Honoring, Training, and Building a Statewide Network of Elder Activists: The California Senior Leaders Program (2002-2012)

This case study explores the first decade (2002-2012) of the California Senior Leaders Program (CSLP), including participants' creation of a formal advocacy group, the California Senior Leaders Alliance. Grounded in concerns with ageism and invisibility, the CSLP provides recognition and support for diverse California elders engaged in community building and social justice work. This study employs qualitative analysis of data from participant interviews, event evaluations, program documents, video footage, and participant observation. Findings show emotional, learning, and networking benefits for participants, intergenerational influences, collective capacity and coalition building, and contributions to policy. Program challenges are described, and future directions discussed. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC

Control of soil-borne pathogens with strategic use of animal manures

Root-infecting fungi cause significant damage to soybeans and corn. Fusarium graminearum is a major stalk rot pathogen of corn. Helminthosporiumpedicellatum, a native soil­ borne fungus, causes root rot of corn. Neither of these fungi is controlled well by plant breed­ ing for resistance or crop rotation. Brown stem rot caused by Phialophora gregata is the most important disease of soybean in Iowa. Again, resistance is not completely successful, and rotation of at least four years to another crop is needed to obtain satisfactory control

Development of a Crystalline Silica Management Plan for a Coal-Fired Power Plant

Presented to the Faculty of the University of Alaska Anchorage in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTHRespirable crystalline silica is a serious occupational health hazard. Exposure can result in the development of silicosis, lung cancer, renal disease, and autoimmune disease. Development of silica-related diseases may take 5-40 years, and there is no cure. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recognizes the health burden placed on workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica, and has promulgated a regulatory standard that will protect these workers to a greater extent than in the past. The standard mandates that businesses implement exposure monitoring, engineering and work practice controls to reduce exposures, and training and medical surveillance for employees exposed at the action level (AL) for more than 30 days per year. For this project, a brief epidemiological and knowledge assessment of employees was conducted and initial exposure monitoring for workers was performed. Based on the results, recommendations on work practice controls to reduce exposures were made. To comply with the new OSHA standard, a training program for employees was developed, and requirements for medical surveillance were outlined. The results of this work were used to develop a comprehensive Respirable Crystalline Silica Management Plan for the Golden Valley Electric Association power plant located in Healy, Alaska.Title Page / Abstract / Table of Contents / List of Figures / List of Tables / List of Appendices / Introduction / Background / Goals and Objectives / Methods / Results / Discussion / Strengths and Limitations / Public Health Implications / Conclusions and Recommendations / References / Appendice

Corn Leaf Diseases and Their Control

The 1993 growing season was another unusual year for leaf diseases of corn. Some diseases went rampant and other diseases, which were expected because of the wet weather, did not develop on corn leaves. The various diseases will be discussed

Common Corn Diseases

The causes of root and stalk rots of com commonly observed in Iowa are primarily fungal pathogens. In some instances the pathogen causes both root rot and stalk rot and some pathogens are associated with only one or the other

TANF Policies for the Hard to Employ: Understanding State Approaches and Future Directions

This study examines states' approaches to serving TANF recipients facing multiple barriers to work in fall 2006. It also describes changes states anticipate (partly in response to TANF reauthorization) in the near future to help these recipients move into work and off the caseload. Study results are based primarily on structured interviews with state TANF program officials in 17 states including the states with the largest TANF caseloads. The findings highlight the different approaches taken by state TANF programs on how to best help recipients with serious barriers and provide early information on states' thinking on how their approach may change for this group in the future

The Impact on the Relationships of Ninth Grade Students After Participating in a Middle School Looping Program

This study explored the impact on the relationships of ninth grade students with both their peers and their teachers after being students of a middle school looping program. The school district studied was a large suburban district in the Midwest. The students were members of a looping team for their 7th and 8th grade school years. These approximately 150 students and teachers stayed together for the two consecutive years. The majority of these students went on to the 9th grade local high school. The study examined if students were able to initiate and maintain healthy relationships with their peers and teachers in 9th grade. The results of this study strongly suggest that students do not have difficulties with their peer and teacher relationships at the high school after being members of a middle school looping team

Control of Corn Leaf Diseases

Leaf diseases of corn in Iowa in 1990 were probably the most severe since the 1970 epidemic of Southern corn leaf blight. The leaf diseases resulted in an early maturing of the corn in many fields which was attributed erroneously to a late season heat stress in many popular reports. These leaf diseases combined with heavy corn borer infestations in some areas contributed greatly to the smaller kernels, poor kernel fill, and lower yields than expected. The leaf diseases will be discussed individually