Annual Report, Fiscal Years 2004 - 2006

DAS was established on July 1, 2003, by consolidating the departments of General Services, Information Technology, Personnel, and the Accounting Bureau of the Department of Revenue and Finance. In introducing our new department, you outlined four goals of this consolidation: 1. Improve service to customers, 2. Save money, 3. Streamline, and 4. Enhance resource flexibility for state government managers. Launch of the new department signaled more than just the consolidation of state government infrastructure providers. It also marked the first large-scale rollout of entrepreneurial management, a business model characterized by a customer-focused approach to delivering services in a competitive marketplace. In entrepreneurial management organizations, business decisions are motivated by the desire to meet customer needs and by rewards or consequences for financial performance. We’re pleased to provide this Annual Report for your review and trust you will agree that entrepreneurial management in state government is a viable working concept and remains a valuable asset to Iowans.

Socioeconomic Effects of Gambling on Iowans Study Committee, 2004

Overview. The Studies Committee received an in-person progress report from the consultants retained by the Legislature to conduct a study of the socioeconomic effects of gambling on Iowans. Dr. Deepak Chhabra and Dr. Gene Lutz, both of the University of Northern Iowa, presented an update on the conduct of the study. Gambling Study Description. The consultants indicated that the study objectives are to determine the economic impact of gambling at existing Iowa casinos on the local community, the socioeconomic characteristics of gamblers, the social impact of gambling on the local community, and the impact of problem gambling. The consultants stated that the major research methods they would use would be historical data, telephone surveys of local residents, telephone interviews with key personnel, and use of an economic impact model. In conducting the study, the consultants indicated they would examine four study areas within Iowa. Study area I would be all of Iowa, area II would be that area in Iowa within a 50-mile radius of a casino, area III would be counties with a casino, and area IV would be based upon casino employee zip codes. The consultants briefed the Committee on the data collected so far and described current challenges in obtaining data on all casino visitors and from obtaining information from several convention and visitor bureaus and chambers of commerce.

Note on the blocking flow shop problem

We present some results attained with different algorithms for the Fm|block|Cmax problem using as experimental data the well-known Taillard instances.

Clinical usefulness of therapeutic concentration monitoring for imatinib dosage individualization: results from a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: This study assessed whether a cycle of "routine" therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for imatinib dosage individualization, targeting an imatinib trough plasma concentration (C min) of 1,000 ng/ml (tolerance: 750-1,500 ng/ml), could improve clinical outcomes in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patients, compared with TDM use only in case of problems ("rescue" TDM). METHODS: Imatinib concentration monitoring evaluation was a multicenter randomized controlled trial including adult patients in chronic or accelerated phase CML receiving imatinib since less than 5 years. Patients were allocated 1:1 to "routine TDM" or "rescue TDM." The primary endpoint was a combined outcome (failure- and toxicity-free survival with continuation on imatinib) over 1-year follow-up, analyzed in intention-to-treat (ISRCTN31181395). RESULTS: Among 56 patients (55 evaluable), 14/27 (52 %) receiving "routine TDM" remained event-free versus 16/28 (57 %) "rescue TDM" controls (P = 0.69). In the "routine TDM" arm, dosage recommendations were correctly adopted in 14 patients (median C min: 895 ng/ml), who had fewer unfavorable events (28 %) than the 13 not receiving the advised dosage (77 %; P = 0.03; median C min: 648 ng/ml). CONCLUSIONS: This first target concentration intervention trial could not formally demonstrate a benefit of "routine TDM" because of small patient number and surprisingly limited prescriber's adherence to dosage recommendations. Favorable outcomes were, however, found in patients actually elected for target dosing. This study thus shows first prospective indication for TDM being a useful tool to guide drug dosage and shift decisions. The study design and analysis provide an interesting paradigm for future randomized TDM trials on targeted anticancer agents.

Iowa Department of Transportation Quick Tour

Quick Tour gives a brief overview of Iowa DOT's current management personnel and statewide transportation statistics.

Transit Manager's Handbook, September, 2010

This handbook provides an overview of public transit in Iowa and how to do business with the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) Office of Public Transit (OPT). It is intended to be a tool to assist transit managers navigate through the many policies, procedures and requirements of state and federal government. This handbook can be used to provide orientation for new personnel; to help clarify the relationships and required procedures for existing personnel; and to provide easier accessibility to regulations and procedures. Input on the content of the handbook to increase its usefulness is encouraged at any time.

Gauge transformations in Einstein-Yang-Mills theories

We discuss the relation between spacetime diffeomorphisms and gauge transformations in theories of the YangMills type coupled with Einsteins general relativity. We show that local symmetries of the Hamiltonian and Lagrangian formalisms of these generally covariant gauge systems are equivalent when gauge transformations are required to induce transformations which are projectable under the Legendre map. Although pure YangMills gauge transformations are projectable by themselves, diffeomorphisms are not. Instead, the projectable symmetry group arises from infinitesimal diffeomorphism-inducing transformations which must depend on the lapse function and shift vector of the spacetime metric plus associated gauge transformations. Our results are generalizations of earlier results by ourselves and by Salisbury and Sundermeyer. 2000 American Institute of Physics.

Reforming the Iowa Civil Justice System, January 30, 2012

Executive Summary I. Survey The Task Force conducted a wide-ranging survey of more than 9,000 licensed Iowa attorneys and judges to obtain their input on a variety of civil justice system topics. The survey results helped inform the Task Force of problem areas in Iowa’s civil justice system. II. Two-Tier Justice System The Task Force recommends a pilot program based on a two-tier civil justice system. A two-tier system would streamline litigation processes—including rules of evidence and discovery disclosures—and reduce litigation costs of certain cases falling below a threshold dollar value. III. One Judge/One Case and Date Certain for Trial Some jurisdictions in Iowa have adopted one judge/one case and date certain for trial in certain cases. The assignment of one judge to each case for the life of the matter and the establishment of dates certain for civil trials could enhance Iowans’ access to the courts, improve judicial management, promote consistency and adherence to deadlines, and reduce discovery excesses. IV. Discovery Processes Reforms addressing inefficient discovery processes will reduce delays in and costs of litigation. Such measures include adopting an aspirational purpose for discovery rules to “secure the just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of every action,” holding discovery proportional to the size and nature of the case, requiring initial disclosures, limiting the number of expert witnesses, and enforcing existing rules. V. Expert Witness Fees The Task Force acknowledges the probable need to revisit the statutory additional daily compensation limit for expert witness fees. Leaving the compensation level to the discretion of the trial court is one potential solution. VI. Jurors Additions to the standard juror questionnaire would provide a better understanding of the potential jurors’ backgrounds and suitability for jury service. The Task Force encourages adoption of more modern juror educational materials and video. Rehabilitation of prospective jurors who express an unwillingness or inability to be fair should include a presumption of dismissal. VII. Video and Teleconferencing Options When court resources are constrained both by limited numbers of personnel and budget cuts, it is logical to look to video and teleconferencing technology to streamline the court process and reduce costs. The judicial branch should embrace technological developments in ways that will not compromise the fairness, dignity, solemnity, and decorum of judicial proceedings. VIII. Court-Annexed Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) Litigants and practitioners in Iowa are generally satisfied with the current use of private, voluntary ADR for civil cases. There is concern, however, that maintaining the status quo may have steep future costs. Court-annexed ADR is an important aspect of any justice system reform effort, and the Task Force perceives benefits and detriments to reforming this aspect of the Iowa civil justice system. IX. Relaxed Requirement of Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law A rule authorizing parties to waive findings of fact and conclusions of law could expedite resolution of nonjury civil cases. X. Business (Specialty) Courts Specialty business courts have achieved widespread support across the country. In addition, specialty courts provide excellent vehicles for implementing or piloting other court innovations that may be useful in a broader court system context. A business specialty court should be and could be piloted in Iowa within the existing court system framework of the Iowa Judicial Branch. Appendix included as a separate document, is 176 pages.

Mental Health Institute Task Force, December 2009

The Department shall staff a task force to be appointed by the governor consisting of knowledgeable citizen to perform an in-depth review of the four state mental health institutes, services provided, public benefits of the services provided, economic effects connected to the presence of the institutes that are realized by the communities in the areas served and the families of personnel and other public costs and benefits associated with the presence and availability of the four institutes. the review shall be coordinated with the proposal to be developed by the department under this section and shall submit a report providing findings and recommendations to the governor and general assembly on or before December, 15. 2009

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.

Department of Human Rights Division of Central Administration Performance Plan, FY2005

This report provides valuable information about Central Administration’s coordination and provision of quality administrative, personnel, and financial services for all DHR divisions. Information is being provided in accordance with the Accountable Government Act to improve decision-making and increase accountability to stakeholders and citizens of Iowa. This report includes performance information for the division’s core function - resource management. The two services, products, and activities provided by the division – financial services and human resources services - also are reviewed. The division is comprised of seven full-time employees. The division’s FY2005 operating budget was $ 604,888 of which $292,660 was from the State General Fund. The additional $ 312,228 was received via intra-state transfers from the non-state funded programs administered by the Department of Human Rights. Central Administration oversaw expenditures of $ 66,868,806 for the entire department, and coordinated the personnel and payroll transactions of 56 FTEs. As we review the results from this year’s report we will continue to refine how we measure our successes and modify plans to improve results.

Accidentologic aspects of helicopter rescue missions involving winching of a physician

Introduction: Medical helicopter services provide several advantages,like the ability to perform air searches for lost victims, a rapid method ofshuttling rescue personnel and equipment to the victim, and the deliveryof early on-site advance medical care. When landing is not possible, therescuers can also be directly winched to the victim. As outdoor activitiesare increasing, few data are available about the type of accidentsleading to a rescue operation involving the use of the winch. We soughtto study the epidemiology and accidentology of such rescues.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical reports of a singlehelicopter-based emergency medical service. Data from 1 January 2003to 31 December 2008 were analyzed. Cases with emergency callindicating that the victim was deceased were excluded. Data includedthe age and gender of the patients, the type of patients activitypreceeding the injury, the mecanism of injury, and the type of lesions(main diagnosis).Results: 9879 rescue missions were conducted between 1 January2003 and 31 December 2008. The 921 (9.3%) missions involvingwinching of the emergency physician were analysed. The male:femaleratio of the patients was 2:1. There were 56 (6%) patients aged 15 orunder. Most of the patients, while injured, were practising winter sportsor mountain-related activities in the summer (table 1). Falls accountedfor the great majority of the trauma events (700 patients or 76%),followed by illnesses (81 patients or 9 %). Of the 921 missions in whichthe physician was winched in the field, 28 (3%) were avalanche rescuesand 13 (1%) were glacier crevasse rescues. Trauma to the upper andlower extremities accounted for 429 (47%) of all injuries, followed by175 (19%) head injuries and 108 (12%) spinal lesions. Hypothermia,frostbite and altitude illnesses were diagnosed in 11 (1%) cases.In 128(14%) cases two different diagnoses were made, and in 69 (7%) threeor more diagnoses.Conclusions: In our helicopter emergency base, between 2003 and2008, 921 rescue missions (9.3%) involved winching of the emergencydoctor. Patients rescued using the winch usually practice outdoorsports, and are predominantly male. The mechanism of the injury isusually a fall, and extremities and head injuries account for more than50% of the main diagnosis made on the field.

Maximizing the Use of Roadway Weather Information Systems: Final Report, TR-404, 1998

This project was proposed as Phase I of a 2-phase program to evaluate the present use of weather information by Iowa Department of Transportation (IaDOT) personnel, recommend revised procedures, and then implement the resulting recommendations. Midway through Phase I (evaluation phase) the FORETELL project was funded. This project is a multi-state venture that engages the National Weather Service (NWS) and the Forecast Systems Laboratory of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and proposes to supplant the current weather information-generation and distribution system with an advanced system based on state-of-the-art technologies. The focus of the present project was therefore refined to consider use of weather data by IaDOT personnel, and the training programs needed to more effectively use these data. Results of the survey revealed that two major areas - training of personnel on use of data from whatever source and more precise information of frost formation - are not addressed in the FORETELL project. These aspects have been the focus of the present project.

El síndrome de burnout y los recortes sanitarios en los profesionales enfermeros del Hospital del Mar de Barcelona

El siguiente trabajo es un proyecto de un estudio cuantitativo observacional transversal sobreel personal enfermero del Hospital del Mar de Barcelona, con el objetivo de determinar de quéforman afectan la crisis económica y los recortes sanitarios en la aparición del síndrome delburnout y calidad de vida en los enfermeros/as. Este estudio puede servir de ayuda en unfuturo al diseño de una propuesta de intervención preventiva contextualizada a la situaciónlaboral que están viviendo los profesionales sanitarios de dicho hospital.Hipótesis: La crisis económica y los posteriores recortes sanitarios que han afectado a recursosmateriales, de personal y salariales, aumentan el síndrome de burnout en los profesionalesenfermeros.Metodología: Se utilizará un cuestionario como forma de recogida de datos, que constará dedos partes, la primera el MBI – HSS (Maslach Burnout Inventory)2, para poder identificar lossujetos con burnout, analizando tres dimensiones principales (cansancio emocional,despersonalización y realización personal). La segunda parte, es un cuestionario deelaboración propia, e incluirá variables de tipo sociodemográfico, además se realizaranpreguntas relacionadas con la crisis económica y los recortes sanitarios con tal decontextualizarlo al momento actual. Como medidas descriptivas se utilizarán la media, lamoda, desviación estándar y porcentaje de acuerdo al tipo de variable, estableciéndose laasociación entre variables mediante Spearman y Pearson. Para el análisis estadístico seutilizará el paquete estadístico SPSS versión 19 y triangulación con un grupo de profesionalesimplicados en el análisis de los resultados con tal de evaluar los riesgos psicosociales.

Fachkräftemangel in Deutschland - Traducción de un informe del Bundestag sobre la falta de mano de obra cualificada en Alemania

El presente trabajo consiste en la traducción y el análisis de un informe sobre la falta de mano de obra cualificada en Alemania publicado en 2012 por el Bundestag. A partir del texto traducido se analizan varios problemas léxicos y gramaticales de la traducción entre el alemán y el español.