The unique contribution of e-cigarettes for tobacco harm reduction in supporting smoking relapse prevention

Background: We have little understanding of how vapers use e-cigarettes beyond cessation. E-cigarettes may have a role to play in reducing the health-related harms of tobacco smoking, through not only assisting smoking cessation attempts but also supporting long-term abstinence from smoking. However, there are fears that vaping may lead to the ‘renormalisation’ of smoking type behaviours. This study aimed to explore patterns of use and reported experiences of vapers quitting smoking using an e-cigarette in relation to long-term smoking status (abstinence or relapse). Methods: A purposive sample of 40 UK vapers was matched to a sampling frame of demographic characteristics from a representative sample of UK quitters. Following full informed consent, semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted. Data were thematically analysed by two members of the research team. Final thematic analysis was verified and agreed by consensus. Results: The sample self-reported long histories of tobacco use and multiple previous quit attempts which had eventually resulted in relapse back to smoking, although a small but important group had never before attempted to quit. Initiating e-cigarette use was experienced as a revelation for some, who were quickly able to fully switch to using e-cigarettes as an alternative to tobacco smoking. For others, periods of dual use or smoking relapse combined with attempts at vaping that were not initially satisfactory. Many of these chose a cheaper ‘cig-a-like’ device which they found to be inadequate. Experimentation with different devices and different setups, over time, resulted in some ‘sliding’ rather than switching to vaping. This involved periods of ‘dual use’. Some settled on patterns of vaping as a direct substitute of previous tobacco smoking, whereas others reported ‘grazing’ patterns of vaping throughout the day that were perceived to support tobacco smoking abstinence. Conclusions: Our data demonstrates that e-cigarettes may be a unique harm reduction innovation for smoking relapse prevention. E-cigarettes meet the needs of some ex-smokers by substituting physical, psychological, social, cultural and identity-related aspects of tobacco addiction. Some vapers reported that they found vaping pleasurable and enjoyable—being more than a substitute but actually preferred, over time, to tobacco smoking. This clearly suggests that vaping is a viable long-term substitute for smoking, with substantial implications for tobacco harm reduction

JSBML: a flexible Java library for working with SBML

The specifications of the Systems Biology Markup Language (SBML) define standards for storing and exchanging computer models of biological processes in text files. In order to perform model simulations, graphical visualizations and other software manipulations, an in-memory representation of SBML is required. We developed JSBML for this purpose. In contrast to prior implementations of SBML APIs, JSBML has been designed from the ground up for the Java™ programming language, and can therefore be used on all platforms supported by a Java Runtime Environment. This offers important benefits for Java users, including the ability to distribute software as Java Web Start applications. JSBML supports all SBML Levels and Versions through Level 3 Version 1, and we have strived to maintain the highest possible degree of compatibility with the popular library libSBML. JSBML also supports modules that can facilitate the development of plugins for end user applications, as well as ease migration from a libSBML-based backend

A Qualitative Exploration of the Role of Vape Shop Environments in Supporting Smoking Abstinence

E-cigarettes are the most popular method of quitting smoking in England and most are purchased in specialist vape shops. This qualitative study explores how the vape shop environment is experienced by quitters to support smoking abstinence. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted to elicit experiences of e-cigarette use, including experiences of vape shops, in 40 people who had used e-cigarettes in a quit attempt. Observations of six shops in a range of locations were also undertaken. Interview and observation data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis and triangulated. At an individual level, smoking abstinence was supported through shop assistants’ attempts to understand customers’ smoking preferences in order to: (i) tailor advice about the most appropriate product; and (ii) offer an ongoing point of contact for practical help. At an interpersonal level, shops offered opportunity to socialise and reinforce a vaping identity, although the environment was perceived as intimidating for some (e.g., new and female users). At a structural level, shops ensured easy access to products perceived to be good value by customers and had adapted to legislative changes. Vape shops can provide effective behavioural support to quitters to maintain smoking abstinence. Health professionals could capitalise on this through partnership working with shops, to ensure best outcomes for clients wanting to use e-cigarettes to quit smoking

Screening masses in quenched (2+1)d Yang-Mills theory: universality from dynamics?

We compute the spectrum of gluonic screening-masses in the $0^{++}$ channel of quenched 3d Yang-Mills theory near the phase-transition. Our finite-temperature lattice simulations are performed at scaling region, using state-of-art techniques for thermalization and spectroscopy, which allows for thorough data extrapolations to thermodynamic limit. Ratios among mass-excitations with the same quantum numbers on the gauge theory, 2d Ising and $\lambda\phi^{4}$ models are compared, resulting in a nice agreement with predictions from universality. In addition, a gauge-to-scalar mapping, previously employed to fit QCD Green's functions at deep IR, is verified to dynamically describe these universal spectroscopic patternsComment: 15 pages, 4 eps figures. Revised version, to appear in Nucl. Phys.

Global geometry optimization of clusters using a growth strategy optimized by a genetic algorithm

A new strategy for global geometry optimization of clusters is presented. Important features are a restriction of search space to favorable nearest-neighbor distance ranges, a suitable cluster growth representation with diminished correlations, and easy transferability of the results to larger clusters. The strengths and possible limitations of the method are demonstrated for Si10 using an empirical potential.Comment: accepted by Chem.Phys.Letters; 10 pages text, plus 3 pages for Title, abstract, and figure caption; figures 1a and 1

NsrR from Streptomyces coelicolor is a nitric oxide-sensing [4Fe-4S] cluster protein with a specialized regulatory function

The Rrf2 family transcription factor NsrR controls expression of genes in a wide range of bacteria in response to nitric oxide (NO). The precise form of the NO-sensing module of NsrR is the subject of controversy because NsrR proteins containing either [2Fe-2S] or [4Fe-4S] clusters have been observed previously. Optical, Mössbauer, resonance Raman spectroscopies and native mass spectrometry demonstrate that Streptomyces coelicolor NsrR (ScNsrR), previously reported to contain a [2Fe-2S] cluster, can be isolated containing a [4Fe-4S] cluster. ChIP-seq experiments indicated that the ScNsrR regulon is small, consisting of only hmpA1, hmpA2, and nsrR itself. The hmpA genes encode NO-detoxifying flavohemoglobins, indicating that ScNsrR has a specialized regulatory function focused on NO detoxification and is not a global regulator like some NsrR orthologues. EMSAs and DNase I footprinting showed that the [4Fe-4S] form of ScNsrR binds specifically and tightly to an 11-bp inverted repeat sequence in the promoter regions of the identified target genes and that DNA binding is abolished following reaction with NO. Resonance Raman data were consistent with cluster coordination by three Cys residues and one oxygen-containing residue, and analysis of ScNsrR variants suggested that highly conserved Glu-85 may be the fourth ligand. Finally, we demonstrate that some low molecular weight thiols, but importantly not physiologically relevant thiols, such as cysteine and an analogue of mycothiol, bind weakly to the [4Fe-4S] cluster, and exposure of this bound form to O2 results in cluster conversion to the [2Fe-2S] form, which does not bind to DNA. These data help to account for the observation of [2Fe-2S] forms of NsrR

Probing the cosmic star formation using long Gamma-Ray Bursts: New constraints from the Spitzer Space Telescope

We report on IRAC-4.5mic, IRAC-8.0mic and MIPS-24mic deep observations of 16 Gamma-Ray Burst (GRBs) host galaxies performed with the Spitzer Space Telescope, and we investigate in the thermal infrared the presence of evolved stellar populations and dust-enshrouded star-forming activity associated with these objects. Our sample is derived from GRBs that were identified with sub-arcsec localization between 1997 and 2001, and only a very small fraction (~20%) of the targeted sources is detected down to f_4.5mic ~3.5microJy and f_24mic ~85microJy (3sigma). This likely argues against a population dominated by massive and strongly-starbursting (i.e., SFR > ~100 Msol/yr) galaxies as it has been recently suggested from submillimeter/radio and optical studies of similarly-selected GRB hosts. Furthermore we find evidence that some GRBs do not occur in the most infrared-luminous regions -- hence the most actively star-forming environments -- of their host galaxies. Should the GRB hosts be representative of all star-forming galaxies at high redshift, models of infrared galaxy evolution indicate that > ~50% of GRB hosts should have f_24mic > ~100microJy. Unless the identification of GRBs prior to 2001 was prone to strong selection effects biasing our sample against dusty galaxies, we infer in this context that the GRBs identified with the current techniques can not be directly used as unbiased probes of the global and integrated star formation history of the Universe.Comment: ApJ in press, 23 pages, 8 figures (scheduled for the ApJ 10 May 2006, v642 2 issue). Full resolution available at http://perceval.as.arizona.edu/~elefloch/Publis/ms_grb_spitzer.pd

Assembling life history narratives from quantitative longitudinal panel data: what’s the story for families using social work?

Embedded within quantitative longitudinal panel or cohort studies is narrative potential that is arguably untapped but might enrich our understanding of individual and social lives across time. This paper discusses a methodology to assemble the life history narratives of families using social work by drawing on quantitative data from the British Household Panel Survey. It explores whether this person-centred approach helps us to understand the counterintuitive results of a parallel multivariate analyses, which suggest that families using social work fare worse than similar others over time. Our findings are tentative, due to the experimental use of this narrative method and the limits of social work information in the dataset. Nonetheless, the life histories presented bring to light complexities, diversity and the non-linear pathways between families’ needs, support and outcomes that the aggregates obscure. We conclude that reconstructing families’ lives in this way, especially in the absence of complementary longitudinal qualitative data, affords the wider opportunity to interrogate and better understand the findings of quantitative longitudinal studies

Avoiding Object Misconceptions

This paper identifies and describes a number of misconceptions observed in students learning about object technology, It identifies simple, concrete, measures course designers and teachers can take to avoid these misconceptions arising. The context for this work centres on an introductory undergraduate course and a postgraduate course, Both these courses are taught by distance education. These courses both use Smalltalk as an introduction to object technology. More particularly, the undergraduate course uses Smalltalk as a first programming language. Distance education can limit the amount and speed of individual feedback that can be given in the early stages of learning. For this reason, particular attention has been paid to characterizing measures for avoiding elementary misconceptions seen in beginning learners. At the same time we also address some misconceptions observed in postgraduate students. The pedagogical issues discussed are of particular importance when devising an extended series of examples for teaching or assessment, or when designing a visual microworld to be used for teaching purposes

Dynamic Three-Dimensional Imaging of Cellular Shape Changes and Protein Expression in the Developing Zebrafish Heart

We present our results in dynamic three-dimensional (3D) imaging and quantification of the cellular shape changes and gene expressions of the developing zebrafish heart, in the effort to understand the mechanisms of the embryonic construction of this critical organ. The vertebrate heart is built up through a series of steps taking two flat layers of cells to a hollow heart tube to a multi-layered, multi-chambered, chirally twisted structure of the mature organ. Additionally, the heart is the first organ in the developing embryo to function, through its beating and pumping of the blood, shortly after the formation of the heart tube. Despite this intrinsic dynamic 3D nature of the developing heart, previous works documenting its development consist of largely 2D and/or static imaging (utilizing pharmacological means to stop the beating of the heart), due to the challenges in achieving fast, high 3D-resolution with conventional imaging modalities. To overcome these challenges, we employ 2-photon light sheet microscopy and a wavelet-based synchronization and registration method to achieve the required spatial and temporal resolution to capture the 3D motion of the heart. The high speed 3D imaging and analysis is carried out on several transgenic zebrafish lines that have been recently generated in our lab where proteins important for heart development are fluorescently tagged at their endogenous loci. We thus document not only cellular morphology but also critical genes' expression, with sub-cellular resolution, of the developing heart, over its beating cycle and at different development times. These results provide the necessary groundwork to start deciphering the process where the dynamic changes in cellular shapes, gene expressions, and cellular physical properties participate, in concert with the genetic program, in the development of the vertebrate heart