Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Passive smoking Case studies'

Due to factors such as rising energy costs, diminishing resources, and climate change, the demand for high performance buildings is on the rise. As a result, several new building standards have emerged including the Passive House Standard, a rigorous energy-use standard based on a super-insulated and very tightly sealed building envelope. The standard requires that that air infiltration is less than or equal to 0.6 air changes per hour at a 50 Pascal pressure difference, annual heating energy is less than or equal to 15kWh/m2, and total annual source energy is less than or equal to 120 kWh/m2. A common complaint about passive houses is that they tend to overheat. Prior research using simulation suggests that the use of Phase Change Materials (PCMs), which store heat as they melt and release heat as the freeze, can reduce the number of overheated hours and improve thermal comfort. In this study, an actual passive house duplex in Southeast Portland was thoroughly instrumented to monitor various air and surface temperatures. One unit contains 130kg of PCM while the other unit contains no PCM to serve as an experimental control. The performance of the PCM was evaluated through analysis of observed data and through additional simulation using an EnergyPlus model validated with observed data. The study found that installation of the PCM had a positive effect on thermal comfort, reducing the estimated overheated hours from about 400 to 200.

The aim of this study was to investigate the passive and active parameters affecting energy efficiency of two office buildings with sun spaces, namely the MATPUM Building and the Solar Building on the Middle East Technical University (METU) Campus, Ankara and the effect of sun spaces on temperature patterns within mentioned buildings. Both buildings were oriented in the same direction, namely south. However, the location and the type of the sunspaces differed from each other. The sun space in the MATPUM Building is an atrium which has southerly glazed faç
ade. On the other hand, the sun space in the Solar Building is an enclosed conservatory which has southerly glazed faç
ades and roof. The effect of sun spaces on temperature patterns within case study buildings was determined by collecting internal temperature and humidity data from different locations within the buildings and external temperature and humidity data on certain days of the week from May to August and October and November. Data loggers were used to collect these data. The collected data was then compared for the two buildings and also for the different months. In conclusion, more heat gain resulting in temperature increase inside the buildings was obtained in conservatories when compared to the atria which have glazed faç
ade instead of glazed roof. This was also proved by the analysis of variance method which was used for the comparison of temperature data of two buildings

The primary aim of this thesis is to map the syntactic and semantic nature, and the frequency of the Double Passive in Swedish. The results showed that the Double Passive is a control construction where the internal argument (OBJ) of the embedded verb is raised to subject of the s-passive matrix verb, and the verb of the infinitival complement co-occurs as an s-passive infinitive. In the thesis Lexical functional grammar (LFG) is used as a model for semantic and syntactic analysis. The analysis showed that when the AGENT in a Double Passive construction is suppressed, it creates an argument structure that triggers an equi verb to occur as a raising verb (cf. Ørsnes 2006:404). Overt agents within constructions containing the Double Passive showed an even lower frequency than the low frequencies documented in previous research of passive constructions by Silén (1997) and Laanemets (2010). The lower frequency is partly a result of the fact that agents in a Double Passive construction are suppressed twice. The results of a corpus study showed a frequency of 3.57 % of overt agents within constructions containing Double Passives. The complementizer att ‘to’ in the subordinated infinitive clause of a Double Passive is overtly expressed, partly depending on the degree of modality of the matrix verb (cf. Sundman 1983; Teleman 1999; Lagerwall 1999), and the degree of semantic bonding between the matrix verb and the complement (Givón 2001b). The data (matrix verbs) collected in the corpus study were analysed according to a categorising-system in SAG (Teleman et al. 1999) and in Givón (2001a) and Givón (2001b). The matrix verbs with strong nominal (lexical) properties, e.g. planera ‘plan’, showed a high frequency of co-occurrence with full infinitives, as compared to matrix verbs with largely grammatical meaning, e.g. avse ‘intend’.
Det primära syftet med denna uppsats är att kartlägga dubbelpassiv-konstruktionens syntaktiska och semantiska natur samt frekvens i det svenska språket. Resultaten visade att dubbelpassiven är en kontrollkonstruktion där det inbäddade verbets interna argument (OBJ) lyfts till positionen som det s-passiva matrisverbets subjekt, och där verbet i infinitivsatsen uttrycks som en s-passiv infinitiv. I uppsatsen används Lexical functional grammar (LFG) som modell för semantisk och syntaktisk analys. Analysen visade att då AGENTEN undertrycks, så skapas en argumentstruktur som får ett equi-verb att framträda som ett raising-verb (jmfr Ørsnes 2006:404). Explicita agenter, i konstruktioner med dubbelpassiver, visade en ännu lägre frekvens än den redan låga frekvens som dokumenterats i tidigare forskning om passiv-konstruktioner av Silén (1997) och Laanemets (2010). Den lägre frekvensen, är delvis ett resultat av faktumet att agenterna i en dubbelpassiv-konstruktion undertrycks två gånger. Resultaten av en korpusstudie visade att frekvensen av explicita agenter, i konstruktioner som innehåller dubbelpassiver, uppgick till 3.57 %. Komplementeraren "att" i den underordnade infinitivsatsen i en dubbelpassiv uttrycks explicit – delvis beroende på matrisverbens modala egenskaper (jmfr. Sundman 1983; Teleman 1999; Lagerwall 1999), samt beroende av grad av semantisk länkning mellan matrisverbet och komplementet (Givón 2001b). Den insamlade datan (matrisverb) i korpusstudien analyserades enligt ett kategoriseringssystem hämtat ur SAG (Teleman et al. 1999), Givón (2001a) och Givón (2001b). Matrisverb med starka nominella (lexikala) egenskaper, till exempel planera, visade en högre frekvens i förekomst med fullständiga infinitivsatser, i jämförelse med mer funktionella matrisverb som avse.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
Esta tese é composta por três artigos que permitiram avaliar o efeito da exposição ao tabagismo durante a gestação e no início da infância sobre o crescimento linear e ganho de peso do nascimento à adolescência, além de verificar o efeito do nível socioeconômico no início da infância e da mobilidade social sobre a adiposidade até a adolescência. Foram utilizados para este fim os dados de uma coorte de crianças nascidas entre 1994 e 1999 na cidade de Cuiabá-MT. Essas crianças fizeram parte de um estudo de base populacional realizado na cidade de Cuiabá, entre 1999 e 2000, com 2405 crianças (0 a 5 anos) e foram selecionadas aleatoriamente em unidades básicas de saúde quando da vacinação. As mães foram entrevistadas após a vacinação, quando foram obtidos dados relativos à exposição ao tabagismo gestacional, tabagismo passivo, nível socioeconômico das famílias e dados antropométricos. Entre 2009 e 2011, após aproximadamente 11 anos, essas crianças foram localizadas por meio do Censo Escolar e então 1716 adolescentes entre 10 e 17 anos de idade (71,4% da população) foram reavaliados nas escolas da rede pública e privada de Cuiabá, de 18 municípios do estado e outras 5 capitais do país. A análise por modelos lineares de efeitos mistos permitiu verificar a mudança de estatura e Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC) entre o nascimento e a adolescência. O primeiro e o segundo artigo desta tese avaliaram o efeito da exposição ao tabagismo materno durante a gestação e no início da infância sobre o crescimento linear e o IMC entre o nascimento e a adolescência. Crianças expostas ao tabagismo materno durante a gestação e no início da infância apresentaram menor estatura desde o nascimento até a adolescência quando comparadas às crianças não expostas. Quanto à adiposidade, entre o nascimento e a infância a mudança do IMC foi similar entre as crianças expostas e não expostas ao tabagismo materno, porém, entre a infância e a adolescência, aquelas expostas apenas durante a gestação mostraram maior ganho de IMC. Em conjunto, os dados corroboram o efeito deletério do tabagismo sobre o crescimento, efeito já bastante estudado, mas também indicam que avaliar e comparar exposição gestacional com pós-gestacional é importante, dado que seus efeitos parecem ser diferentes. O terceiro artigo avaliou o efeito do nível socioeconômico no início da infância e da mobilidade social entre a infância e a adolescência sobre o IMC do nascimento à adolescência. Para avaliar o nível socioeconômico, as famílias foram classificadas em nível econômico alto, médio e baixo, a partir do Critério de Classificação Econômica Brasil. Foi observada expressiva mobilidade social na população, principalmente entre os de menor nível econômico. Houve maior aumento do IMC entre o nascimento e a adolescência entre aqueles de maior nível econômico na infância e aqueles que permaneceram nas classes mais elevadas, indicando que a posição inicial foi o maior determinante das mudanças observadas no IMC.
This thesis consists of three papers that allowed us to evaluate the effect of exposure to smoking during pregnancy and early childhood on linear growth and weight gain from birth to adolescence, and to verify the effect of socioeconomic position in early childhood and social mobility on adiposity until adolescence. For this purpose, we used the data of a cohort of children born between 1994 and 1999 in the city of Cuiabá. They were part of a population-based study conducted with 2,405 children (05 years) who attended one of the ten basic health units selected for vaccination in the city of Cuiabá between 1999 and 2000. Between 2009 and 2011, after approximately 11 years, these children were located through the School Census; thus, 1,716 adolescents aged 10 to 17 years old (71.4% of the population) were reassessed in the public and private schools of Cuiabá, of 18 counties in the state and five other capitals in the country. The mothers were interviewed after vaccination to obtain data regarding their exposure to smoking during pregnancy, passive smoking, socioeconomic status, and anthropometric information. The linear mixed-effects analysis showed the change in height and body mass index (BMI) from birth to adolescence. The first and second articles in this thesis evaluate the effect of exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy and early childhood on linear growth and BMI from birth to adolescence. Children exposed to maternal smoking during pregnancy and early childhood were shorter from birth to adolescence than the children not exposed. As for adiposity between birth and childhood, the BMI change was similar between children exposed and not exposed to maternal smoking; however, between childhood and adolescence, those exposed only during gestation showed greater gains in BMI. Together, these data not only confirm the deleterious effect of smoking on growth, which has been extensively studied, but also indicate that it is important to evaluate and compare gestational to post-pregnancy exposure because their effects seem to be different. The third paper examines the effect of socioeconomic status in early childhood and social mobility from childhood to adolescence on BMI from birth to adolescence. To assess socioeconomic position, the families were classified into high, medium, and low economic levels based on the Brazil Criterion of economic classification. We observed significant social mobility in the population, especially among the lower economic group. We observed a greater increase in BMI from birth to adolescence among those from higher socioeconomic position in childhood and those who remained in the higher classes, indicating that the starting position was the major determinant of the observed changes in BMI.

Birthweight is powerful predictor of infant growth and survival. Premature birth and intrauterine growth retardation of birthweight. Maternal environment is important underlying determinant of birthweight. Common lifestyle risk factors include maternal under-nutrition, smoking, alcohol and social factors and stress. The Winelands/West Coast region has high rates of low birthweight. In addition, alcohol abuse and smoking are major problems in this area. The aim of this quantitative case-control study was to determine the epidemiology of low birthweight, related to lifestyle behaviours in pregnant women, with particular attention to lifestyle factors such as alcohol, smoking, and stress-related factors.

Contexte. Les études cas-témoins sont très fréquemment utilisées par les épidémiologistes pour évaluer l’impact de certaines expositions sur une maladie particulière. Ces expositions peuvent être représentées par plusieurs variables dépendant du temps, et de nouvelles méthodes sont nécessaires pour estimer de manière précise leurs effets. En effet, la régression logistique qui est la méthode conventionnelle pour analyser les données cas-témoins ne tient pas directement compte des changements de valeurs des covariables au cours du temps. Par opposition, les méthodes d’analyse des données de survie telles que le modèle de Cox à risques instantanés proportionnels peuvent directement incorporer des covariables dépendant du temps représentant les histoires individuelles d’exposition. Cependant, cela nécessite de manipuler les ensembles de sujets à risque avec précaution à cause du sur-échantillonnage des cas, en comparaison avec les témoins, dans les études cas-témoins. Comme montré dans une étude de simulation précédente, la définition optimale des ensembles de sujets à risque pour l’analyse des données cas-témoins reste encore à être élucidée, et à être étudiée dans le cas des variables dépendant du temps. Objectif: L’objectif général est de proposer et d’étudier de nouvelles versions du modèle de Cox pour estimer l’impact d’expositions variant dans le temps dans les études cas-témoins, et de les appliquer à des données réelles cas-témoins sur le cancer du poumon et le tabac. Méthodes. J’ai identifié de nouvelles définitions d’ensemble de sujets à risque, potentiellement optimales (le Weighted Cox model and le Simple weighted Cox model), dans lesquelles différentes pondérations ont été affectées aux cas et aux témoins, afin de refléter les proportions de cas et de non cas dans la population source. Les propriétés des estimateurs des effets d’exposition ont été étudiées par simulation. Différents aspects d’exposition ont été générés (intensité, durée, valeur cumulée d’exposition). Les données cas-témoins générées ont été ensuite analysées avec différentes versions du modèle de Cox, incluant les définitions anciennes et nouvelles des ensembles de sujets à risque, ainsi qu’avec la régression logistique conventionnelle, à des fins de comparaison. Les différents modèles de régression ont ensuite été appliqués sur des données réelles cas-témoins sur le cancer du poumon. Les estimations des effets de différentes variables de tabac, obtenues avec les différentes méthodes, ont été comparées entre elles, et comparées aux résultats des simulations. Résultats. Les résultats des simulations montrent que les estimations des nouveaux modèles de Cox pondérés proposés, surtout celles du Weighted Cox model, sont bien moins biaisées que les estimations des modèles de Cox existants qui incluent ou excluent simplement les futurs cas de chaque ensemble de sujets à risque. De plus, les estimations du Weighted Cox model étaient légèrement, mais systématiquement, moins biaisées que celles de la régression logistique. L’application aux données réelles montre de plus grandes différences entre les estimations de la régression logistique et des modèles de Cox pondérés, pour quelques variables de tabac dépendant du temps. Conclusions. Les résultats suggèrent que le nouveau modèle de Cox pondéré propose pourrait être une alternative intéressante au modèle de régression logistique, pour estimer les effets d’expositions dépendant du temps dans les études cas-témoins
Background: Case-control studies are very often used by epidemiologists to assess the impact of specific exposure(s) on a particular disease. These exposures may be represented by several time-dependent covariates and new methods are needed to accurately estimate their effects. Indeed, conventional logistic regression, which is the standard method to analyze case-control data, does not directly account for changes in covariate values over time. By contrast, survival analytic methods such as the Cox proportional hazards model can directly incorporate time-dependent covariates representing the individual entire exposure histories. However, it requires some careful manipulation of risk sets because of the over-sampling of cases, compared to controls, in case-control studies. As shown in a preliminary simulation study, the optimal definition of risk sets for the analysis of case-control data remains unclear and has to be investigated in the case of time-dependent variables. Objective: The overall objective is to propose and to investigate new versions of the Cox model for assessing the impact of time-dependent exposures in case-control studies, and to apply them to a real case-control dataset on lung cancer and smoking. Methods: I identified some potential new risk sets definitions (the weighted Cox model and the simple weighted Cox model), in which different weights were given to cases and controls, in order to reflect the proportions of cases and non cases in the source population. The properties of the estimates of the exposure effects that result from these new risk sets definitions were investigated through a simulation study. Various aspects of exposure were generated (intensity, duration, cumulative exposure value). The simulated case-control data were then analysed using different versions of Cox’s models corresponding to existing and new definitions of risk sets, as well as with standard logistic regression, for comparison purpose. The different regression models were then applied to real case-control data on lung cancer. The estimates of the effects of different smoking variables, obtained with the different methods, were compared to each other, as well as to simulation results. Results: The simulation results show that the estimates from the new proposed weighted Cox models, especially those from the weighted Cox model, are much less biased than the estimates from the existing Cox models that simply include or exclude future cases. In addition, the weighted Cox model was slightly, but systematically, less biased than logistic regression. The real life application shows some greater discrepancies between the estimates of the proposed Cox models and logistic regression, for some smoking time-dependent covariates. Conclusions: The results suggest that the new proposed weighted Cox models could be an interesting alternative to logistic regression for estimating the effects of time-dependent exposures in case-control studies.

This study aims to explore the challenges faced by Street level bureaucrats in the implementation and regulation of the Tobacco Products Control Act 83 of 1993 (and the Tobacco Control Amendment Act of 1999) in relation to the selling of tobacco products (especially cigarettes) to minors in the Pietermaritzburg central business district area. These Acts are national policies formulated through the various stages of policymaking for tobacco control. Policymaking is not complete once a policy is approved. Instead implementation and regulation determine the success or failure of a policy or programme therein. Common implementation challenges include amongst others large number of participants in a programme, diverse goals, lack of commitment to the programme, lack of resources and technical difficulties. It is the purpose of this study to critically analyse and discuss the implementation problems faced by street level bureaucrats who have certain discretionary powers and are at the frontline of policy implementation. Specific focus will be given to environmental health officers and police officers in the Msunduzi Municipality and the Drugs and Liquor Section respectively (Pietermaritzburg central business district area).
Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.

‘Net Positive Water’ explores the capability of domestic architecture to combat the developing urban water problem. Urban intensification is contributing to the volatility of urban waters and the breakdown of the urban water cycle. Inhabitant water misuse and overconsumption is overwhelming aging municipal utilities, resulting in the decay of urban water quality. LEEDTM and The Living Building Challenge are recognized Green Building Guidelines prescribing sustainable site and building water standards. Case Studies of domestic Green Building projects will showcase water conservation to enable domestic water renewal. Net Zero Water Guidelines based on the Green Building Guidelines outline Potable and Non-Potable water use to achieve a sustainable volume of water demand at 70 litres per capita per day. Sustainable water practices are encouraged by utilizing domestic building systems to increase water value and water awareness. Time-of-Use and Choice-of-Use exposure for household water related tasks establish water savings through the use of best-performing water fixtures and appliances. Net Positive Water Guidelines will establish On-site and Building standards for sustainable harvesting and storage of water resources. Clean and Dirty water management will prescribe Passive design and Active mechanical processes to maintain best-available water quality in the urban domestic environment. Net Positive Water building typology will integrate urban inhabitation as a functional component of the urban water cycle to use, reuse, and renew water resources. The method will be tested using a Mid-rise Pilot project to deploy the necessary Passive and Active mechanisms to generate Net Positive Water quality through Net Zero Water sustainable water use. The pilot project is situated in Waterfront Toronto - The Lower Don Lands development to harness regional interests for water renewal and environmental revitalization.