State of Iowa Long-Term Economic Recovery Strategy Prepared for the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, October 2010

The Rebuild Iowa Office (RIO) continues to coordinate the state‘s recovery effort from the storms, tornadoes and floods of 2008. Much has been accomplished since the Office‘s last quarterly report was issued in July 2010. State funding has been disbursed to help Iowans with unmet needs and housing. Local governments and entities are utilizing millions of federal dollars so thousands of disaster-impacted homeowners can be offered a buyout. More infrastructure projects are under construction and new neighborhoods are being built with mitigation efforts in mind. However, as Iowa continues to celebrate many successes along the road to recovery, it must also address the numerous challenges that are encountered along the path. Recovering from the state‘s largest disaster must be looked at as a marathon, not a sprint. Over the past three months, the RIO has especially remained focused on helping small business owners impacted by the 2008 disasters. Many disaster-affected businesses have reopened their doors, however their debt load continues to be overwhelming and many still struggle with the timeliness of the disbursement of funds. This report describes how programs and recent modifications are working to assist recovering businesses. This report contains updates on housing progress while outlining the complexities behind certain programs and the bottlenecks communities are facing due to strict federal guidelines for implementation. This following pages also describe how Iowa is implementing Smart Planning principles, publicizing flood awareness through outreach efforts and preparing a blueprint for the state to follow when future disasters occur. As always, the RIO recognizes and thanks the countless leaders and front-line workers from local, regional, state and federal government, businesses, non-profit organizations and private citizens that have provided input, support and leadership. Their dedication to Iowa‘s disaster recovery has made the plans and projects on the following pages possible.

2007-2008 Iowa Prison Industries Annual Report, May 2008

Annual report of the Department of Corrections, Iowa Prison Industries.

2008-2009 Iowa Prison Industries Annual Report, May 2009

Annual report of the Department of Corrections, Iowa Prison Industries.

2010-2011 Iowa Prison Industries Annual Report, May 2011

Annual report of the Department of Corrections, Iowa Prison Industries.

Seriousness/Acuity of Mentally Ill Offenders in Prison, Data Download, Iowa Department of Corrections, July 2009

As of yearend 2008, about 41.2% of inmates had at least one diagnosis of a mental illness. The prevalence of mental illness among female offenders is higher than for men. However, it is important to look beyond these numbers to obtain a more accurate picture of the mentally ill inmate population and the challenges they pose for the Department of Corrections.

IWD to Study the Effect of Prison Education on Employment, Data Download, Iowa Department of Corrections, February 2009

The Iowa Department of Corrections recently entered into a data sharing agreement with Iowa Workforce Development (IWD), the purpose of which is to better ascertain the effect of prison education on postprison employment. This study is important because the DOC partners with community colleges to provide prison-based education, with a goal of increasing the numbers of inmates completing GEDs. We are demonstrating success toward that goal, but what we lack is empirical evidence showing the level of success that Iowa prison education programs have on Iowa offenders’ employment success upon their return to communities here in the state.

Iowa Private Sector Prison Employment Works, Data Download, Iowa Department of Corrections, November 2006

This issue of the ICON Data Download describes highlights from the findings for the Iowa sample, which tracked 1,091 inmates who worked in private sector prison industries jobs and were released from prison between 1999 and 2001, and compared their results with similar offenders who had worked in either traditional prison industries, or other institutional jobs. All offenders were tracked through mid-2003. This results in a follow-up period of slightly less than two years up to four and one-half years.

Federal Highway Administration Finding of No Significant Impact for the Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvements Project, August 23, 2012

FHWA and the Iowa Department of Transportation are proposing geometric and capacity improvements to the Interstate 29 and Interstate 80 mainline in Segment 3 and the I-80/I-29 East System interchange, the South Expressway interchange, the U.S. Highway 275 interchange, and the Madison Avenue interchange to to safely and efficiently of transportation in the City of Council Bluffs, the Iowa DOT is also proposing to eliminate several railroad alignments and to develop new, consolidated tracks in Segment 3.

Federal Highway Administration Finding of No Signification Impact, September 2011

Description of the Proposed Action The Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) propose to improve a 3.9-mile segment of Iowa Highway 86 (IA 86) from Iowa Highway 9 (IA 9) to near the Minnesota border within Dickinson County, Iowa (the Project). The existing IA 86 has narrow travel lanes and shoulders, steep foreslopes, and poor vertical alignment. Environmental Assessment Availability The Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Project was signed on June 30, 2011, and distributed to selected federal, state, and local resource agencies on July 5, 2011, for review and comment. A Notice of Public Hearing and Environmental Assessment Availability was published in the legal section of the Estherville Daily News on July 5, 2011, and the Ocheyedan Press-Melvin News and Dickinson County News on July 6, 2011. Review and Comment Period A review and comment period was established for receipt of comments on the EA, with an expiration date of August 8, 2011. A public hearing for the Project was held at the Dickinson County Courthouse on July 21, 2011. The public hearing used a combined open forum and formal format. A transcript of this meeting has been prepared and is available upon request.

Assessment of driving capability through the use of clinical and psychomotor tests in relation to blood cannabinoids levels following oral administration of 20 mg dronabinol or of a cannabis decoction made with 20 or 60 mg Delta9-THC.

Delta(9)-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is frequently found in the blood of drivers suspected of driving under the influence of cannabis or involved in traffic crashes. The present study used a double-blind crossover design to compare the effects of medium (16.5 mg THC) and high doses (45.7 mg THC) of hemp milk decoctions or of a medium dose of dronabinol (20 mg synthetic THC, Marinol on several skills required for safe driving. Forensic interpretation of cannabinoids blood concentrations were attempted using the models proposed by Daldrup (cannabis influencing factor or CIF) and Huestis and coworkers. First, the time concentration-profiles of THC, 11-hydroxy-Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (11-OH-THC) (active metabolite of THC), and 11-nor-9-carboxy-Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THCCOOH) in whole blood were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-negative ion chemical ionization. Compared to smoking studies, relatively low concentrations were measured in blood. The highest mean THC concentration (8.4 ng/mL) was achieved 1 h after ingestion of the strongest decoction. Mean maximum 11-OH-THC level (12.3 ng/mL) slightly exceeded that of THC. THCCOOH reached its highest mean concentration (66.2 ng/mL) 2.5-5.5 h after intake. Individual blood levels showed considerable intersubject variability. The willingness to drive was influenced by the importance of the requested task. Under significant cannabinoids influence, the participants refused to drive when they were asked whether they would agree to accomplish several unimportant tasks, (e.g., driving a friend to a party). Most of the participants reported a significant feeling of intoxication and did not appreciate the effects, notably those felt after drinking the strongest decoction. Road sign and tracking testing revealed obvious and statistically significant differences between placebo and treatments. A marked impairment was detected after ingestion of the strongest decoction. A CIF value, which relies on the molar ratio of main active to inactive cannabinoids, greater than 10 was found to correlate with a strong feeling of intoxication. It also matched with a significant decrease in the willingness to drive, and it matched also with a significant impairment in tracking performances. The mathematic model II proposed by Huestis et al. (1992) provided at best a rough estimate of the time of oral administration with 27% of actual values being out of range of the 95% confidence interval. The sum of THC and 11-OH-THC blood concentrations provided a better estimate of impairment than THC alone. This controlled clinical study points out the negative influence on fitness to drive after medium or high dose oral THC or dronabinol.

Prison Return Rate Down, Data Download, Iowa Department of Corrections, October 2010

The Iowa Department of Corrections has set a goal to reduce the rate of return to prison – whether due to new convictions or technical violations – to 33.3%. Preliminary findings show that that goal has been achieved for FY 07 releasees, with recidivism rates the lowest among the three years studied.

Prison Return Rate Down, Data Download, Iowa Department of Corrections, October 2010

The Iowa Department of Corrections has set a goal to reduce the rate of return to prison – whether due to new convictions or technical violations – to 33.3%. Preliminary findings show that that goal has been achieved for FY 07 releasees, with recidivism rates the lowest among the three years studied.

Intrathecal administration of Ziconotide: does single-shot injection predict efficacy?

Introduction: Though a trial of intrathecal (IT) therapy should always be performed before implantation of a definitive intrathecal pump, there is no agreement as to how this test should be performed. Ziconotide is trialed in most of cases with continuous IT administration using implanted catheters. Unlike other intrathecal drugs, there is little experience with single bolus IT injections of ziconotide. The aim of the study is to assess the feasibility of single-shot IT trialing with ziconotide. Patients and methods: Eleven consecutive patients with chronic neuropathic intractable pain were trialed with a single IT bolus of 2.5 mcg of ziconotide. Pain and side effects are monitored for at least 72 hours after the injection. Depending on the response, a second injection is given a week later, with either the same dose (if VAS decreased ≥50% without side effects), a higher dose of 3.75 mcg (if VAS decreased <50% without side effects) or a lower dose of 1.25 mcg (if VAS decreased ≥50% but with side effects). If VAS decreased less than 50% and side effects occurred, no further injection was performed. When VAS decreased >50% without side effects after the first or the second dose, the result is confirmed by one more injection of the same dose one week later. The trial is considered positive if two successive injections provide a VAS decreased more than 50% without side effects. Results: Eleven patients (6 females and 5 males) were included. Nine patients experienced modest or no pain relief. Four of these had significant side effects (dizziness, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain) and had no further injection. In the others 5, one patient retired from study and four received a second injection of 3.75 mcg. The trial was negative in all 5 cases because of side effects (dizziness, drowsiness, weakness, muscle cramps), the pain decreased in only 2 patients. Two patients experienced profound pain relief with an IT injection of 2.5 mcg. One patient had no side effects and the other had dizziness and drowsiness that disappeared with an injection of 1.25 mcg. Pain relief without adverse effects was confirmed with the second injection. The trial was considered positive for those two patients. Discussion and conclusion: The response rate of 18% (2/11) is consistent with the success rate of a continuous infusion trialing with an implanted catheter. Single-shot injection of ziconotide may therefore predict efficacy.

Blood profile during and after hemoglobin substitute administration.

The in vivo effects of Diaspirin Crosslinked Hemoglobin (DCLHb, Baxter Healthcare Corp.) on hematology and biochemistry are unknown. This study includes 6 calves (71.2+/-1.3 kg). In each animal a total of 2 litres of blood was exchanged for the same amount of hydroxylethyl starch (Haes, Fresenius) (n=3) or DCLHb (n=3), which is equivalent to 28cc/kg of blood substitute, over a period of 5 hours. The animals were allowed to survive 7 days. Blood samples were taken hourly during the perfusion protocol, at postoperative day (POD) 1, 2 and 7. ANOVA test was used for repeated measurements. Blood cell profiles were similar in both groups. Peak methemoglobinemia was 4.2% in the DCLHb group. Osmolarity was significantly higher in the DCLHb group with the greatest difference at POD 1 and 2. Postmortem analysis of the major organs did not show any sign of hemoglobin deposit in the DCLHb group. In the given setup DCLHb can be administered in a large quantity with good hematological tolerance and without any deposits in major organs. A prolonged plasma expander effect was observed.

Audit report of the Iowa State Prison Industries – Farms for the year ended June 30, 2011

Audit report of the Iowa State Prison Industries – Farms for the year ended June 30, 2011