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A clinical study conducted in Canada compared two methods of estimating exposure to cigarette smoke in 192 volunteer subjects: 43 smokers of 4–6mg, 49 of 8–12mg and 50 of 14–15mg ISO tar yield cigarettes and 50 non-smokers. Estimates of mouth level exposure (MLE) to nicotine, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), pyrene and acrolein were obtained by chemical analysis of spent cigarette filters. Estimates of smoke constituent uptake were achieved by analysis of urinary biomarkers for total nicotine equivalents (nicotine, cotinine, trans–3′-hydroxycotinine plus their glucuronide conjugates), NNK (total 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) plus glucuronide), pyrene (1-hydroxy pyrene plus glucuronide) and acrolein (3-hydroxylpropyl-mercapturic acid) plus the nicotine metabolite cotinine in plasma and saliva. The objective of our study was to confirm the correlations between measures of human exposure obtained by filter analysis and biomarkers. Significant correlations (p

Smoke yields determined by a machine-based smoking method cannot adequately predict exposures experienced by human smokers. In this work, a filter analysis technique which addresses this fundamental limitation was used to measure mouth level exposures (MLE) to tar and nicotine in 1330 smokers of 26 brand-styles of US cigarettes covering a wide range of machine-generated yields.Despite the high degree of variability observed among individual smokers, MLEs were significantly correlated with machine-derived tar and nicotine yields (r=0.423 for nicotine MLE/cigarette; r=0.493 for tar MLE/cigarette; p

In 2005, Human-Smoked (HS) tar and nicotine yields from commercial Canadian cigarettes were determined using a part filter analysis method to obtain estimates representative of human smoking behavior. In 2006, new cigarette designs were introduced to ensure compliance with the Canadian Low Ignition Propensity (LIP) regulations. It was not known how the changes in product design would affect HS yields. To assess the impact of the cigarette design modifications on HS yields, a further group of Canadian smokers was recruited for smoking the modified version of 10 products previously assessed. No differences in estimated HS tar yields were found between products following product modification. The HS nicotine yield was different for one product. In general, HS yields were higher than ISO machine yields while Canadian intense machine yields were more representative of the maximum HS yields. The same product ranking order was obtained for HS yields and the two machine yields but differences between the mean HS yields and ISO yields were smaller as the product ISO yields increased. Higher HS yields were measured when products were smoked by male smokers. The methodology used in this study showed the wide range of HS yields obtained by smokers as well as a good degree of stability in average HS yields just before and after the introduction of LIP regulations.

A forced switch to a lower ISO tar yield cigarette was used in a clinical study, conducted in Germany, that compared two methods of estimating exposure to cigarette smoke. Pre- and post-switch estimates of Mouth Level Exposure (MLE) to nicotine, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), pyrene and acrolein were obtained by chemical analysis of spent cigarette filters for nicotine content. Similarly, pre- and post-switch estimates of uptake of these smoke constituents were achieved by analysis of corresponding urinary biomarkers of exposure (BoE): total nicotine equivalents; total 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL); total 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), and 3-hydroxypropyl-mercapturic acid (3-HPMA), plus the nicotine metabolite cotinine, in plasma and saliva. Three hundred healthy volunteers were recruited comprising 100 smokers of each of 9–10 and 4–6 mg ISO tar yield cigarettes and 50 smokers of 1–2 mg ISO tar yield cigarettes and 50 non-smokers. Fifty smokers of each of the 9–10 and 4–6 mg ISO tar yield cigarettes took part in the switching aspects of this study whilst the remaining smokers formed non-switching control groups who smoked their usual ISO tar yield cigarette throughout the study. After 5 days, all subjects were admitted into a clinic where baseline measures of MLE and BoE were obtained. The 10 mg switching group was then switched to the 4 mg ISO tar yield cigarette and the 4 mg ISO tar yield switching group switched to the 1 mg cigarette. Subjects returned home for 12 days, continuing to smoke the supplied cigarettes before being readmitted into the clinic where samples were collected for MLE and BoE analysis. Changes in daily exposure estimates were determined on a group and individual basis for both methods. The pre- to post-switch directional changes in MLEs and their corresponding BoEs were generally consistent and the MLE/BoE relationship maintained. Switching to a lower yield cigarette generally resulted in reductions in exposure with the resultant exposure level being similar to that seen in regular smokers of the lower yield cigarette.

Objective Determine human smoked (HS) cigarette yields of tar and nicotine for smokers using their own brand in their everyday environment. Method A robust, filter analysis method was used to estimate the tar and nicotine yields for 784 subjects. Seventeen brands were chosen to represent a wide range of styles: 85 and 100 mm lengths; menthol and non-menthol; 17, 23, and 25 mm circumference; with tar yields [Federal Trade Commission (FTC) method] ranging from 1 to 18 mg. Tar bands chosen corresponded to yields of 1–3 mg, 4–6 mg, 7–12 mg, and 13+ mg. Results A significant difference (p

Digital broadband seismograms recorded from 1988 to 2000 at the stations of MDJ and HIA were used to study the mantle discontinuities and the influence of subducting slab under the Japan Sea on the 660km discontinuity beneath the two stations by using P-SV converted phases. In order to increase the reliability of results, the rectilinearitypolarization filter analysis and modified N-th root slant stack methods were used to pick out P-SV converted phases. Appropriate smoothing and constraint of cubical angle were applied to the filtering; the modification of focal depths and correction for the inclination of discontinuities were used in the stacking. It was found that there are mantle discontinuities at the depths of 660, 410, 220 and 520km under the stations of MDJ and HIA. Besides that, the radial structures of the mantle are complicated and there are still some relatively strong discontinuities near the depths of 140, 350, 570, 740 and 1080km. It is shown that the structure between 660km and 840km under MDJ station is more complicated than that under HIA station. It may show the influence of subducting slab on the 660km discontinuity beneath MDJ station.

A nicotine part-filter method can be applied to estimate smokers' mouth level exposure (MLE) to smoke constituents. The objectives of this study were (1) to generate calibration curves for 47 smoke constituents, (2) to estimate MLE to selected smoke constituents using Japanese smokers of commercially available cigarettes covering a wide range of International Organization for Standardization tar yields (1-21mg/cigarette), and (3) to investigate relationships between MLE estimates and various machine-smoking yields. Five cigarette brands were machine-smoked under 7 different smoking regimes and smoke constituents and nicotine content in part-filters were measured. Calibration curves were then generated. Spent cigarette filters were collected from a target of 50 smokers for each of the 15 brands and a total of 780 filters were obtained. Nicotine content in part-filters was then measured and MLE to each smoke constituent was estimated. Strong correlations were identified between nicotine content in part-filters and 41 out of the 47 smoke constituent yields. Estimates of MLE to acetaldehyde, acrolein, 1,3-butadiene, benzene, benzo[a]pyrene, carbon monoxide, and tar showed significant negative correlations with corresponding constituent yields per mg nicotine under the Health Canada Intense smoking regime, whereas significant positive correlations were observed for N-nitrosonornicotine and (4-methylnitrosoamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone.

In order to analyze the expression profiles of a large number of genes in the tissues (or cells) of interest, and to identify the genes preferentially expressed in the tissues, we have developed a large-scale gene expression analysis system. It is based on the hybridization of the mRNAs from the tissues with a high-density cDNA filter followed by the quantitative measurement of the amount of the hybridized mRNA on each cDNA spot. By employing a high-performance bioimaging analyzer, the system allowed us to compare the expression profiles of thousands of genes (cDNAs) simultaneously with a sensitivity comparable to conventional Northern blotting analysis. By this system (called high-density cDNA filter analysis or HDCFA), the expression profiles of 2505 cloned human brain cDNAs (genes) were monitored. Through the comparison of the expression profiles of these cDNAs in the adult brain, fetal brain and adult liver, about one half of these brain cDNAs (1239 clones) were identified as the candidates which were expressed preferentially in the brain. Among these, 408 and 288 clones were found to be preferentially expressed in the adult and fetal brain, respectively. The results have shown that the system may be widely applicable for analysis of the gene expression profiles of various tissues on a large scale

A study was performed to determine whether cigarettes were smoked more intensely outside of public venues in Scotland, compared to indoors, after introduction of the public place smoking (PPS) ban. It was conducted in three waves: before the ban, immediately after and 6months after introduction. The study included 322 regular smokers of four cigarette brand variants. Filter analysis measurements were used to estimate the human-smoked yields of tar and nicotine from cigarettes smoked predominantly inside (before the ban) or outside (after the ban) public venues. Self-reported cigarette consumption data were also collected. Numbers of cigarettes smoked indoors in public places fell dramatically after the ban. There was a corresponding rise in smoking incidence in outdoor public locations. The ban did not significantly affect the total number of cigarettes smoked by the subjects over the weekends investigated. Human-smoked yields of tar and nicotine decreased slightly after the introduction of the ban and some reductions were significant. Therefore, smoking outdoors at public venues, following the PPS ban, did not increase smoking intensity. Any changes in smoking behaviour that may have occurred had little effect on mainstream smoke exposure or cigarette consumption for those that continued to smoke.

EPA's internal watchdog has faulted the agency for poor management of Biowatch, a nationwide early warning system that monitors air for such intentionally released bioterror organisms as anthrax and smallpox. The program aims not to prevent an attack but to detect pathogens within 36 hours of release to give authorities time to react properly. The $207 million system of aerosol monitors in 30 major cities was created in 2003 with funding from the Department of Homeland Security. DHS relies on the expertise of EPA and other agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, for sampling, detection equipment, lab analysis, and response. Monitors, installed on preexisting EPA air quality stations, draw in air and pass it through filters that are collected daily. CDC is responsible for filter analysis and uses polymerase chain reaction techniques as the primary test for bioweapons agents. In its report, EPA Inspector General Nikki L. Tinsley's office charges the agency ...

The analysis of spent cigarette filters enables the estimation of the nicotine and tar (nicotine-free dry particulate matter) yields obtained by smokers in their everyday environment and has been shown to correlate well with biomarkers of exposure. Leading products across the range of ISO tar yields were selected from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa and Switzerland. At least fifty demographically representative smokers were recruited per product. Subjects, ⩾21 years of age and smoking ⩾5 cigarettes per day, were asked to collect ⩾15 filters from cigarettes they had smoked. The collected filters were analysed for nicotine and UV absorbance to enable the smokers’ mouth level exposure to nicotine and tar to be estimated and a comparison of countries and tobacco blend styles to be made. Smoking history data were also collected. More than 80,000 filters were collected from 5703 smokers of 106 products from eight countries. Mean ± SD estimated nicotine exposures per cigarette and per day ranged from 0.93 ± 0.34 mg/cigarette (Brazil) to 1.77 ± 0.69 mg/cigarette (South Africa) and from 16.4 ± 11.1 mg/day (Germany) to 31.5 ± 14.8 mg/day (South Africa), respectively. Male smokers obtained higher mean estimated tar and nicotine exposures than female smokers. These gender differences were statistically significant for six countries. Significant correlations were found between estimated nicotine exposure and ISO nicotine yield, and between estimated tar exposure and ISO tar yield ( p

The efficiency of the voice is said by Winckel (1953) to be especially determined by the energy of the spectral area around 3000 cps. Therefore, Winckel has repeatedly recommended selective measurement of the 3000 cps-component of the voice spectrum for the objective evaluation of vocal efficiency. As this proposal has not yet been supported by comparative studies, we asked 41 normal subjects and 24 professional singers to phonate several tones (vowel “a”) at different frequencies (c [131 cps]; g [196 cps]; c1 [262 cps] in males and c1 [262 cps]; g1 [392 cps]; c2 [523 cps] in females) and intensities (65, 75, 85 and 95 dB SPL). In all voice samples we compared the formant energy in the spectral area of 2500–3000 cps with the amplitude of a lower frequency area (800–1300 cps), which about corresponds to the area of the second formant, by means of filter analysis. Results show that in all persons tested for this study the relative amplitude of the 3000 cps-component grows with increasing vocal intensity, but diminishes with increasing vocal pitch. At intensity levels of 75 dB and 85 dB SPL singers showed at all three pitch levels (except the tone c2 [523 cps] at 75 dB SPL in females) significant smaller differences between the amplitudes of both the selected formant areas, i.e. relatively stronger partials around 3000 cps, than normal subjects. At the intensity level of 65 dB the differences between vocally trained and untrained groups were less pronounced. This finding supports Winckel's suggestion that the efficiency of a voice can be evaluated quantitatively by the measurement of the relative amplitude of the 3000 cps area, but also reveals that for reliable results such measurement has to be done at certain pitch and intensity levels and under constant test conditions only.