Issue review : salary growth of Iowa teachers and school administrators.

In recent years in both Iowa and nationally, there has been a strong focus on increasing salary levels for teachers. Iowa initiated the Student Achievement and Teacher Quality Program in fiscal year 2002 to improve the quality of K-12 teachers in Iowa schools. The program's funding to improve teacher salaries continues and is now part of the school-aid formula. During the same time period, there has been a growing focus on recruiting and improving the quality of school district superintendents and other school administrators. This issue review looks at the growth of salaries over the past ten years for Iowa's full-time teachers, superintendents and other administrators.

Issue review : tourism advertising and travel.

This issue review provides an analysis of the Economic Development Authority Tourism Office advertising funding and expenditures, along with a review of the methodology and results of the economic impact of travel on Iowa counties study.

Desempenho leiteiro de vacas alimentadas com caroço de algodão em dieta à base de palma forrageira

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito da inclusão do caroço de algodão em dietas à base de palma forrageira (Opuntia ficus indica Mill.), sobre o desempenho de vacas da raça Holandesa em lactação. O experimento foi feito com cinco vacas, com média de 50 dias de lactação, distribuídas em quadrado latino 5x5. Os tratamentos experimentais foram constituídos da inclusão de caroço de algodão em 0, 6,25, 12,50, 18,75 e 25% da matéria seca da dieta. O caroço de algodão aumentou o consumo de matéria seca, extrato etéreo, nutrientes digestíveis totais, cálcio e fósforo; porém não afetou o consumo de proteína bruta e fibra em detergente neutro. O caroço de algodão aumentou a produção de leite corrigido para 3,5% de gordura (de 26,53 para 31,68 kg por dia), e a produção de gordura do leite (de 0,86 para 1,09 kg por dia); não afetou, porém, a produção de leite sem correção (31,19 kg por dia), a porcentagem de gordura do leite (3,18%) e a eficiência alimentar (1,31 kg de leite corrigido por quilograma de matéria seca consumida). O caroço de algodão melhorou o desempenho animal, quando incluído em até 25% da matéria seca em dietas à base de palma forrageira.

Relação entre a lagarta-do-cartucho e seus agentes de controle biológico natural na produção de milho

Este trabalho teve como objetivo quantificar as perdas na cultura do milho BRS 3123 decorrentes do ataque da lagarta-do-cartucho (Spodoptera frugiperda), na ausência e presença de seus inimigos naturais. Aos 15 dias depois da emergência da planta, foi realizada uma infestação artificial da praga (uma postura por metro quadrado). As lagartas alimentaram-se da planta, sem a interferência de seus inimigos naturais, pela utilização de uma gaiola de proteção (inicial, de dois dias depois da infestação, até uma proteção máxima de 16 dias). O dano da praga, determinado por uma escala de notas de 0 (plantas sem dano) a 5 (plantas mortas), foi em média de 4,01, 1,39, 1,09 e 0,93 para o período de proteção da praga de 16, 6, 4 e 2 dias, respectivamente. Na ausência de agentes de controle biológico, o ataque da praga ocasionou perdas na produção de matéria seca de 47,27% e perdas no rendimento de grãos de 54,49%. Os resultados evidenciaram a importância dos inimigos naturais na supressão de lagartas de S. frugiperda na cultura de milho.

The Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) Estimate of General Fund Receipts Report March 20, 2009

State general fund revenue estimates are generated by the Iowa Revenue Estimating Conference (REC). The REC is comprised of the Governor or their designee, the Director of the Legislative Services Agency, and a third person agreed upon by the other two members. The REC meets periodically, generally in October, December, and March/April. The Governor and the Legislature are required to use the REC estimates in preparing the state budget.

The Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) Estimate of General Fund Receipts Report October 7, 2009

State general fund revenue estimates are generated by the Iowa Revenue Estimating Conference (REC). The REC is comprised of the Governor or their designee, the Director of the Legislative Services Agency, and a third person agreed upon by the other two members. The REC meets periodically, generally in October, December, and March/April. The Governor and the Legislature are required to use the REC estimates in preparing the state budget.

The Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) Estimate of General Fund Receipts Report December 11, 2009

State general fund revenue estimates are generated by the Iowa Revenue Estimating Conference (REC). The REC is comprised of the Governor or their designee, the Director of the Legislative Services Agency, and a third person agreed upon by the other two members. The REC meets periodically, generally in October, December, and March/April. The Governor and the Legislature are required to use the REC estimates in preparing the state budget.

Passive smoking exposure in adults and dynamics of respiratory symptoms in a prospective multicenter cohort studies (SAPALDIA study)

Résumé Objectifs : Alors que de nombreuses études suggèrent que l'exposition au tabagisme passif représente un danger pour la santé des non-fumeurs, la plupart des études s'intéressant aux effets néfastes du tabagisme passif sur la santé respiratoire de sujets adultes étaient des études transversales. Les résultats d'études longitudinales restent rares et controversés. Le but de notre étude était de mesurer les effets d'une exposition antérieure au tabagisme passif sur l'évolution journalière de quatre catégories de symptômes respiratoires dans une étude journalière incluant des adultes n'ayant jamais fumé. Méthodes : Dans le cadre de l'étude SAPALDIA (Swiss study on air pollution and lung diseases in adults), nous avons mené une étude de cohorte prospective et multicentrique. 1421 adultes n'ayant jamais fumé étaient suivis durant deux ans sur la base de questionnaires journaliers remplis durant une à six périodes de quatre semaines répartis sur deux années (1992-1993). Nous avons ensuite déterminé le risque relatif (RR) de développer ou de s'amender de symptômes respiratoires en association avec une exposition antérieure au tabagisme passif. Résultats : Dans un échantillon d'adultes n'ayant jamais fumé, nous avons trouvé une association entre une exposition antérieure au tabagisme passif et une évolution péjorée de tous les symptômes respiratoires étudiés, montrant un risque relatif de 1.09 à 1.21 de développer les symptômes respiratoires, et un risque relatif de 0.91 à 0.83 de s'amender de ces symptômes. Une exposition au tabagisme passif sur la place de travail était associée à une diminution de la durée des intervalles libres sans symptômes bronchitiques (RR 1.33) et asthmatiques (RR 1.27), alors qu'une exposition uniquement en-dehors de la place de travail était associée avec un allongement de la durée des épisodes avec symptômes respiratoires des voies aériennes hautes ou basses (RR 0.78-0.77). Conclusion : Nos résultats suggèrent que l'exposition au tabagisme passif a des effets néfastes sur la dynamique journalière symptômes respiratoires, et que l'importance et le type d'effet sont influencés par le lieu d'exposition.

Second neoplasms after invasive and borderline ovarian cancer.

Excess risk of subsequent cancers has been documented in women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. We updated to 2006 data on second cancers in women diagnosed with invasive and borderline ovarian cancer in the Swiss canton of Vaud. Between 1974 and 2006, 304 borderline and 1530 invasive first ovarian tumours were abstracted from the Vaud Cancer Registry database and followed up till the end of 2006. Calculation of expected numbers of tumours in the cohorts was based on site-specific, age-specific and calendar-year-specific incidence rates. We computed the standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) of second cancers, and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). There was no change in the incidence of malignant cancers, but that of borderline tumours increased over more recent years. Overall, 110 second neoplasms were observed versus 49.7 expected after invasive ovarian cancer (SIR 2.21; 95% CI: 1.82-2.67). Significant excess risks were observed for cancers of the breast, corpus uteri and leukaemias. When synchronous cancers were excluded, the overall SIR for all sites declined to 1.05. Thirty-one second neoplasms were observed after borderline tumours compared with 21.1 expected (SIR=1.47; 95% CI: 1.00-2.09). SIRs were above unity for ovary, colorectum and uterus. After exclusion of synchronous neoplasms, SIR for all neoplasms declined to 1.09, and remained significant only for second ovarian cancers (SIR=4.93). The present record linkage cohort study shows an excess risk for selected synchronous neoplasms in women diagnosed with both borderline and invasive ovarian cancer, likely because of shared genetic and perhaps environmental factors.

Genetic variation in GIPR influences the glucose and insulin responses to an oral glucose challenge.

Glucose levels 2 h after an oral glucose challenge are a clinical measure of glucose tolerance used in the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. We report a meta-analysis of nine genome-wide association studies (n = 15,234 nondiabetic individuals) and a follow-up of 29 independent loci (n = 6,958-30,620). We identify variants at the GIPR locus associated with 2-h glucose level (rs10423928, beta (s.e.m.) = 0.09 (0.01) mmol/l per A allele, P = 2.0 x 10(-15)). The GIPR A-allele carriers also showed decreased insulin secretion (n = 22,492; insulinogenic index, P = 1.0 x 10(-17); ratio of insulin to glucose area under the curve, P = 1.3 x 10(-16)) and diminished incretin effect (n = 804; P = 4.3 x 10(-4)). We also identified variants at ADCY5 (rs2877716, P = 4.2 x 10(-16)), VPS13C (rs17271305, P = 4.1 x 10(-8)), GCKR (rs1260326, P = 7.1 x 10(-11)) and TCF7L2 (rs7903146, P = 4.2 x 10(-10)) associated with 2-h glucose. Of the three newly implicated loci (GIPR, ADCY5 and VPS13C), only ADCY5 was found to be associated with type 2 diabetes in collaborating studies (n = 35,869 cases, 89,798 controls, OR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.09-1.15, P = 4.8 x 10(-18)).

Atrial arrhythmias in adult patients with right- versus left-sided congenital heart disease anomalies.

Atrial arrhythmias (AAs) are a common complication in adult patients with congenital heart disease. We sought to compare the lifetime prevalence of AAs in patients with right- versus left-sided congenital cardiac lesions and their effect on the prognosis. A congenital heart disease diagnosis was assigned using the International Disease Classification, Ninth Revision, diagnostic codes in the administrative databases of Quebec, from 1983 to 2005. Patients with AAs were those diagnosed with an International Disease Classification, Ninth Revision, code for atrial fibrillation or intra-atrial reentry tachycardia. To ensure that the diagnosis of AA was new, a washout period of 5 years after entry into the database was used, a period during which the patient could not have received an International Disease Classification, Ninth Revision, code for AA. The cumulative lifetime risk of AA was estimated using the Practical Incidence Estimators method. The hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality, morbidity, and cardiac interventions were compared between those with right- and left-sided lesions after adjustment for age, gender, disease severity, and cardiac risk factors. In a population of 71,467 patients, 7,756 adults developed AAs (isolated right-sided, 2,229; isolated left-sided, 1,725). The lifetime risk of developing AAs was significantly greater in patients with right- sided than in patients with left-sided lesions (61.0% vs 55.4%, p <0.001). The HR for mortality and the development of stroke or heart failure was similar in both groups (HR 0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.86 to 1.09; HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.80 to 1.09; and HR 1.10, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.23, respectively). However, the rates of cardiac catheterization (HR 0.63, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.72), cardiac surgery (HR 0.40, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.45), and arrhythmia surgery (HR 0.77, 95% CI 0.6 to 0.98) were significantly less for patients with right-sided lesions. In conclusion, patients with right-sided lesions had a greater lifetime burden of AAs. However, their morbidity and mortality were no less than those with left-sided lesions, although the rate of intervention was substantially different.

Meta-analysis: subclinical thyroid dysfunction and the risk for coronary heart disease and mortality

BACKGROUND: Data on the association between subclinical thyroid dysfunction and coronary heart disease (CHD) and mortality are conflicting. PURPOSE: To summarize prospective evidence about the relationship between subclinical thyroid dysfunction and CHD and mortality. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE (1950 to January 2008) without language restrictions and reference lists of retrieved articles were searched. STUDY SELECTION: Two reviewers screened and selected cohort studies that measured thyroid function and then followed persons prospectively to assess CHD or mortality. DATA EXTRACTION: By using a standardized protocol and forms, 2 reviewers independently abstracted and assessed studies. DATA SYNTHESIS: Ten of 12 identified studies involved population-based cohorts that included 14 449 participants. All 10 population-based cohort studies examined risks associated with subclinical hypothyroidism (2134 CHD events and 2822 deaths), whereas only 5 examined risks associated with subclinical hyperthyroidism (1392 CHD events and 1993 deaths). In a random-effects model, the relative risk (RR) for subclinical hypothyroidism for CHD was 1.20 (95% CI, 0.97 to 1.49; P for heterogeneity = 0.14; I(2 )= 33.4%). Risk estimates were lower when higher-quality studies were pooled (RR, 1.02 to 1.08) and were higher among participants younger than 65 years (RR, 1.51 [CI, 1.09 to 2.09] for studies with mean participant age <65 years and 1.05 [CI, 0.90 to 1.22] for studies with mean participant age > or =65 years). The RR was 1.18 (CI, 0.98 to 1.42) for cardiovascular mortality and 1.12 (CI, 0.99 to 1.26) for total mortality. For subclinical hyperthyroidism, the RR was 1.21 (CI, 0.88 to 1.68) for CHD, 1.19 (CI, 0.81 to 1.76) for cardiovascular mortality, and 1.12 (CI, 0.89 to 1.42) for total mortality (P for heterogeneity >0.50; I(2 )= 0% for all studies). LIMITATIONS: Individual studies adjusted for different potential confounders, and 1 study provided only unadjusted data. Publication bias or selective reporting of outcomes could not be excluded. CONCLUSION: Subclinical hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism may be associated with a modest increased risk for CHD and mortality, with lower risk estimates when pooling higher-quality studies and larger CIs for subclinical hyperthyroidism

Longitudinal analyses of renal lesions due to acute pyelonephritis in children and their impact on renal growth.

PURPOSE: Acute pyelonephritis is a common condition in children, and can lead to renal scarring. The aim of this study was to analyze the progression of renal scarring with time and its impact on renal growth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 50 children who had renal scarring on dimercapto-succinic acid scan 6 months after acute pyelonephritis underwent a repeat scan 3 years later. Lesion changes were evaluated by 3 blinded observers, and were classified as no change, partial resolution or complete disappearance. Renal size at time of acute pyelonephritis and after 3 years was obtained by ultrasound, and renal growth was assessed comparing z-score for age between the 2 measures. Robust linear regression was used to identify determinants of renal growth. RESULTS: At 6 months after acute pyelonephritis 88 scars were observed in 100 renal units. No change was observed in 27%, partial resolution in 63% and complete disappearance in 9% of lesions. Overall, 72% of lesions improved. Increased number of scars was associated with high grade vesicoureteral reflux (p = 0.02). Multivariate analysis showed that the number of scars was the most important parameter leading to decreased renal growth (CI -1.05 to -0.35, p <0.001), and with 3 or more scars this finding was highly significant on univariate analysis (-1.59, CI -2.10 to -1.09, p <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Even 6 months after acute pyelonephritis 72% of dimercapto-succinic acid defects improved, demonstrating that some of the lesions may be not definitive. The number of scars was significantly associated with loss of renal growth at 3 years.

Life events in conversion disorder: Role of timing and nature of events

Aims: To compare the frequency of life events in the year preceding illness onset in a series of Conversion Disorder (CD) patients, with those of a matched control group and to characterize the nature of those events in terms of "escape" potential. Traditional models of CD hypothesise that relevant stressful experiences are "converted" into physical symptoms to relieve psychological pressure, and that the resultant disability allows "escape" from the stressor, providing some advantage to the individual. Methods: The Life Events and Difficulties Schedule (LEDS) is a validated semi-structured interview designed to minimise recall and interviewer bias through rigorous assessment and independent rating of events. An additional "escape" rating was developed. Results: In the year preceding onset in 25 CD patients (mean age 38.9 years ± 8) and a similar matched period in 13 controls (mean age 36.2 years ± 10), no significant difference was found in the proportion of subjects having ≥ 1 severe event (CD 64%, controls 38%; p=0.2). In the last month preceding onset, a higher number of patients experienced ≥1 severe events than controls (52% vs 15%, odds ratio 5.95 (CI: 1.09-32.57)). Patients were twice as much more likely to have a severe escape events than controls, in the month preceding onset (44% vs 7%, odds ratio 9.43 (CI: 1.06-84.04). Conclusion: Preliminary data from this ongoing study suggest that the time frame (preceding month) and the nature ("escape") of the events may play an important role in identifying key events related to CD onset.

Regional differences in self-reported screening, prevalence and management of cardiovascular risk factors in Switzerland.

BACKGROUND: In Switzerland, health policies are decided at the local level, but little is known regarding their impact on the screening and management of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs). We thus aimed at assessing geographical levels of CVRFs in Switzerland.¦METHODS: Swiss Health Survey for 2007 (N = 17,879). Seven administrative regions were defined: West (Leman), West-Central (Mittelland), Zurich, South (Ticino), North-West, East and Central Switzerland. Obesity, smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes prevalence, treatment and screening within the last 12 months were assessed by interview.¦RESULTS: After multivariate adjustment for age, gender, educational level, marital status and Swiss citizenship, no significant differences were found between regions regarding prevalence of obesity or current smoking. Similarly, no differences were found regarding hypertension screening and prevalence. Two thirds of subjects who had been told they had high blood pressure were treated, the lowest treatment rates being found in East Switzerland: odds-ratio and [95% confidence interval] 0.65 [0.50-0.85]. Screening for hypercholesterolemia was more frequently reported in French (Leman) and Italian (Ticino) speaking regions. Four out of ten participants who had been told they had high cholesterol levels were treated and the lowest treatment rates were found in German-speaking regions. Screening for diabetes was higher in Ticino (1.24 [1.09 - 1.42]). Six out of ten participants who had been told they had diabetes were treated, the lowest treatment rates were found for German-speaking regions.¦CONCLUSIONS: In Switzerland, cardiovascular risk factor screening and management differ between regions and these differences cannot be accounted for by differences in populations' characteristics. Management of most cardiovascular risk factors could be improved.