Iowa Adult Literacy Local Program Monitoring Guidelines Revised, July 2007

The purpose of this document is to provide guidelines for the annual monitoring and evaluation of Iowa’s adult literacy funded local programs. Section 224(b)(3) of the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) states that the State Education Agency (SEA) will provide “a description of how the eligible agency [Iowa Department of Education] will evaluate annually the effectiveness of the adult education and literacy activities based on the performance measures described in section 212.” In compliance with that mandate, the following describes the Iowa Department of Education’s procedures for local adult literacy program evaluation strategies.

Oligopotent stem cells are distributed throughout the mammalian ocular surface.

The integrity of the cornea, the most anterior part of the eye, is indispensable for vision. Forty-five million individuals worldwide are bilaterally blind and another 135 million have severely impaired vision in both eyes because of loss of corneal transparency; treatments range from local medications to corneal transplants, and more recently to stem cell therapy. The corneal epithelium is a squamous epithelium that is constantly renewing, with a vertical turnover of 7 to 14 days in many mammals. Identification of slow cycling cells (label-retaining cells) in the limbus of the mouse has led to the notion that the limbus is the niche for the stem cells responsible for the long-term renewal of the cornea; hence, the corneal epithelium is supposedly renewed by cells generated at and migrating from the limbus, in marked opposition to other squamous epithelia in which each resident stem cell has in charge a limited area of epithelium. Here we show that the corneal epithelium of the mouse can be serially transplanted, is self-maintained and contains oligopotent stem cells with the capacity to generate goblet cells if provided with a conjunctival environment. Furthermore, the entire ocular surface of the pig, including the cornea, contains oligopotent stem cells (holoclones) with the capacity to generate individual colonies of corneal and conjunctival cells. Therefore, the limbus is not the only niche for corneal stem cells and corneal renewal is not different from other squamous epithelia. We propose a model that unifies our observations with the literature and explains why the limbal region is enriched in stem cells.

Iowa's Water - Ambient Monitoring Program: Bacterial Monitoring of Iowa's Beaches, January 2001

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has produced an 4 page article about how to assess Iowa's streams and rivers. How to use ambient monitoring of streams and river in Iowa.

Iowa's Water - Ambient Monitoring Program: Biological Assessment of Iowa's Streams and Rivers, February 2001

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has produced an 4 page article about how to assess Iowa's streams and rivers. How to use ambient monitoring.

Iowa's Water - Ambient Monitoring Program: IOWATER Makes a Splash, February 2001

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has produced an 4 page article about how to assess Iowa's streams and rivers. How to use ambient monitoring of streams and river in Iowa.

Developing a Simple and Rapid Test for Monitoring the Heat Evolution of Concrete Mixtures for Both Laboratory and Field Applications, January 2006

Various test methods exist for measuring heat of cement hydration; however, most current methods require expensive equipment, complex testing procedures, and/or extensive time, thus not being suitable for field application. The objectives of this research are to identify, develop, and evaluate a standard test procedure for characterization and quality control of pavement concrete mixtures using a calorimetry technique. This research project has three phases. Phase I was designed to identify the user needs, including performance requirements and precision and bias limits, and to synthesize existing test methods for monitoring the heat of hydration, including device types, configurations, test procedures, measurements, advantages, disadvantages, applications, and accuracy. Phase II was designed to conduct experimental work to evaluate the calorimetry equipment recommended from the Phase I study and to develop a standard test procedure for using the equipment and interpreting the test results. Phase II also includes the development of models and computer programs for prediction of concrete pavement performance based on the characteristics of heat evolution curves. Phase III was designed to study for further development of a much simpler, inexpensive calorimeter for field concrete. In this report, the results from the Phase I study are presented, the plan for the Phase II study is described, and the recommendations for Phase III study are outlined. Phase I has been completed through three major activities: (1) collecting input and advice from the members of the project Technical Working Group (TWG), (2) conducting a literature survey, and (3) performing trials at the CP Tech Center’s research lab. The research results indicate that in addition to predicting maturity/strength, concrete heat evolution test results can also be used for (1) forecasting concrete setting time, (2) specifying curing period, (3) estimating risk of thermal cracking, (4) assessing pavement sawing/finishing time, (5) characterizing cement features, (6) identifying incompatibility of cementitious materials, (7) verifying concrete mix proportions, and (8) selecting materials and/or mix designs for given environmental conditions. Besides concrete materials and mix proportions, the configuration of the calorimeter device, sample size, mixing procedure, and testing environment (temperature) also have significant influences on features of concrete heat evolution process. The research team has found that although various calorimeter tests have been conducted for assorted purposes and the potential uses of calorimeter tests are clear, there is no consensus on how to utilize the heat evolution curves to characterize concrete materials and how to effectively relate the characteristics of heat evolution curves to concrete pavement performance. The goal of the Phase II study is to close these gaps.

Soil and water conservation strategies and impact on sustainable livelihood in Cape Verde – Case study of Ribeira Seca watershed

Cape Verde, located off the coast of Senegal in western Africa, is a volcanic archipelago where a combination of human, climatic, geomorphologic and pedologic factors has led to extensive degradation of the soils. Like other Sahelian countries, Cape Verde has suffered the effects of desertification through the years, threatening the livelihood of the islands population and its fragile environment. In fact, the steep slopes in the ore agricultural islands, together with semi-arid and arid environments, characterized by an irregular and poorly distributed rainy season, with high intensity rainfall events, make dryland production a challenge. To survive in these fragile conditions, the stabilization of the farming systems and the maintenance of sustainable yields have become absolute priorities, making the islands an erosion control laboratory. Soil and water conservation strategies have been a centerpiece of the government0s agricultural policies for the last half century. Aiming to maintain the soil in place and the water inside the soil, the successive governments of Cape Verde have implemented a number of soil and water conservation techniques, the most common ones being terraces, half moons, live barriers, contour rock walls, contour furrows and microcatchments, check dams and reforestation with drought resistant species. The soil and water conservation techniques implemented have contributed to the improvement of the economical and environmental conditions of the treated landscape, making crop production possible, consequently, improving the livelihood of the people living on the islands. In this paper, we survey the existing soil and water conservation techniques, analyze their impact on the livelihood condition of the population through a thorough literature review and field monitoring using a semi-quantitative methodology and evaluate their effectiveness and impact on crop yield in the Ribeira Seca watershed. A brief discussion is given on the cost and effectiveness of the techniques to reduce soil erosion and to promote rainfall infiltration. Finally, we discuss the critical governance factors that lead to the successful implementation of such strategy in a country with scarce natural resources.

A Plan for Monitoring Iowa's Water, 2001

A report on Iowa Water Monitoring produced by Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Frequently asked Questions about Beach Monitoring, 2003

Part of Iowa's Water Ambient monitoring Program, produced by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Intravenous streptomycin dosing regimen in a patient undergoing hemodialysis: Plasma level monitoring and pharmacokinetic simulation

Introduction: Streptomycin, as other aminoglycosides, exhibits concentration-dependent bacterial killing but has a narrow therapeutic window. It is primarily eliminated unchanged by the kidneys. Data and dosing information to achieve a safe regimen in patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis (HD) are scarce. Although main adverse reactions are related to prolonged, elevated serum concentrations, literature recommendation is to administer streptomycin after each HD. Patients (or Materials) and Methods: We report the case of a patient with end-stage renal failure, undergoing HD, who was successfully treated with streptomycin for gentamicin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis bacteremia with prosthetic arteriovenous fistula infection. Streptomycin was administered intravenously 7.5 mg/kg, 3 hours before each dialysis (3 times a week) during 6 weeks in combination with amoxicillin. Streptomycin plasma levels were monitored with repeated blood sampling before, after, and between HD sessions. A 2-compartment model was used to reconstruct the concentration time profile over days on and off HD. Results: Streptomycin trough plasma-concentration was 2.8 mg/L. It peaked to 21.4 mg/L 30 minutes after intravenous administration, decreased to 18.2 mg/L immediately before HD, and dropped to 4.5 mg/L at the end of a 4-hour HD session. Plasma level increased again to 5.7 mg/L 2 hours after the end of HD and was 2.8 mg/L 48 hours later, before the next administration and HD. The pharmacokinetics of streptomycin was best described with a 2-compartment model. The computer simulation fitted fairly well to the observed concentrations during or between HD sessions. Redistribution between the 2 compartments after the end of HD reproduced the rebound of plasma concentrations after HD. No significant toxicity was observed during treatment. The outcome of the infection was favorable, and no sign of relapse was observed after a follow-up of 3 months. Conclusion: Streptomycin administration of 7.5 mg/kg 3 hours before HD sessions in a patient with end-stage renal failure resulted in an effective and safe dosing regimen. Monitoring plasma levels along with pharmacokinetic simulation document the suitability of this dosing scheme, which should replace current dosage recommendations for streptomycin in HD.

Frequently asked Questions about Beach Monitoring for Environmental Prefessionals, 2003

This fact sheet answers questions such as, is it safe to swim in the water and who is monitoring the beaches in Iowa

Iowa Beach Monitoring, 2002

This fact sheet answers questions such as, is it safe to swim in the water and who is monitoring the beaches in Iowa

Groundwater Monitoring in Iowa, 2004

Water fact sheet for Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Geological Bureau.