical collectivism) and thus, they are more sensitive about their social norm and familial rejections about smoking. This, in part, contributed the fact that Thai smokers, compared to Malaysian smokers, were less likely to rationalize and more likely to regret smoking. Finally, the predictive models of rationalization and regret for Thailand and Malaysia were mirror images. The current study points to the importance of understanding smokers’ rationalization and regret. Rationalization and regret are negatively related and have an important implication for future behaviour. Different social norms against smoking, which are shaped by different regulatory environments and cultural values, contribute to the country differences in rationalization and regret. This study has demonstrated the benefits/value of psychological constructs in understanding smoking in a cultural context.