The Traveler, July 2007

News from the Iowa Tourism Office

ABD e-News, June 8, 2007

Weekly newsletter

ABD e-News, June 15, 2007

Weekly newsletter

ABD e-News, June 22, 2007

Weekly newsletter

Iowa Developments, July 2007, Vol. 16, no. 4

Business News from the Iowa Department of Economic Development

Intellectual Property Rights and Crop-Improving R&D under Adaptive Destruction, June 2007

This paper studies how the strength of intellectual property rights (IPRs) affects investments in biological innovations when the value of an innovation is stochastically reduced to zero because of the evolution of pest resistance. We frame the problem as a research and development (R&D) investment game in a duopoly model of sequential innovation. We characterize the incentives to invest in R&D under two competing IPR regimes, which differ in their treatment of the follow-on innovations that become necessary because of pest adaptation. Depending on the magnitude of the R&D cost, ex ante firms might prefer an intellectual property regime with or without a “research exemption” provision. The study of the welfare function that also accounts for benefit spillovers to consumers—which is possible analytically under some parametric conditions, and numerically otherwise—shows that the ranking of the two IPR regimes depends critically on the extent of the R&D cost.

Relatório de Progresso da Implementação do PANA II - ANO 2007

Cabo Verde, país com um ecossistema frágil e não detentor de recursos minerais, aprovou em 2004 o Segundo Plano de Acção Nacional para o Ambiente – PANA II que constitui o documento de politica do sector ambiental, detendo deste modo todas as estratégias e acções com vista o alcance da sua visão que é “ uma sociedade consciente do papel e dos desafios do ambiente para um desenvolvimento económico e social sustentável, e consciente das suas responsabilidades relativamente às gerações futuras e determinada a utilizar os recursos naturais de maneira durável” A implementação do PANA II teve o seu início em 2005, estando assim a caminhar para o seu 4º ano de implementação em 2008. Nesses três anos de implementação, os resultados alcançados são muitos, mas entretanto os desafios são maiores. Para fazer face aos desafios que a implementação da politica ambiental nacional, sector transversal, o seguimento e monitorização de todos os projectos e actividades desenvolvidas pelos sectores e municípios é de suma importância, pois somente com uma monitorização eficiente e eficaz é possível quantificar os resultados obtidos e o alcance das metas previstas para os indicadores de qualidade ambiental previstas no PANA II. Um instrumento de monitorização da Implementação do PANA II é o relatório de progresso das diferentes actividades desenvolvidas no sector ambiental, pelos serviços centrais e pelos Municípios. O presente relatório diz respeito às actividades levadas a cabo no âmbito da implementação da politica ambiental do país - PANAII, referente ao ano de 2007. O Mesmo está estruturado em 6 partes: Introdução, Actividades Programadas, Estado da Implementação, Balanço dos Projectos Implementados, Investimento Realizados no Sector Ambiental e Recomendações.

Investigation of County Treasurers' Tax-Sale Registration Fees, June 2007

On January 2, 2007, the Ombudsman received a complaint regarding the fee that county treasurers charge registrants at annual tax sales. The complainant said generally that many of the state’s counties, especially larger ones, appeared to be charging higher fees than was thought to be allowed by law. Investigation The investigation was conducted by Assistant Ombudsman Bert Dalmer. For purposes of this report, all investigative actions are ascribed to the Ombudsman. In early 2007, the Ombudsman surveyed tax-sale registration fees in 10 of the state’s 99 counties. Interviews of 10 county treasurers and/or some of their deputies were conducted. In addition, the Ombudsman researched the Iowa Code and relevant case law. The Ombudsman also consulted with the Iowa State Auditor and the president of the Iowa State County Treasurers Association.

An Integral Abutment Bridge with Precast Concrete Piles, May 2007

The use of precast, prestressed concrete piles in the foundation of bridge piers has long been recognized as a valuable option for bridge owners and designers. However, the use of these precast, prestressed concrete piles in integral abutment bridges has not been widespread because of concerns over pile flexibility and the potential for concrete cracking and deterioration of the prestressing strands due to long-term exposure to moisture. This report presents the details of the first integral abutment bridge in the state of Iowa that utilized precast, prestressed concrete piles in the abutment. The bridge, which was constructed in Tama County in 2000, consists of a 110 ft. long, 30 ft. wide, single-span PC girder superstructure with a left-side-ahead 20º skew angle. The bridge was instrumented with a variety of strain gages, displacement sensors, and thermocouples to monitor and help in the assessment of structural behavior. The results of this monitoring are presented, and recommendations are made for future application of precast, prestressed concrete piles in integral abutment bridges. In addition to the structural monitoring data, this report presents the results of a survey questionnaire that had been mailed to each of the 50 state DOT chief bridge engineers to ascertain their current practices for precast, prestressed concrete piles and especially the application of these piles in integral abutment bridges.

F-1 Food Assistance Program State Summary, May 2007

The Food Assistance Monthly Participation Report is a monthly summary of Food Assistance program participation, Statewide and for each Iowa county. Breakouts are reported for participants also in the FIP program, those only receiving Food Assistance, and those that are receiving economic assistance under other programs (primarily Medicaid). This report may also be known as the F-1 Report.

A-1 Monthly Public Assistance Statistical Report Family Investment Program, May 2007

A-1 - Monthly Public Assistance Statistical Report Family Investment Program - May 2007

G-1 Appeal Activity in the Public Assistance Programs, May 2007

G-1 - Appeal Activity in the Public Assistance Programs - May 2007

A-1A Supplemental Security Income Program, May 2007

A-1A Supplemental Security Income Program, May 2007

LSTA Five Year Plan 2008-2012, 2007

The 2008-2012 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Plan represents a blueprint for the State Library of Iowa’s federally funded activities over the next five years. We feel we have been successful in striking a balance between challenging ourselves to achieve more and being realistic about what we can actually accomplish with current human and financial resources. We have incorporated “Lessons Learned” from the previous five year plan. These include: • Continue to use LSTA funding primarily for projects of statewide impact, an emphasis based on input from the Iowa library community. • Consider carefully the ramifications of taking on additional projects. We have carefully selected a few, new projects. • Leverage staff resources and non-federal funding to carry out our LSTA plan. A number of programs and services identified in the plan also use state funding, including the State Data Center, Iowa Publications Online, Direct State Aid, Open Access and Access Plus. • Measure progress regularly and frequently. We plan to review our progress in implementing the plan at least quarterly and will ask the Iowa Commission of Libraries to review progress annually. • Write objectives that come closer to identifying impact. We believe our target outcomes are do-able and come closer to measuring impact.

Executive Order Number Three, June 21, 2007

Orders that the use of E-85 fuel in the state's flexible-fuel vehicles shall be increased to at least 60% of fuel purchases, and instructs the Office of Energy Independence and DAS to develop a "State Government E-85 Use Plan .