Road Use Tax Fund Efficiency Report, March 2014

Senate File 2314, 84th General Assembly, states the Iowa Department of Transportation shall submit quarterly reports regarding the implementation of efficiency measures identified in the "Road Use Tax Fund Efficiency Report," January 2012. This report shall provide details of activities undertaken in the previous quarter relating to one-time and long-term program efficiencies and partnership efficiencies. Issues covered include savings realized from the implementation of particular efficiency measures; updates concerning measures that have not been implemented; efforts involving cities, counties, other jurisdiction, or stakeholder interest groups; any new efficiency measures identified or undertaken; and identification of any legislative action that may be required to achieve efficiencies.

Effect of Grooved Concrete on Curing Efficiency, MLR-83-4, 1983

The textured concrete surface on all PCC primary paving projects (and when specified on secondary projects) is required to be grooved in a specified manner. The laboratory test for determining the efficiency index of concrete curing compounds is made on slabs that are not grooved. This short investigation was undertaken to determine any changes in the curing efficiency index when using various rates of application of curing compound on grooved concrete. Currently a 95 percent curing efficiency index is specified at an application rate of 15 square yards per gallon. Can this efficiency be achieved, and if so at what application rate, on grooved concrete? Grooving the concrete greatly increases the surface area and also causes the liquid curing compound to run off the high spots and collect in the grooves.

Cervical radiculopathy: Efficiency of CT-guided cervical facet joint corticosteroid injection : 47

Purpose: Cervical foraminal injection performed with a direct approach of the foramen may induce serious neurologic complications. Cervical facet joint (CFJ) injections are easier to perform and safe, and may diffuse in the epidural and foraminal spaces. We analyzed the efficiency and tolerance of CT-guided CFJ slow-acting corticosteroid injection in patients with radiculopathy related to disc herniation. Methods and materials: Pilot study included 17 patients presenting typical cervical radiculopathy related to disc herniation without relief of pain after medical treatment (one month duration). CFJ puncture was performed under CT guidance with a lateral approach. CT control of the CFJ opacification was performed after injections of contrast agent (1 ml), followed by slow-acting corticosteroid (25 mg). Main criteria for judgment was pain relief one month later (delta visual analogical scale VAS for 0 to 100 mm). Diffusion of iodinated contrast agent in the foramen was assessed by two radiologists in consensus. Results: Pain relief was significant at one month (delta VAS 22 ± 23 mm, p = 0.001) and 41% (7/17) of patients had pain relief more than 50%. In cases with foraminal diffusion, pain relief more than 50% occured in 5 patients (50%) and only in 2 patients (29%) in cases without foraminal diffusion. No complication occurred. Conclusion: CT-guided CFJ slow-acting corticosteroid injection is safe and provided good results at one month follow-up. It may be considered as an interesting percutaneous treatment in patients suffering from cervical radicular pain related to disc herniation.

MHC class II hierarchy of superantigen presentation predicts efficiency of infection with mouse mammary tumor virus.

Superantigens (SAgs) encoded by infectious mouse mammary tumor viruses (MMTVs) play a crucial role in the viral life cycle. Their expression by infected B cells induces a proliferative immune response by SAg-reactive T cells which amplifies MMTV infection. This response most likely ensures stable MMTV infection and transmission to the mammary gland. Since T cell reactivity to SAgs from endogenous Mtv loci depends on MHC class II molecules expressed by B cells, we have determined the ability of MMTV to infect various MHC congenic mice. We show that MHC class II I-E+ compared with I-E- mouse strains show higher levels of MMTV infection, most likely due to their ability to induce a vigorous SAg-dependent immune response following MMTV encounter. Inefficient infection is observed in MHC class II I-E- mice, which have been shown to present endogenous SAgs poorly. Therefore, during MMTV infection the differential ability of MHC class II molecules to form a functional complex with SAg determines the magnitude of the proliferative response of SAg-reactive T cells. This in turn influences the degree of T cell help provided to infected B cells and therefore the efficiency of amplification of MMTV infection.

Efficiency of split nitrogen fertilization with adjusted irrigation on potato

Selostus: Jaetun typpilannoituksen käyttömahdollisuudet perunalle

Graph theory reveals dysconnected hubs in 22q11DS and altered nodal efficiency in patients with hallucinations.

Schizophrenia is postulated to be the prototypical dysconnection disorder, in which hallucinations are the core symptom. Due to high heterogeneity in methodology across studies and the clinical phenotype, it remains unclear whether the structural brain dysconnection is global or focal and if clinical symptoms result from this dysconnection. In the present work, we attempt to clarify this issue by studying a population considered as a homogeneous genetic sub-type of schizophrenia, namely the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS). Cerebral MRIs were acquired for 46 patients and 48 age and gender matched controls (aged 6-26, respectively mean age = 15.20 ± 4.53 and 15.28 ± 4.35 years old). Using the Connectome mapper pipeline (connectomics.org) that combines structural and diffusion MRI, we created a whole brain network for each individual. Graph theory was used to quantify the global and local properties of the brain network organization for each participant. A global degree loss of 6% was found in patients' networks along with an increased Characteristic Path Length. After identifying and comparing hubs, a significant loss of degree in patients' hubs was found in 58% of the hubs. Based on Allen's brain network model for hallucinations, we explored the association between local efficiency and symptom severity. Negative correlations were found in the Broca's area (p < 0.004), the Wernicke area (p < 0.023) and a positive correlation was found in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) (p < 0.014). In line with the dysconnection findings in schizophrenia, our results provide preliminary evidence for a targeted alteration in the brain network hubs' organization in individuals with a genetic risk for schizophrenia. The study of specific disorganization in language, speech and thought regulation networks sharing similar network properties may help to understand their role in the hallucination mechanism.

Road Use Tax Fund Efficiency Report Savings Status, December 31, 2014

Senate File 2355, 85th General Assembly, states the Iowa Department of Transportation shall submit annual reports regarding the implementation of efficiency measures identified in the “Road Use Tax Fund Efficiency Report,” January 2012. This report shall provide details of activities undertaken in the previous year relating to one-time and long-term program efficiencies and partnership efficiencies. Issues to be covered in the reports shall include but are not limited to savings realized from the implementation of particular efficiency measures; updates concerning measures that have not been implemented; efforts involving cities, counties, other jurisdictions, or stakeholder interest groups; any new efficiency measures identified or undertaken; and identification of any legislative action that may be required to achieve efficiencies.

Effects of plant population and nitrogen fertilizer on yield and efficiency of maize-bean intercropping

Nitrogen supply and plant population are basic parameters for cereal-legume intercropping. In order to study plant population and nitrogen fertilizer effects on yield and yield efficiency of maize-bean intercropping, a field experiment was established. Three bean plant populations and three nitrogen levels were used. Maize dry matter accumulation decreased with increases in bean plant population. Competitive effect of intercrop beans on maize yields was high at higher plant populations, being decreased by nitrogen fertilizer; application of 50 kg ha-1 N was very efficient in increasing maize cob yield. Intercropping significantly decreased harvest index of beans in all plant population and nitrogen fertilizer situations. The efficiency of intercropping, compared to sole cropping, was evidenced by the values obtained for Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) for biomass, cob and pod yields that increased with increases in bean plant populations and nitrogen fertilizer levels.

Data-driven topo-climatic mapping with machine learning methods

Automatic environmental monitoring networks enforced by wireless communication technologies provide large and ever increasing volumes of data nowadays. The use of this information in natural hazard research is an important issue. Particularly useful for risk assessment and decision making are the spatial maps of hazard-related parameters produced from point observations and available auxiliary information. The purpose of this article is to present and explore the appropriate tools to process large amounts of available data and produce predictions at fine spatial scales. These are the algorithms of machine learning, which are aimed at non-parametric robust modelling of non-linear dependencies from empirical data. The computational efficiency of the data-driven methods allows producing the prediction maps in real time which makes them superior to physical models for the operational use in risk assessment and mitigation. Particularly, this situation encounters in spatial prediction of climatic variables (topo-climatic mapping). In complex topographies of the mountainous regions, the meteorological processes are highly influenced by the relief. The article shows how these relations, possibly regionalized and non-linear, can be modelled from data using the information from digital elevation models. The particular illustration of the developed methodology concerns the mapping of temperatures (including the situations of Föhn and temperature inversion) given the measurements taken from the Swiss meteorological monitoring network. The range of the methods used in the study includes data-driven feature selection, support vector algorithms and artificial neural networks.

An application of capital allocation principles to operational risk

The cost of operational risk refers to the capital needed to a fford the loss generated by ordinary activities of a firm. In this work we demonstrate how allocation principles can be used to the subdivision of the aggregate capital so that the firm can distribute this cost across its various constituents that generate operational risk. Several capital allocation principles are revised. Proportional allocation allows to calculate a relative risk premium to be charged to each unit. An example of fraud risk in the banking sector is presented and some correlation scenarios between business lines are compared. Keywords: solvency, quantile, value at risk, copulas

Efficiency of five biosolids to supply nitrogen and phosphorus to ryegrass

Biosolids have been considered satisfactory to supply crops and plant nutrients. The ideal biosolids application rate should result in high crop yields and nutrient uptake, and leave low concentrations of nutrients in soils to avoid environmental problems. The objective of this study was to estimate the capacity of five biosolids to supply N and P to ryegrass (Lolium perenne) after a single application of either fertilizers or biosolids to a Spodosol and an Oxisol. Results showed that 6% - 36% of N and 3% - 7% of P applied as biosolids were recovered in plants grown on the Spodosol, while the range on the Oxisol was 26%-75% for N and 1.2%-3.7% for phosphorus. Biosolids' efficiency on supplying N and P to plants was similar to fertilizer on the Spodosol, but on the Oxisol it refrained to 65%-67% fertilizer's efficiency. After a single application of biosolids followed by six consecutive harvests, 25%-94% of the N and 93%-99% of the P were not used by plants and remain in the soils.

Iowa Department of Public Health, Strategic Operational Plan, 2014-2016

This report outlines the strategic plan for Iowa Department of Public Health, goals and mission.

A high-efficiency HeLa cell nuclear transcription extract.

A HeLa cell nuclear transcription extract that is approximately 20 times more efficient than standard HeLa cell transcription extracts was developed. Transcription of the strong adenovirus II major late promoter by this extract results in the synthesis of 1.5-4 molecules of product RNA per molecule of template, indicating that the extract is capable of multiple rounds of initiation. Standard HeLa cell nuclear extracts transcribe closed circular and linear adenovirus major late promoter templates with equal efficiency. In contrast, the new extract exhibits an increase of approximately twofold on transcription of a closed circular, as opposed to a linear, major late promoter template.

Pollination efficiency of the stingless bee Melipona subnitida on greenhouse sweet pepper

The present study was carried out in Northeastern Region of Brazil, in order to investigate the use of stingless bee Melipona subnitida Ducke in the pollination of greenhouse sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Treatments of hand cross-pollination, hand self-pollination, pollination by bees and restricted pollination were performed. Results showed that despite sweet pepper flowers are considered autogamous, this crop benefits from pollination by M. subnitida, producing fruits significantly heavier and wider, containing a greater number of seeds and of better quality (lower percentage of malformed fruits) than self-pollinated sweet pepper. Thus, M. subnitida can be considered an efficient pollinator of greenhouse sweet pepper.

Growth components and zinc recovery efficiency of upland rice genotypes

The objective of this work was to evaluate Zn use efficiency by upland rice genotypes. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, with ten upland rice genotypes grown on an Oxisol (Typic Hapludox) with no application, and with application of 10 mg kg-1 Zn, applied as zinc sulfate. Shoot dry weight, grain yield, Zn harvest index, Zn concentration in shoot and in grain were significantly influenced by soil Zn levels and genotypes. However, panicle number and grain harvest index were significantly affected only by genotype. Genotypes CNA8557, CNA8540 and IR42 produced higher grain yield than other genotypes. Genotypes showed significant variability in Zn recovery efficiency. On average, 13% of the applied Zn was recovered by upland rice genotypes. Genotypes with high Zn recovery efficiency could be used in breeding of Zn efficient upland rice cultivars. Higher level of soil Zn (10 mg kg-1) increased significantly the concentrations of plant Cu and Mn. However, Fe concentrations in plant (shoot and grain) were not influenced by soil Zn levels.