An Integrated Study of Pervious Concrete Mixture Design for Wearing Course Applications, July 2011

This report presents the results of the largest and most comprehensive study to date on portland cement pervious concrete (PCPC). It is designed to be widely accessible and easily applied by designers, producers, contractors, and owners. The project was designed to begin with pervious concrete best practices and then to address the unanswered questions in a systematic fashion to allow a successful overlay project. Consequently, the first portion of the integrated project involved a combination of fundamental material property investigations, test method development, and addressing constructability issues before actual construction could take place. The second portion of the project involved actual construction and long-term testing before reporting successes, failures, and lessons learned. The results of the studies conducted show that a pervious concrete overlay can be designed, constructed, operated, and maintained. A pervious concrete overlay has several inherent advantages, including reduced splash and spray and reduced hydroplaning potential, as well as being a very quiet pavement. The good performance of this overlay in a particularly harsh freeze-thaw climate, Minnesota, shows pervious concrete is durable and can be successfully used in freeze-thaw climates with truck traffic and heavy snow plowing.

Guide to Dowel Load Transfer Systems for Jointed Concrete Roadway Pavements, September 2011

This guide provides a summary of the factors and design theories that should be considered when designing dowel load transfer systems for concrete pavement systems (including dowel basket design and fabrication) and presents recommendations for widespread adoption (i.e., standardization). Development of the guide was sponsored by the National Concrete Consortium with the goal of helping practitioners develop and implement dowel load transfer designs based on knowledge about current research and best practices.

Substitutable Concrete Pavements: A Manual of Practice, August 2011

Developed as a more detailed follow up at a 2009 briefing document,Building Sustainable Pavement with Concrete, this guide provides a clear, concise and cohesive discussion of pavement sustainability concepts and of recommended practices for maximizing the sustainability of concrete pavements. The intended audience includes decisions makers and practitioners in both owner-agencies and supply, manufacturing consulting and contractor businesses. Readers will find individual chapters with the most recent technical information and best practices related to concrete pavement deign, materials, construction, use/operations, renewal and recycling. In addition, they will find chapters addressing issues specific to pavement sustainability in the urban environment and to the evaluation of pavement sustainability.

Sustainable Concrete Pavements: A Manual of Practice, January 2012

Sustainable Concrete Pavements: A Manual of Practice is a product of the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center at Iowa State University’s Institute for Transportation, with funding from the Federal Highway Administration (DTFH61-06-H-00011, Work Plan 23). Developed as a more detailed follow-up to a 2009 briefing document, Building Sustainable Pavement with Concrete, this guide provides a clear, concise, and cohesive discussion of pavement sustainability concepts and of recommended practices for maximizing the sustainability of concrete pavements. The intended audience includes decision makers and practitioners in both owner-agencies and supply, manufacturing, consulting, and contractor businesses. Readers will find individual chapters with the most recent technical information and best practices related to concrete pavement design, materials, construction, use/operations, renewal, and recycling. In addition, they will find chapters addressing issues specific to pavement sustainability in the urban environment and to the evaluation of pavement sustainability. Development of this guide satisfies a critical need identified in the Sustainability Track (Track 12) of the Long-Term Plan for Concrete Pavement Research and Technology (CP Road Map). The CP Road Map is a national research plan jointly developed by the concrete pavement stakeholder community, including Federal Highway Administration, academic institutions, state departments of transportation, and concrete pavement–related industries. It outlines 12 tracks of priority research needs related to concrete pavements. CP Road Map publications and other operations support services are provided by the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center at Iowa State University. For details about the CP Road Map, see www.cproadmap. org/index.cfm.

State of Iowa Systematic Study for the State Correctional System, The Durrant Group, Inc.

Operations lead evaluation to determine future opportunities for best practices in Treatment, Operations, Classification, and Programs; ultimately leading evaluations toward the appropriate utilization and application of new and existing infrastructure.

State of Iowa Systematic Study for the State Correctional System Phase II Report

During the second phase of this study, efforts have focused on integrating opportunities for best practices into a long-range plan designed to meet the Department of Corrections institutional and community corrections goals and objectives.

Polyanalgesic Consensus Conference-2012: Recommendations to Reduce Morbidity and Mortality in Intrathecal Drug Delivery in the Treatment of Chronic Pain.

Introduction:  Targeted intrathecal drug infusion to treat moderate to severe chronic pain has become a standard part of treatment algorithms when more conservative options fail. This therapy is well established in the literature, has shown efficacy, and is an important tool for the treatment of both cancer and noncancer pain; however, it has become clear in recent years that intrathecal drug delivery is associated with risks for serious morbidity and mortality. Methods:  The Polyanalgesic Consensus Conference is a meeting of experienced implanting physicians who strive to improve care in those receiving implantable devices. Employing data generated through an extensive literature search combined with clinical experience, this work group formulated recommendations regarding awareness, education, and mitigation of the morbidity and mortality associated with intrathecal therapy to establish best practices for targeted intrathecal drug delivery systems. Results:  Best practices for improved patient care and outcomes with targeted intrathecal infusion are recommended to minimize the risk of morbidity and mortality. Areas of focus include respiratory depression, infection, granuloma, device-related complications, endocrinopathies, and human error. Specific guidance is given with each of these issues and the general use of the therapy. Conclusions:  Targeted intrathecal drug delivery systems are associated with risks for morbidity and mortality that can be devastating. The panel has given guidance to treating physicians and healthcare providers to reduce the incidence of these problems and to improve outcomes when problems occur.

Preparing Tomorrow's Transportation Workforce: A Midwest Summit, 2010

regional transportation workforce development summits held across the United States in 2009 and 2010 as part of a coordinated initiative to ultimately develop a national strategy to address future transportation workforce issues. The initiative is being led by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA). This particular summit was hosted by Iowa State University’s Midwest Transportation Consortium (MTC) and Institute for Transportation (InTrans). The purpose of the Midwest summit was to assess the educational and training needs of the future transportation workforce and identify strategies to address those needs across various career paths. It addressed a broad spectrum of topics including strategies to attract women and under-represented minority groups, pre-college opportunities and strategies, post-secondary education, post-college continuing education, professional licensure, and specific industry perspectives. The goals of the summit were (1) to gain an improved understanding of the transportation workforce needs of Iowa and the surrounding states and (2) to identify best practices in addressing the workforce development needs. This event had two tracks: one focused on pre-college education and the other focused primarily on college education and practitioners. Attendees provided a good cross-section of the larger transportation industry. From what was learned at the summit, Iowa State University, like other regional hosts, can develop a “profile of needs” for Iowa including specific job categories over specific time horizons. The summit was also successful in identifying best practices in addressing the workforce needs that can be utilized by us and others as potential tools or in a “national-level list of attributes.” Each regional summit has provided some guidance in developing statewide profiles. The collection of best practices or tools from all the regional summits can be shared and applied to address state (or regional) needs profiles to attract, develop, and retain an effective workforce.

Missouri River Flood Coordination Task Force Report, September 25, 2011

The Missouri River floods of 2011 will go down in history as the longest duration flooding event this state has seen to date. The combination of above normal snowfall in the upper Missouri River basin followed by the equivalent of nearly one year’s worth of rainfall in May created an above normal runoff situation which filled the Missouri River and the six main reservoirs within the basin. Compounding this problem was colder than normal temperatures which kept much of the snowpack in the upper basin on the ground longer into the spring, setting the stage for this historic event. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) began increasing the outflow at Gavin’s Point, near Yankton, South Dakota in May. On June 14, 2011, the outflow reached a record rate of over 160,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), over twice the previous record outflow set in 1997. This increased output from Gavin’s Point caused the Missouri River to flow out of its banks covering over 283,000 acres of land in Iowa, forcing hundreds of evacuations, damaging 255,000 acres of cropland and significantly impacting the levee system on the Missouri River basin. Over the course of the summer, approximately 64 miles of primary roads closed due to Missouri River flooding, including 54 miles of Interstate Highway. Many county secondary roads were closed by high water or overburdened due to the numerous detours and road closures in this area. As the Missouri River levels began to increase, municipalities and counties aided by State and Federal agencies began preparing for a sustained flood event. Citizens, businesses, state agencies, local governments and non‐profits made substantial preparations, in some cases expending millions of dollars on emergency protective measures to protect their facilities from the impending flood. Levee monitors detected weak spots in the levee system in all affected counties, with several levees being identified as at risk levees that could potentially fail. Of particular concern was the 28 miles of levees protecting Council Bluffs. Based on this concern, Council Bluffs prepared an evacuation plan for the approximately 30,000 residents that resided in the protected area. On May 25, 2011, Governor Branstad directed the execution of the Iowa Emergency Response Plan in accordance with Section 401 of the Stafford Act. On May 31, 2011, HSEMD Administrator, Brigadier General J. Derek Hill, formally requested the USACE to provide technical assistance and advanced measures for the communities along the Missouri River basin. On June 2, 2011 Governor Branstad issued a State of Iowa Proclamation of Disaster Emergency for Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Pottawattamie, and Woodbury counties. The length of this flood event created a unique set of challenges for Federal, State and local entities. In many cases, these organizations were conducting response and recovery operations simultaneously. Due to the length of this entire event, the State Emergency Operations Center and the local Emergency Operations Centers remained open for an extended period of time, putting additional strain on many organizations and resources. In response to this disaster, Governor Branstad created the Missouri River Recovery Coordination Task Force to oversee the State’s recovery efforts. The Governor announced the creation of this Task Force on October 17, 2011 and appointed Brigadier General J. Derek Hill, HSEMD Administrator as the chairman. This Task Force would be a temporary group of State agency representatives and interested stakeholders brought together to support the recovery efforts of the Iowa communities impacted by the Missouri River Flood. Collectively, this group would analyze and share damage assessment data, coordinate assistance across various stakeholders, monitor progress, capture best practices and identify lessons learned.

Iowa EHDI News, Fall 2009

The purpose of the newsletter is to communicate with parents and professionals about newborn hearing screening and follow up in Iowa. We will share information about: Hearing screenings Early intervention, including communication opportunities Resources available for parents and professionals “Best practices” by hospitals, Area Education Agencies (AEAs), private practice audiology offi ces or other health and education providers working with children who are deaf or hard of hearing National research Iowa EHDI program goals EHDI program progress, system development, evaluation Family stories Highlights from the EHDI Advisory Committee

Iowa EHDI News, Fall 2010

The purpose of the newsletter is to communicate with parents and professionals about newborn hearing screening and follow up in Iowa. We will share information about: Hearing screenings Early intervention, including communication opportunities Resources available for parents and professionals “Best practices” by hospitals, Area Education Agencies (AEAs), private practice audiology offi ces or other health and education providers working with children who are deaf or hard of hearing National research Iowa EHDI program goals EHDI program progress, system development, evaluation Family stories Highlights from the EHDI Advisory Committee

Iowa EHDI News, Fall 2011

The purpose of the newsletter is to communicate with parents and professionals about newborn hearing screening and follow up in Iowa. We will share information about: Hearing screenings Early intervention, including communication opportunities Resources available for parents and professionals “Best practices” by hospitals, Area Education Agencies (AEAs), private practice audiology offi ces or other health and education providers working with children who are deaf or hard of hearing National research Iowa EHDI program goals EHDI program progress, system development, evaluation Family stories Highlights from the EHDI Advisory Committee

Iowa EHDI News, Spring 2010

The purpose of the newsletter is to communicate with parents and professionals about newborn hearing screening and follow up in Iowa. We will share information about: Hearing screenings Early intervention, including communication opportunities Resources available for parents and professionals “Best practices” by hospitals, Area Education Agencies (AEAs), private practice audiology offi ces or other health and education providers working with children who are deaf or hard of hearing National research Iowa EHDI program goals EHDI program progress, system development, evaluation Family stories Highlights from the EHDI Advisory Committee

Iowa EHDI News, Spring 2011

The purpose of the newsletter is to communicate with parents and professionals about newborn hearing screening and follow up in Iowa. We will share information about: Hearing screenings Early intervention, including communication opportunities Resources available for parents and professionals “Best practices” by hospitals, Area Education Agencies (AEAs), private practice audiology offi ces or other health and education providers working with children who are deaf or hard of hearing National research Iowa EHDI program goals EHDI program progress, system development, evaluation Family stories Highlights from the EHDI Advisory Committee

Iowa EHDI News, Summer 2009

The purpose of the newsletter is to communicate with parents and professionals about newborn hearing screening and follow up in Iowa. We will share information about: Hearing screenings Early intervention, including communication opportunities Resources available for parents and professionals “Best practices” by hospitals, Area Education Agencies (AEAs), private practice audiology offi ces or other health and education providers working with children who are deaf or hard of hearing National research Iowa EHDI program goals EHDI program progress, system development, evaluation Family stories Highlights from the EHDI Advisory Committee