E-Cigarette Use Among Youth in Iowa

Electronic cigarettes or electronic nicotine delivery products are battery-operated, heating elements that individuals use to inhale nicotine products rather than traditional cigarettes or cigars (Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2020). E-cigarettes can also be used to inhale illicit drugs such as marijuana. Electronic cigarettes can resemble traditional cigarettes, cigars, or pipes, while other products may look like pens, USB sticks, or mods (larger tanks) (CDC, 2020). The e-cigarettes have an atomizer or heating element that helps individuals inhale liquid nicotine vapors. Electronic cigarettes were developed as a potential health tobacco cessation product and thought to reduce the health risks associated with nicotine use. E-cigarette use has gained significant popularity in the United States among youth. They comprise of the largest demographic utilizing these products making e-cigarette use among youth “an epidemic” (CDC, 2020). Little is known about future use trends or long-term risks for youth at this time

Reducing Reliance on Government Funding in the Nonprofit Sector

Many leaders of nonprofit organizations are challenged by limited and declining financial resources from government grants, while being asked by funders and their constituent base to provide better quality services to a larger population. Nonprofit leaders are exploring strategies to reduce their reliance on government grants by diversifying and growing alternative funding sources. The purpose of this single case study was to explore, through the conceptual lens of the balanced scorecard theory, strategies used by 4 leaders of a nonprofit organization in southern California who have experience managing and growing alternative revenue sources by creating a social enterprise. Semistructured interviews were used to collect data and organizational documents were reviewed. The data were manually coded, and mind mapping was used to identify common themes. Thematic data analysis showed 5 themes: lack of a systematic approach to processes, lack of defined SMART processes, lack of integrating results into the organization\u27s key performance indicators (KPI), lack of defined measurable goals and objectives related to the KPIs in the business models of these organizations, and lack of defined sustainability plan. Nonprofit leaders may benefit from a systematic strategic approach to guide their organization. Nonprofit leaders need to understand how these systematic strategic approaches may impact their organization and how to integrate such opportunities into their organization. The implications for positive social change include the potential to fulfill the missions, strengthen the overall funding sources, and serve the local communities of nonprofit organizations by learning how to use the strategic planning processes

The Nordic health registers – an important source when evaluating the safety of antidepressants during pregnancy

Depression during pregnancy occurs frequently and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are often the drug of choice when treating pregnant women. Most published studies found no increased risks of congenital malformations in association with SSRIs, but there are reports of various malformations for SSRIs as a group and for specific SSRIs. To assess potential adverse effects of SSRIs as one group may be questioned because of their dissimilarities and very large datasets are needed when studying specific SSRIs. The national health and population registers in the Nordic countries offer excellent opportunities to assess long term effects of exposure during fetal life. As each of the Nordic countries is small, collaborative studies including information from all the Nordic countries are warranted to fully understand risks associated with exposure to antidepressants in fetal life

ICNIRP statement on diagnostic devices using non-ionizing radiation: existing regulations and potential health risks

Use of non-ionizing radiation (NIR) for diagnostic purposes allows non-invasive assessment of the structure and function of the human body, and is widely employed in medical care. ICNIRP has published previous statements about the protection of patients during medical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but diagnostic methods using other forms of NIR have not been considered. This statement reviews the range of diagnostic NIR devices currently used in clinical settings; documents the relevant regulations and policies covering patients and health care workers; reviews the evidence around potential health risks to patients and health care workers exposed to diagnostic NIR; and identifies situations of high NIR exposure from diagnostic devices in which patients or health care workers might not be adequately protected by current regulations. Diagnostic technologies were classified by the types of NIR that they employ. The aim was to describe the techniques in terms of general device categories which may encompass more specific devices or techniques with similar scientific principles. Relevant legally-binding regulations for protection of patients and workers, and organizations responsible for those regulations were summarised. Review of the epidemiological evidence concerning health risks associated with exposure to diagnostic NIR highlighted a lack of data on potential risks to the foetus exposed to MRI during the first trimester, and on long-term health risks in workers exposed to MRI. Most of the relevant epidemiological evidence that is currently available relates to MRI or ultrasound. Exposure limits are needed for exposures from diagnostic technologies using optical radiation within the body. There is a lack of data regarding risk of congenital malformations following exposure to ultrasound in utero in the first trimester and also about the possible health effects of interactions between ultrasound and contrast media

Prenatal Characteristics of Infants with a Neuronal Migration Disorder: A National-Based Study

The development of the central nervous system is complex and includes dorsal and ventral induction, neuronal proliferation, and neuronal migration, organization, and myelination. Migration occurs in humans in early fetal life. Pathogenesis of malformations of the central nervous system includes both genetic and environmental factors. Few epidemiological studies have addressed the impact of prenatal exposures. All infants born alive and included in the Swedish Medical Birth Register 1980–1999 were included in the study. By linkage to the Patient Register, 820 children with a diagnosis related to a neuronal migration abnormality were identified. Through copies of referrals for computer tomography or magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, the diagnosis was confirmed in 17 children. Median age of the mothers was 29 years. At the start of pregnancy, four out of 17 women smoked. Almost half of the women had a body mass index that is low or in the lower range of average. All infants were born at term with normal birth weights. Thirteen infants had one or more concomitant diseases or malformations. Two infants were born with rubella syndrome. The impact of low maternal body mass index and congenital infections on neuronal migration disorders in infants should be addressed in future studies

Fast Bit-Flipping based on a Stability Transition of Coupled Spins

A bipartite spin system is proposed for which a fast transfer from one defined state into another exists. For sufficient coupling between the spins, this implements a bit-flipping mechanism which is much faster than that induced by tunneling. The states correspond in the semiclassical limit to equilibrium points with a stability transition from elliptic-elliptic stability to complex instability for increased coupling. The fast transfer is due to the spiraling characteristics of the complex unstable dynamics. Based on the classical system we find a universal scaling for the transfer time, which even applies in the deep quantum regime. By investigating a simple model system, we show that the classical stability transition is reflected in a fundamental change of the structure of the eigenfunctions

Universal spectral correlations in interacting chaotic few-body quantum systems

The emergence of random matrix spectral correlations in interacting quantum systems is a defining feature of quantum chaos. We study such correlations in terms of the spectral form factor in interacting chaotic few- and many-body systems, modeled by suitable random-matrix ensembles, and obtain exact results for large Hilbert space dimensions. The transition of the spectral form factor from the non-interacting to the strongly interacting case can be described as a simple combination of these two limiting cases, which we confirm by extensive numerical studies in few-body systems. This transition is universally governed by a single scaling parameter. Moreover, our approach accurately captures spectral correlations in actual physical system, which we demonstrate for coupled kicked rotors.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, merged into arXiv:2302.0995

Safety of ultrasonography in pregnancy : WHO systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis

Objective In the context of the planned International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology- World Health Organization multicenter study for the development of fetal growth standards for international application, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the safety of human exposure to ultrasonography in pregnancy. Methods A systematic search of electronic databases, reference lists and unpublished literature was conducted for trials and observational studies that assessed short- and long-term effects of exposure to ultrasonography, involving women and their fetuses exposed to ultrasonography, using B-mode or Doppler sonography during any period of pregnancy, for any number of times. The outcome measures were: (1) adverse maternal outcome; (2) adverse perinatal outcome; (3) abnormal childhood growth and neurological development; (4) non-right handedness; (5) childhood malignancy; and (6) intellectual performance and mental disease. Results The electronic search identified 6716 citations, and 19 were identified from secondary sources. A total of 61 publications reporting data from 41 different studies were included: 16 controlled trials, 13 cohort and 12 case-control studies. Ultrasonography in pregnancy was not associated with adverse maternal or perinatal outcome, impaired physical or neurological development, increased risk for malignancy in childhood, subnormal intellectual performance or mental diseases. According to the available clinical trials, there was a weak association between exposure to ultrasonography and non-right handedness in boys (odds ratio 1.26; 95% CI, 1.03-1.54). Conclusion According to the available evidence, exposure to diagnostic ultrasonography during pregnancy appears to be safe.publishersversionPeer reviewe