The debates of the Constitutional Convention of the state of Iowa, assembled at Iowa City, Monday, January 19, 1857. Being a full and complete report of the debates and proceedings, by authority of the Convention; accompanied, for purposes of reference, by a copious index of subjects, and remarks of members thereon. W. Blair Lord, reporter.

The two volume record of the debates that occured during the thirty-nine days it took to draft the third constitution of the State of Iowa.

Fish populations surviving estrogen pollution.

Among the most common pollutants that enter the environment after passing municipal wastewater treatment are estrogens, especially the synthetic 17α-ethinylestradiol that is used in oral contraceptives. Estrogens are potent endocrine disruptors at concentrations frequently observed in surface waters. However, new genetic analyses suggest that some fish populations can be self-sustaining even in heavily polluted waters. We now need to understand the basis of this tolerance.

Iowa Leading Indicators Index, February 2009

The Iowa Leading Indicators Index (ILII) is a tool for monitoring the future direction of the Iowa economy and State revenues. Its eight components include an agricultural futures price index, an Iowa stock market index, average weekly manufacturing hours in Iowa, initial unemployment claims in Iowa, an Iowa new orders index, diesel fuel consumption in Iowa, residential building permits in Iowa, and the national yield spread.

Iowa Leading Indicators Index March 2009

The Iowa Leading Indicators Index (ILII) is a tool for monitoring the future direction of the Iowa economy and State revenues. Its eight components include an agricultural futures price index, an Iowa stock market index, average weekly manufacturing hours in Iowa, initial unemployment claims in Iowa, an Iowa new orders index, diesel fuel consumption in Iowa, residential building permits in Iowa, and the national yield spread.

Iowa Leading Indicators Index, April 2009

The Iowa Leading Indicators Index (ILII) is a tool for monitoring the future direction of the Iowa economy and State revenues. Its eight components include an agricultural futures price index, an Iowa stock market index, average weekly manufacturing hours in Iowa, initial unemployment claims in Iowa, an Iowa new orders index, diesel fuel consumption in Iowa, residential building permits in Iowa, and the national yield spread.

Iowa Leading Indicators Index, May 2009

The Iowa Leading Indicators Index (ILII) is a tool for monitoring the future direction of the Iowa economy and State revenues. Its eight components include an agricultural futures price index, an Iowa stock market index, average weekly manufacturing hours in Iowa, initial unemployment claims in Iowa, an Iowa new orders index, diesel fuel consumption in Iowa, residential building permits in Iowa, and the national yield spread.

Iowa Leading Indicators Index, June 2009

The Iowa Leading Indicators Index (ILII) is a tool for monitoring the future direction of the Iowa economy and State revenues. Its eight components include an agricultural futures price index, an Iowa stock market index, average weekly manufacturing hours in Iowa, initial unemployment claims in Iowa, an Iowa new orders index, diesel fuel consumption in Iowa, residential building permits in Iowa, and the national yield spread.

Bias related to body mass index in pediatric echocardiographic z scores.

In pediatric echocardiography, cardiac dimensions are often normalized for weight, height, or body surface area (BSA). The combined influence of height and weight on cardiac size is complex and likely varies with age. We hypothesized that increasing weight for height, as represented by body mass index (BMI) adjusted for age, is poorly accounted for in Z scores normalized for weight, height, or BSA. We aimed to evaluate whether a bias related to BMI was introduced when proximal aorta diameter Z scores are derived from bivariate models (only one normalizing variable), and whether such a bias was reduced when multivariable models are used. We analyzed 1,422 echocardiograms read as normal in children ≤18 years. We computed Z scores of the proximal aorta using allometric, polynomial, and multivariable models with four body size variables. We then assessed the level of residual association of Z scores and BMI adjusted for age and sex. In children ≥6 years, we found a significant residual linear association with BMI-for-age and Z scores for most regression models. Only a multivariable model including weight and height as independent predictors produced a Z score free of linear association with BMI. We concluded that a bias related to BMI was present in Z scores of proximal aorta diameter when normalization was done using bivariate models, regardless of the regression model or the normalizing variable. The use of multivariable models with weight and height as independent predictors should be explored to reduce this potential pitfall when pediatric echocardiography reference values are evaluated.

Pollution bactérienne autour des installations d'élevages intensifs d'animaux de rente

Les élevages intensifs d'animaux de rente, en particulier ceux de bovins et de porcins sont nombreux en France et sont concentrés dans certaines régions (Bretagne, Normandie, Massif central, Alpes, Pyrénées). Au total, on dénombre environ 20 millions de bovins répartis dans 280 000 exploitations et 25 millions de porcs répartis dans 30 000 exploitations. Ceci représente en moyenne 70 vaches/exploitation et 830 porcs/exploitation. De telles densités d'animaux réunis sur des surfaces de taille minimale, génèrent d'énormes quantités de déchets organiques, notamment de matières fécales qui contiennent une grande diversité de bactéries, pouvant parfois être pathogènes pour l'humain. Une partie de ces bactéries sont des bactéries gram négatif (entérobactéries) dont les parois contiennent des endotoxines (1). Ces endotoxines sont connues pour causer des problèmes respiratoires ou des problèmes toxiques (ODTS) (2), lorsqu'elles sont inhalées (Cole, Todd, Wing ; 2000). Jusqu'à présent, plusieurs études se sont attachées à évaluer l'exposition à ces bioaérosols (3) à l'intérieur des élevages d'animaux (vaches, chevaux, porcs, poules) et ont démontré la présence d'importantes concentrations de bactéries et d'endotoxines aéroportées. Cependant, très peu d'études ont estimé la dispersion de ces bioaérosols à l'extérieur des installations d'élevages. En 2008, une étude américaine avait caractérisé les bactéries aéroportées retrouvées dans,et autour, d'une douzaine d'exploitations porcines. Cette étude avait été discutée dans le cadre d'une note d'actualité scientifique précédente (BVS 9). Aujourd'hui, ces mêmes auteurs nous livrent des résultats concernant l'exposition aux endotoxines dans et autour de ces mêmes élevages de porcs (Ko et al., 2010). Une autre équipe de recherche chinoise a estimé la dispersion d'Escherichia coli dans l'environnement immédiat d'exploitations porcines (Yuan, Chai, Miao ; 2010). Cette bactérie, appelée aussi coliforme, fait partie de la flore intestinale normale de tous les animaux à sang chaud (mammifères et oiseaux). Sa mise en évidence dans certains milieux,notamment l'eau, est utilisée comme indicateur de contamination fécale. Finalement, une autre étude vient de paraître concernant les concentrations en endotoxines au cours de l'année, à proximité de stabulations ouvertes de vaches laitières (Dungan, Leytem, Bjorneberg ; 2010). Ce sont ces trois articles qui sont analysés ci-dessous. [Auteure]

Estimation of percentage body fat in 6- to 13-year-old children by skinfold thickness, body mass index and waist circumference.

We evaluated the accuracy of skinfold thicknesses, BMI and waist circumference for the prediction of percentage body fat (PBF) in a representative sample of 372 Swiss children aged 6-13 years. PBF was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. On the basis of a preliminary bootstrap selection of predictors, seven regression models were evaluated. All models included sex, age and pubertal stage plus one of the following predictors: (1) log-transformed triceps skinfold (logTSF); (2) logTSF and waist circumference; (3) log-transformed sum of triceps and subscapular skinfolds (logSF2); (4) log-transformed sum of triceps, biceps, subscapular and supra-iliac skinfolds (logSF4); (5) BMI; (6) waist circumference; (7) BMI and waist circumference. The adjusted determination coefficient (R² adj) and the root mean squared error (RMSE; kg) were calculated for each model. LogSF4 (R² adj 0.85; RMSE 2.35) and logSF2 (R² adj 0.82; RMSE 2.54) were similarly accurate at predicting PBF and superior to logTSF (R² adj 0.75; RMSE 3.02), logTSF combined with waist circumference (R² adj 0.78; RMSE 2.85), BMI (R² adj 0.62; RMSE 3.73), waist circumference (R² adj 0.58; RMSE 3.89), and BMI combined with waist circumference (R² adj 0.63; RMSE 3.66) (P < 0.001 for all values of R² adj). The finding that logSF4 was only modestly superior to logSF2 and that logTSF was better than BMI and waist circumference at predicting PBF has important implications for paediatric epidemiological studies aimed at disentangling the effect of body fat on health outcomes.

Iowa Leading Indicators Index after One Year: An Assessment and Update

The Iowa Leading Indicators Index (ILII) Annual Assessment and Update assesses how well the ILII has met the goals behind its development, gauges the validity of the existing components, considers additional components that have been suggested along the way, and carries out the annual updates necessary for such an index.

Iowa Leading Indicators Index after Two Years: An Assessment and Update

The Iowa Leading Indicators Index (ILII) Annual Assessment and Update assesses how well the ILII has met the goals behind its development, gauges the validity of the existing components, considers additional components that have been suggested along the way, and carries out the annual updates necessary for such an index.

Iowa Leading Indicators Index after Three Years: An Assessment and Update

The Iowa Leading Indicators Index (ILII) Annual Assessment and Update assesses how well the ILII has met the goals behind its development, gauges the validity of the existing components, considers additional components that have been suggested along the way, and carries out the annual updates necessary for such an index.

Iowa Leading Indicators Index July 2009

The Iowa Leading Indicators Index (ILII) is a tool for monitoring the future direction of the Iowa economy and State revenues. Its eight components include an agricultural futures price index, an Iowa stock market index, average weekly manufacturing hours in Iowa, initial unemployment claims in Iowa, an Iowa new orders index, diesel fuel consumption in Iowa, residential building permits in Iowa, and the national yield spread.