Speed Management Toolbox for Rural Communities, TR-630, 2012

The primary objective of this toolbox is to summarize various known traffic-calming treatments and their effectiveness. This toolbox focuses on roadway-based treatments for speed management, particularly for rural communities with transition zones. Education, enforcement, and policy strategies should also be considered, but are not the focus of this toolbox. The research team identified treatments based on their own research, a review of the literature, and discussion with other professionals. This toolbox describes each treatment and summarizes placement, advantages, disadvantages, effectiveness, appropriateness, and cost for each treatment. The categories of treatments covered in this toolbox are as follows: horizontal physical displacement, vertical physical displacement, narrowing, surroundings, pavement markings, traffic control signs, and other strategies. Separate 3- to 4-page Tech Briefs for various aspects of this toolbox are attached to this record: Center Islands with Raised Curbing for Rural Traffic Calming, Colored Entrance Treatments for Rural Traffic Calming, Dynamic Speed Feedback Signs for Rural Traffic Calming, Transverse Speed Bars for Rural Traffic Calming. This toolbox and the tech briefs are related to the report Evaluation of Low Cost Traffic Calming for Rural Communities – Phase II, which is also included in this record or can be found at http://publications.iowa.gov/id/eprint/14769

Iowa Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative (PRI) Rural Service Delivery Model Iowa Department of Correctional Services, November 2009

The Iowa Department of Corrections (DOC) and the Department of Human Rights, Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning (CJJP) entered into a contract for services from September 12, 2007 to June 30, 2009 for the purposes of assisting in the evaluation component for the two-year Iowa Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative (PRI) Rural Service Delivery Model. This contract was extended to November 2009. The Rural PRI grant period ran from July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2009 and was extended to November 30, 2009. The purpose of the program was to improve community safety by providing pre-release services and successful transition planning and aftercare services to offenders released from state institutions to the Second Judicial District Department of Correctional Services. Participants included all offenders released to the Second Judicial District during the grant period.

Evaluation of Low Cost Traffic Calming for Rural Communities – Phase II [Updated], TR-630, October, 2013

The main goal of the research described in this report was to evaluate countermeasures that agencies can use to reduce speeds as drivers enter rural communities located on high-speed roadways. The objectives of this study were as follows: * Identify and summarize countermeasures used to manage speeds in transition zones * Demonstrate the effectiveness of countermeasures that are practical for high- to low-speed transition zones * Acquire additional information about countermeasures that may show promise but lack sufficient evidence of effectiveness * Develop an application toolbox to assist small communities in selecting appropriate transition zones and effective countermeasures for entrances to small rural communities The team solicited small communities that were interested in participating in the Phase II study and several communities were also recommended. The treatments evaluated were selected by carefully considering traffic-calming treatments that have been used effectively in other countries for small rural communities, as well as the information gained from the first phase of the project. The treatments evaluated are as follows: * Transverse speed bars * Colored entrance treatment * Temporary island * Radar-activated speed limit sign * Speed feedback sign The toolbox publication and four focused tech briefs also cover the results of this work.

Toolbox of Countermeasures for Rural Two-Lane Curves [updated], TR-579, October 2013

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) estimates that 58 percent of roadway fatalities are lane departures, while 40 percent of fatalities are single-vehicle run-off-road (SVROR) crashes. Addressing lane-departure crashes is therefore a priority for national, state, and local roadway agencies. Horizontal curves are of particular interest because they have been correlated with increased crash occurrence. This toolbox was developed to assist agencies address crashes at rural curves. The main objective of this toolbox is to summarize the effectiveness of various known curve countermeasures. While education, enforcement, and policy countermeasures should also be considered, they were not included given the toolbox focuses on roadway-based countermeasures. Furthermore, the toolbox is geared toward rural two-lane curves. The research team identified countermeasures based on their own research, through a survey of the literature, and through discussions with other professionals. Coverage of curve countermeasures in this toolbox is not necessarily comprehensive. For each countermeasure covered, this toolbox includes the following information: description, application, effectiveness, advantages, and disadvantages.

Mujeres del medio rural y nuevas tecnologías de la información y la comunicación: resultados del proyecto Rur@lia

Se presentan los resultados de la evaluación y seguimiento del programa Rur@lia aplicando una metodología de investigación social de acción participativa. Dicho programa se está llevando a cabo en la provincia de Granada, España y pretende dar a conocer las nuevas tecnologías en los pueblos. Su objetivo principal es la construcción y puesta en marcha de un Telecentro para la formación de mujeres que, por distintos motivos, tienen reducidas sus posibilidades de entrada al uso de los nuevos medios tecnológicos. Este es un proyecto de carácter innovador que pretende ser un agente de empoderamiento social a través de formas activas de participación ciudadana organizadas en base a un GIAP (Grupo de Investigación Acción Participativa). Este programa tiene como ámbito de actuación los municipios integrantes de la Unidad Territorial de Empleo y Desarrollo Local y Tecnológico (UTEDLT) de Alfacar: Alfacar, Cogollos Vega, Calicasas, Nívar, Víznar, Huetor Santillán, Beas de Granada y Güevéjar, además de los distritos de la capital granadina de Albaizin y zona norte.

Free-breathing 3D steady-state free precession coronary MR angiography with radial k-space sampling: comparison with cartesian k-space sampling and cartesian gradient-echo coronary MR angiography--pilot study.

The authors compared radial steady-state free precession (SSFP) coronary magnetic resonance (MR) angiography, cartesian k-space sampling SSFP coronary MR angiography, and gradient-echo coronary MR angiography in 16 healthy adults and four pilot study patients. Standard gradient-echo MR imaging with a T2 preparatory pulse and cartesian k-space sampling was the reference technique. Image quality was compared by using subjective motion artifact level and objective contrast-to-noise ratio and vessel sharpness. Radial SSFP, compared with cartesian SSFP and gradient-echo MR angiography, resulted in reduced motion artifacts and superior vessel sharpness. Cartesian SSFP resulted in increased motion artifacts (P <.05). Contrast-to-noise ratio with radial SSFP was lower than that with cartesian SSFP and similar to that with the reference technique. Radial SSFP coronary MR angiography appears preferable because of improved definition of vessel borders.

Approximation and support theorem for a wave equation in two space dimensions

We prove a characterization of the support of the law of the solution for a stochastic wave equation with two-dimensional space variable, driven by a noise white in time and correlated in space. The result is a consequence of an approximation theorem, in the convergence of probability, for equations obtained by smoothing the random noise. For some particular classes of coefficients, approximation in the Lp-norm for p¿1 is also proved.

Method for Estimating the Magnitude and Frequency of Floods at Ungaged Sites on Unregulated Rural Streams in Iowa, HR-268, 1987

This report provides techniques and procedures for estimating the probable magnitude and frequency of floods at ungaged sites on Iowa streams. Physiographic characteristics were used to define the boundaries of five hydrologic regions. Regional regression equations that relate the size of the drainage area to flood magnitude are defined for estimating peak discharges having specified recurrence intervals of 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 years. Regional regression equations are applicable to sites on streams that have drainage areas ranging from 0.04 to 5,150 square miles provided that the streams are not affected significantly by regulation upstream from the sites and that the drainage areas upstream from the sites are not mostly urban areas. Flood-frequency characteristics for the mainstems of selected rivers are presented in graphs as a function of drainage area.

Low-Cost Rural Surface Alternatives: Literature Review and Recommendations, TR-632, 2013

Freezing and thawing action induces damage to unbound gravel roads in Iowa resulting in maintenance costs for secondary road departments. Some approaches currently used by County Engineers to deal with this problem include temporarily spreading rock on the affected areas, lowering or improving drainage ditches, tiling, bridging the area with stone and geosynthetic covered by a top course of aggregate or gravel, coring boreholes and filling them with calcium chloride to melt lenses and provide drainage, and re-grading the crown to a slope of 4% to 6% to maximize spring drainage. However, most of these maintenance solutions are aimed at dealing with conditions after they occur. This study was tasked with identifying alternative approaches in the literature to mitigate the problem. An annotated bibliographic record of literature on the topic of frost-heave and thaw-weakening of gravel roads was generated and organized by topic, and all documents were assessed in terms of a suitable rating for mitigating the problem in Iowa. Over 300 technical articles were collected and selected down to about 150 relevant articles for a full assessment. The documents collected have been organized in an electronic database, which can be used as a tool by practitioners to search for information regarding the various repair and mitigation solutions, measurement technologies, and experiences that have been documented by selected domestic and international researchers and practitioners. Out of the 150+ articles, 71 articles were ranked as highly applicable to conditions in Iowa. The primary mitigation methods identified in this study included chemical and mechanical stabilization; scarification, blending, and recompaction; removal and replacement; separation, and reinforcement; geogrids and cellular confinement; drainage control and capillary barriers, and use of alternative materials. It is recommended that demonstration research projects be established to examine a range of construction methods and materials for treating granular surfaced roadways to mitigate frost-heave and thaw-weakening problems. Preliminary frost-susceptibility test results from ASTM D5916 are included for a range of Iowa materials.