2000 Iowa Termination of Pregnancy Report, May 1, 2002

This report is a compilation of data on reported terminations of pregnancy in Iowa. These are terminations that actually occurred during the period from January 2000 through December 2000. The annual reporting of termination of pregnancy events is required by state legislation. With this legislative requirement, Iowa joins the other 49 states, the District of Columbia, and New York City in providing information that relates to issues of pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, live births, and fetal deaths (1). This information contributes to the ability of public health officials and policy makers to better understand these issues. The Iowa reporting system is a variation on the model published by the National Center for Health Statistics in 1987 (2). These guidelines described the criteria and expectations for reporting pregnancy information.

2002 Iowa Termination of Pregnancy Report, June 16. 2003

Overall, in 2002, annual pregnancy terminations in Iowa increased. In 2002, a total of 7,280 pregnancy terminations were reported in the reporting areas. This represents a 6.4% increase from 2001, when the same reporting areas showed 6,845 pregnancy terminations. Induced terminations of pregnancy increased by 508 cases from 5,722 to 6,230 in 2002, which represents an 8.9% increase. Spontaneous terminations of pregnancy decreased by 75 cases from 1,119 to 1,044, which represents a 6.7% decrease.

2001 Iowa Termination of Pregnancy Report, March 3 2003

The total number of pregnancy terminations decreased from 7,602 in 2000 to 6,845 in 2001. This represents a 10% decrease. Induced termination decreased from 6,059 to 5,722 (a 6% decrease) and spontaneous termination decreased from 1,541 to 1,119 (a 27% decrease). Pregnancy terminations by maternal and child health regions (MCH) • The fertility rate for the state as a whole increased from 62.3 per 1,000 to 62.6 per 1,000, from 2000 to 2001. In 2000, 15 MCH regions had a higher rate than the statewide fertility rate, while in 2001, the number of MCH regions with a higher rate than the statewide fertility rate dropped to 12. Region 7 continued to have the highest fertility rate and region 12 continued to have the lowest rate. • The pregnancy rate decreased from 74.6 per 1,000 to 74.1 per 1,000. Region 16 continued to have the lowest pregnancy rate. However, region 23 had the highest pregnancy rate in 2001, compared to region 7 in 2000. • The induced termination rate decreased 0.6 per 1,000 and down to 9.4 per 1,000 in 2001. Compared to 2000 reports, two fewer regions had a higher rate than the statewide induced termination rate in 2001 (8 regions in 2000 vs. 6 regions in 2001). • The spontaneous termination rate for the state dropped to 1.8 per 1,000 from 2.5 per 1,000. The number of regions with a higher spontaneous termination rate decreased from 9 to 7. Region 14 had the highest rate, and region 20 had the lowest. • The statewide induced termination ratio increased from 145.7 per 1,000 to 149.6 per 1,000. Region 12 had the highest ratio for both years, and region 22 had the lowest ratio. • The statewide spontaneous termination ratio decreased from 39.7 per 1,000 to 29.3 per 1,000. One less region was higher, compared to 2000 data (9 regions in 2000 vs. 8 regions in 2001). In summary, the geographic distribution of the 2001 data showed a pattern similar to that seen in 2000. Generally, the frequency for both induced and spontaneous terminations decreased by month of occurrence, gestational age, marital status, and education level and mother’s age

Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System 2001-2005 Experience Study, June 2006

The purpose of an actuarial valuation is to provide a timely best estimate of the ultimate costs of a retirement system. Actuarial valuations of IPERS are prepared annually to determine whether the statutory contribution rate will be sufficient to fund the System on an actuarial basis, i.e. the current assets plus future contributions, along with investment earnings will be sufficient to provide the benefits promised by the System to current members. The valuation requires the use of certain assumptions with respect to the occurrence of future events, such as rates of death, termination of employment, retirement age and salary changes to estimate the obligations of the System. The basic purpose of an experience study is to determine whether the actuarial assumptions currently in use are accurately predicting actual emerging experience. This information, along with the professional judgment of System personnel and advisors, is used to evaluate the appropriateness of continued use of the current actuarial assumptions. When analyzing experience and assumptions, it is important to realize that actual experience is reported short term while assumptions are intended to be long term estimates of experience.

Laboratory Investigation of Bridge Strip Seal Joint Termination Details, SPR RB08-014, 2016

Bridge expansion joints, if not properly designed, constructed, and maintained, often lead to the deterioration of critical substructure elements. Strip seal expansion joints consisting of a steel extrusion and neoprene gland are one type of expansion joint and are commonly used by the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT). Strip seal expansion joints are susceptible to tears and pull outs that allow water, chlorides, and debris to infiltrate the joint, and subsequently the bearings below. One area of the strip seal that is particularly problematic is where it terminates at the interface between the deck and the barrier rail. The Iowa DOT has noted that the initial construction quality of the current strip seal termination detail is not satisfactory, nor ideal, and a need exists for re-evaluation and possibly re-design of this detail. Desirable qualities of a strip seal termination detail provide a seal that is simple and fast to construct, facilitate quick gland removal and installation, and provide a reliable, durable barrier to prevent chloride-contaminated water from reaching the substructure. To meet the objectives of this research project, several strip seal termination details were evaluated in the laboratory. Alternate termination details may not only function better than the current Iowa DOT standard, but are also less complicated to construct, facilitating better quality control. However, uncertainties still exist regarding the long-term effects of using straight-through details, with or without the dogleg, that could not be answered in the laboratory in the short time frame of the research project.

Investigation of County Treasurers' Tax-Sale Registration Fees, June 2007

On January 2, 2007, the Ombudsman received a complaint regarding the fee that county treasurers charge registrants at annual tax sales. The complainant said generally that many of the state’s counties, especially larger ones, appeared to be charging higher fees than was thought to be allowed by law. Investigation The investigation was conducted by Assistant Ombudsman Bert Dalmer. For purposes of this report, all investigative actions are ascribed to the Ombudsman. In early 2007, the Ombudsman surveyed tax-sale registration fees in 10 of the state’s 99 counties. Interviews of 10 county treasurers and/or some of their deputies were conducted. In addition, the Ombudsman researched the Iowa Code and relevant case law. The Ombudsman also consulted with the Iowa State Auditor and the president of the Iowa State County Treasurers Association.

Consumer Advisory Bulletin, Advance Fee Loans and Credit Repair Schemes, January 2008

The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division receives hundreds of calls and consumer complaints every year. Follow these tips to avoid unexpected expense and disappointments. This record is about: Advance Fee Loans and Credit Repair Schemes

State of Iowa Department of Administrative Services Human Resource Enterprise: Review of State Hiring Practices, April 30, 2007

The State of Iowa and the Hiring Practices Working Group commissioned this review of the State’s hiring practices in response to recent concerns about these practices involving racial discrimination claims against the Departments of Human Services, Transportation, and Iowa Workforce Development. The State of Iowa should be commended for undertaking this review. The State has a longstanding Affirmative Action Program and commitment to diversity – they instituted their Affirmative Action Program in 1973, and continue their commitment to its success by making the changes necessary to ensure the program is viable and sustainable. Iowa Department of Administrative Services In July 2003, the State created the Iowa Department of Administrative Services (DAS) as a way to manage and coordinate the major resources of state government. DAS provides human resource services through an entrepreneurial management model. Entrepreneurial management is a customer-focused approach to delivering services. The customer departments have input about what services and products they want from DAS and in turn DAS is funded by the customer departments through purchases of DAS services and products. DAS looks to offer new and additional services (for example recruitment support and coordination) to various customers on a fee-for-service basis. A customer council is charged with approving the DAS business plan, establishing the rate for services, and reviewing service delivery and complaints. Under this entrepreneurial model, human resource services are provided by DAS-HRE (Human Resources Enterprise) central staff, 12 DAS-HRE Personnel Officers located at the customer departments, and customer agency staff. The majority of the recruitment and hiring functions are done by the customer (hiring) departments and their staff. Applications for employment are submitted using the BrassRing system with applicants being qualified by DAS-HRE employees. Since the creation of Human Resources Enterprise, DAS-HRE has strived to provide human resource tools to the departments. The Screening Manual and the Supervisor’s Manual are just two examples of the resources created for the hiring departments. They also provide Supervisor Training for newly appointed supervisors. Larger departments have dedicated staff assigned to human resource activities. The staff at the departmental level may or may not have a human resources background. Iowa Population and Workforce The 2000 U.S. Census indicated that Iowa’s population was 2,926,324. According to this census, 92.6 percent of Iowa’s population identified their race as white (alone). The nonwhite alone or minority population (including Black or African American, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, two or more races, or some other race) was 7.4 percent.

X-Ray Diffraction Studies of Soils and Soil Stabilizers, HR-106, 1965

The two goals of this project stated in the Proposal were: (1) study lime diffusion in clayey soils, and (2) find the role of MgO in soil-dolomitic lime stabilization. Because of the practice significance of these goals we temporarily overstaffed this project, giving somewhat a "crash" program. As a result, proposed work was finished up early (as were the funds), and more important, some of the findings were early enough and of sufficient merit to put into field trials in the Fall of 1964. The work now being completed and the funds all being expended, this Final Report is therefore submitted before the anticipated project termination date.

Consumer Advisory: First You Win, Then You Lose Prize, sweepstakes and international lottery scams, December 2014

The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division receives hundreds of calls and consumer complaints every year. Follow these tips to avoid unexpected expense and disappointments. This record is about: First You Win, Then You Lose Prize, sweepstakes and international lottery scams

Investigation of Negative Moment Reinforcing in Bridge Decks, TR-660, 2015

Multi-span pre-tensioned pre-stressed concrete beam (PPCB) bridges made continuous usually experience a negative live load moment region over the intermediate supports. Conventional thinking dictates that sufficient reinforcement must be provided in this region to satisfy the strength and serviceability requirements associated with the tensile stresses in the deck. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) Bridge Design Specifications recommend the negative moment reinforcement (b2 reinforcement) be extended beyond the inflection point. Based upon satisfactory previous performance and judgment, the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of Bridges and Structures (OBS) currently terminates b2 reinforcement at 1/8 of the span length. Although the Iowa DOT policy results in approximately 50% shorter b2 reinforcement than the AASHTO LRFD specifications, the Iowa DOT has not experienced any significant deck cracking over the intermediate supports. The primary objective of this project was to investigate the Iowa DOT OBS policy regarding the required amount of b2 reinforcement to provide the continuity over bridge decks. Other parameters, such as termination length, termination pattern, and effects of the secondary moments, were also studied. Live load tests were carried out on five bridges. The data were used to calibrate three-dimensional finite element models of two bridges. Parametric studies were conducted on the bridges with an uncracked deck, a cracked deck, and a cracked deck with a cracked pier diaphragm for live load and shrinkage load. The general conclusions were as follows: -- The parametric study results show that an increased area of the b2 reinforcement slightly reduces the strain over the pier, whereas an increased length and staggered reinforcement pattern slightly reduce the strains of the deck at 1/8 of the span length. -- Finite element modeling results suggest that the transverse field cracks over the pier and at 1/8 of the span length are mainly due to deck shrinkage. -- Bridges with larger skew angles have lower strains over the intermediate supports. -- Secondary moments affect the behavior in the negative moment region. The impact may be significant enough such that no tensile stresses in the deck may be experienced.

Office of the Chief Information Officer FY2014 IOWAccess Revolving Fund Annual Report, January 2015

This report highlights the Fiscal Year 2014 accomplishments of IOWAccess, including IOWAccess projects in development. Certain services offered through IOWAccess charge a value-added fee. Contained within this report are a description of the IOWAccess business model and the processes employed by IOWAccess to fund and monitor projects, along with a listing of projects funded during the reporting period.