Iowa Commission on the Status of African Americans Agency Performance Plan, 2007

Agency Performance Plan

Iowa Commission on the Status of Women Agency Performance Plan, 2007

Agency Performance Plan

Current status of the whitefly Aleurodicus dispersus as an invasive pest in the CapeVerte Islands

In the last three decades, the spiralling whitefly (Aleurodicus dispersus) has become an important international pest. The movement of plants and parts of plants (such as fruits) in international trade and tourism, and by natural dispersal, has favoured its introduction to new areas. In common with others whiteflies of economic importance, the immature and adult stages cause direct feeding damage by piercing and sucking of sap from foliage, and indirect damage following the accumulation all over host plants of honeydew and waxy flocculent material produced by the insects. Spiralling whitefly is a pest of tropical and subtropical crops, and highly polyphagous. Up to the 1970s, it had been recorded on 44 genera of plants, belonging to 26 botanical families (Mound & Halsey, 1978). This situation changed with the dispersal of the pest to new areas. Nowadays, the spiralling whitefly is one of the major pest of vegetable, ornamental and fruit crops around the globe (Lambkin, 1999). Important host crops include: banana (Musa sapientum), Citrus spp., coconut (Cocos nocifera), eggplant (Solanum melanogena), guava (Psidium guajava), Hibiscus rosa sinensis, Indian almond (Terminalia catappa), papya (Carica papaya), Rosa sp. and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) (Saminathan & Jayaraj, 2001). Spiralling whitefly has its origin in the tropical Americas, including Brazil. Although the pest has been recorded only once in Brasil, in the 1920s in the state of Bahia (Bondar, 1923), it now has official quarantine status because of its economic importance. In the Cape Verte Islands, on the West African coast, the pest was initially introduced in the first half of 2000; it has since become established, reaching urban, natural and agricultural areas of the islands that constitute the archipelago. Since then, the pest has been causing damage to many native plants, ornamentals and cultivated food crops (Anon., 2001; Monteiro, 2004). The present study was done in order to produce an inventory of the most common host plants of spiralling whitefly in this new habitat.

New data on the distribution and conservation status of some angiosperms of the Cape Verde Islands, W Africa

New data on the distributibn and conservation status of some angiosperms of the Cape Verde Islands, W Africa Intensive field work aud analysis of the state of biodiversity ou all islands during the years iYY.3 lo IYYY Icd lo lhc publication ol’several contributions lo the flora and vegelalion of the archipclago of Cabo Verde (Brochniann & al. 1997, Gornes & Vera-Cruz 1993. Gonles & al. I9YSa-h. 1998, Games 1997. Kilian & Leyens 1994, Leyens 1998. Leyens & Lobin 1995, Lobin & al. 1995) as well as to the compilation of the First Red Data List for the Cape Verde Islnuds (Lcyrus & Lobin 1996). the elaboration of the National Strategy for Biodiversity Conservation (SIPA 19YY) and ! compilation of all areas in urgent need of protection (Leyens unpubl. diplonla thc.\is IYYJ. Gwnes & al. iu prep.). As part UC the activities of the lnstituto National de Invcstig;u$o c Dcscnvolvitucnto Agriirio (INIDA) and the Dcpurtamcnto de GeociSncias do Institute Supcriot de Educ;u$o t ISE) iutcnsive t’icld studies were conducted PI many diffcrctu localilics OII xcvcr;~I islands. resulting in a thesis tGo~nes IY97) and several terminal study papers (Luz IYYY. Cosi;t 1994. Gonsalvez 1999). The results show that the vegetation and flora of the islands arc still IWI fully known and much more field work is needed. hllhot~gh Sanliiqw is one of lhc islands whcrc lhc firs1 holanicill iIlVcxligilliollx wcrr c:crriul WI (Wcbh 1x49. Schruidt 1x52. Chcvalicr IY35) and where uu~ny intensive field studirs wcrc

The presence of a CD4+ CD25high CD45RO+ CD127high T-cell population correlates with the clinical status of kidney transplant recipients

Background: Recent data have suggested that a population of CD4+ CD25high T cells, phenotypically characterized by the expression of CD45RO and CD127, is significantly expanded in stable liver and kidney transplant recipients and represents alloreactive T cells. We analyzed this putative new alloreactive cellular marker in various groups of kidney transplant recipients. Patients and methods: Flow cytometry was used to analyze the expression of CD25, CD45RO and CD127 on peripheral CD4+ T cells. Of 73 kidney recipients, 59 had a stable graft function under standard immunosuppressive therapy (IS), 5 had biopsy-proven chronic humoral rejection (CHR), 8 were stable under minimal IS and one was an operationally "tolerant" patient who had discontinued IS for more than 3 years. Sixty-six healthy subjects (HS) were studied as controls. Results: Overall, the alloreactive T cell population was found to be significantly increased in the 73 kidney recipients (mean ± SE: 15.03 ± 1.04% of CD4+ CD25high T cells) compared to HS (5.93 ± 0.39%) (p <0.001). In the 5 patients with CHR, this population was highly expanded (31.33 ± 4.16%), whereas it was comparable to HS in the 8 stable recipients receiving minimal IS (6.12 ± 0.86%), in 4 patients who had been switched to sirolimus (4.21 ± 0.53%) as well as in the unique "tolerant" recipient (4.69%). Intermediate levels (15.84 ± 0.93%) were found in the 55 recipients with stable graft function on standard CNI-based IS. Regulatory T cells, defined as CD4+ CD25high FoxP3+ CD127low, were found to be significantly reduced in all recipients except in those with minimal or no IS, and this reduction was particularly striking in recipients with CHR. Conclusion: After kidney transplantation, an alloreactive T cell population was found to be significantly expanded and it correlates with the clinical status of the recipients. Interestingly, in stable patients with minimal (or no) IS as well as in patients on sirolimus, alloreactive T cells were comparable the healthy controls. Measuring circulating CD4+ CD25high CD45RO+ CD127high T cells may become a useful monitoring tool after transplantation.

Status of Young Women in the Juvenile Justice System Preliminary Data, 2007

Young women involved in the juvenile justice system present with characteristics and experiences that differentiate them from their male counterparts. As such, the juvenile justice system in Iowa must consider these factors if it is to effectively and efficiently impact recidivism and rehabilitation.

Checklist of aedine mosquito species (Diptera, Culicidae, Aedini) occurring in Middle and South America (south of the United States) reflecting current generic and subgeneric status

A list of species of tribe Aedini from Middle and South American, south of the United States, with their current generic combinations is provided. Its purpose is to enable entomologists, public health personnel and mosquito control workers to more quickly become familiar with recent formal taxonomic changes within the tribe.

Stroke initial severity and outcome relative to insurance status in a universal health care system in Switzerland.

BACKGROUND:  Socioeconomic status is thought to have a significant influence on stroke incidence, risk factors and outcome. Its influence on acute stroke severity, stroke mechanisms, and acute recanalisation treatment is less known. METHODS:  Over a 4-year period, all ischaemic stroke patients admitted within 24 h were entered prospectively in a stroke registry. Data included insurance status, demographics, risk factors, time to hospital arrival, initial stroke severity (NIHSS), etiology, use of acute treatments, short-term outcome (modified Rankin Scale, mRS). Private insured patients (PI) were compared with basic insured patients (BI). RESULTS:  Of 1062 consecutive acute ischaemic stroke patients, 203 had PI and 859 had BI. They were 585 men and 477 women. Both populations were similar in age, cardiovascular risk factors and preventive medications. The onset to admission time, thrombolysis rate, and stroke etiology according to TOAST classification were not different between PI and BI. Mean NIHSS at admission was significantly higher for BI. Good outcome (mRS ≤ 2) at 7 days and 3 months was more frequent in PI than in BI. CONCLUSION:  We found better outcome and lesser stroke severity on admission in patients with higher socioeconomic status in an acute stroke population. The reason for milder strokes in patients with better socioeconomic status in a universal health care system needs to be explained.

Status of Females in the Juvenile Justice System, 2007

On October 12th 2007, the inaugural Girls’ Summit on females in the juvenile justice system was held. This Summit brought together key decision makers in an exploration of research and data. Those who attended were also asked to make recommendations regarding a course of action. This report represents an effort to improve our response to these young women in Iowa. It highlights pertinent information covered at the Summit as well as resulting conclusions and recommendations. On behalf of the Iowa Gender Specific Services Task Force and the participants of the Girls’ Summit, it is my hope that this report will serve as a road map for necessary improvements as well as a means to reinforce the effective tools that are already in place. There are differences that exist between young women and young men in the juvenile justice system and the efficacy of professionals rests heavily on a better understanding of these differences and how they impact the justice system response.

Midwest Regional Rail Passenger Initiative and Passenger Rail Service in Iowa Status Report

This report is submitted as required per Iowa Code section 327J.3(5), "The director shall report annually to the general assembly concerning the development and operation of the midwest regional rail system and the state's passenger rail service."

Iowa Commission on the Status of Women: 35th Annual Report - 2006

Iowa Commission on the Status of Women: 35th Annual Report - 2006 The ICSW is proud of the past year’s achievements, and pleased to present to you our 35th Annual Report. The following pages detail the activities and programs that were carried out in 2006. The ICSW celebrates the progress in women’s rights that has been made in Iowa, and continues to address inequities, advocating for full participation by women in the economic, social, and political life of the state. In this advocacy role, as mandated by the Code of Iowa, we educate, inform, and develop new ideas to bring a fresh viewpoint to bear on the issues facing Iowa women and their families.

Status of Iowa Women Report, 2006

The Iowa Commission on the Status of Women (ICSW) is a state agency that seeks to assure equality for Iowa women. As an advocacy agency, the Commission works to equalize women's opportunities and to promote full participation by women in the economic, political, and social life of the state. This is the tenth edition of the Status of Iowa Women Report. Many positive changes toward women's full participation in all aspects of society are evident in this edition: more women than ever are getting a post-secondary education and they have made significant inroads into some traditionally male-dominated work domains. Still, much remains to be done. The 2006 report also shows that girls, by and large, are not enrolling in upper-level high-school computer courses, a necessity for the 21st century; women's earnings lag behind men's; and women continue to be raped, beaten, and battered at staggering rates. Much work needs to be done at the community and state levels to address those and other challenges addressed in this publication.

Status Upgrade:The Case of Cape Verde’s Graduation from the Least Developed Country (Ldc) Category

Esta dissertação analisa as principais características e as dificuldades que se levantam ao desenvolvimento de dois grupos de países em situações especiais, especificamente os PMA e os SIDS. Neste contexto, são abordadas questões relacionadas com medidas de apoio por parte da comunidade internacional, visando facilitar o processo de desenvolvimento dos PMA, e analisada a questão (por vezes controversa) da transição da lista de PMA. Neste quadro, é analisado o caso de Cabo Verde – o primeiro SIDS a transitar da lista de PMA –, com a consideração prévia de importantes questões de financiamento do desenvolvimento, de suma importância para a capacidade do país suster o seu desenvolvimento, a partir da entrada em vigor da sua graduação da lista dos PMA, em Janeiro de 2008.

Rediscovery of the putatively extinct ant species Simopelta minima (Brandão) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), with a discussion on rarity and conservation status of ant species

Simopelta minima (Brandão, 1989) was originally described based on four workers collected in soil samples from a small cocoa plantation in Ilhéus, state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil. In the subsequent years after the description, this cocoa plantation was eliminated and the species was then considered extinct by the Brazilian environmental institutions. The recent rediscovery of S. minima workers in subterranean pitfall trap samples from Viçosa, state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil, over 1.000 km distant from type locality, suggests that the rarity and vulnerability status of some ant species may be explained by insufficient sampling of adequate microhabitats, in time and space.