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Street-side Vending In Downtown Los Angeles: Problems, Policies and Assessment
No full textLos Angeles’ size makes it an influential city, nationally and globally and it has pioneered progressive policies like plastic bag bans, air quality standards and water-treatment initiatives. In this enormous city, these unique and progressive policies would not have produced results if not for organizations petitioning and challenging the government to better the living conditions for its inhabitants. The struggle for legalization and fair treatment of street-side vending has appeared in cities throughout America and the globe, yet a breakthrough has been long overdue in Los Angeles. Vendors have been treated unfairly and have suffered in Los Angeles their businesses and property are constantly at risk of confiscation, and although streetside vending legalization is becoming a reality for Los Angeles, the regulatory policies that might come with it may hamper responsible vendors. The following research was carried out to use the story of street-side vending in Los Angeles and other cities, review studies and information gathered about this economic practice, and propose a host of research questions and research methodology to better understand street-side vending in Los Angeles and how the city can improve its relationship with practitioners. The implications of this study are crucial in allowing Los Angeles to better service its people and once again lead by example for cities around the world
Status of the isolated, threatened Valle de la Trinidad round-tailed ground squirrel, Baja California, Mexico
Full text linkIn 1927 Lawrence M. Huey described a new subspecies of round-tailed ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus tereticaudus apricus) from the southernmost extreme of the species, in the geographically isolated valley ‘Valle de la Trinidad’ in Baja California, Mexico. The valley has been subject to extensive agricultural conversion and severe overgrazing, which had already begun when X. t. apricus was described. Despite the loss of natural habitat, a single remaining population of this isolated subspecies was re-discovered in 2015. Acoustic surveys documented individuals at 195 of 456 points sampled. The population does not appear to be adversely affected and may actually benefit from some disturbance from cattle. The densest populations were found in open communities of large leguminous trees or shrubs, principally mesquite, which may be critical seasonal diet components. Conservation considerations are discussed
Primary Barriers to Regulating Potentially Carcinogenic Pesticides in the United States: A Case Study of Glyphosate
No full textDue to the widespread negative health impacts associated with chemical pesticides, the purpose of this study is to explore issues within the EPA’s pesticide regulation process and examine whether avenues exist to make pesticide regulation more protective of public health. In examining pesticide regulation in the United States, this paper focuses on glyphosate, as the chemical has demonstrated potential to be a carcinogen through multiple sources of evidence, but is not acknowledged as such by the EPA. The research questions asked are: What are the primary barriers to banning potentially carcinogenic pesticides in the United States, and can the process used by independent agencies in determining glyphosate a probable carcinogen inform the EPA’s methods for coming to more sensitive hazard assessment conclusions? The key barriers to stronger restrictions on potentially carcinogenic pesticides are identified by interviews with experts in pesticide regulation in the United States who are knowledgeable about glyphosate. The primary barriers identified include the wide reach of industry influence, in both the formal and informal spheres, systematic issues within the Office of Pesticide Programs, such as program cuts and growing numbers of pesticides to review, considering the benefits of a pesticide during regulatory processes, only examining active ingredients instead of formulations, and giving too much weight to animal studies and not enough to epidemiology studies. Additional barriers specific to glyphosate include minimal low cost alternatives, widespread dependence of farmers on the herbicide, and errors made in the hazard assessment leading the EPA to not recognize its carcinogenic potential, paving the way for less stringent regulation
A Contribution to the Phylogeography and Anatomy of Helminthoglyptid land snails (Pulmonata:Helminthoglyptidae) from the Deserts of southern California
Full text linkAbstract.— Land snails in the family Helminthoglyptidae are found sparingly and locally throughout southern California’s deserts. They are mostly restricted to rock outcrops and talus in partially shaded canyons where they can gain access to cooler temperatures under the rocks. Several species are known only from their type localities, and were described by shell characters only. We have endeavored to relocate known species, document their reproductive anatomy and embryonic shell structure, refine knowledge of their distribution, and incorporate genetic sequencing of two mitochondrial genes (COI and 16S) to investigate evolutionary relationships in these taxa. As a “first pass” molecular study, we have established basic sequence and divergence data for 27 populations of snails in five genera: Helminthoglypta (subgenus Coyote), Eremarionta, Cahuillus, Chamaearionta and Sonorelix. Fifteen of the populations were previously unknown. We confirmed that the Salton Rift/Coachella Valley is a major biogeographic barrier for land snails, as is the north/south transition between the Colorado and Mojave deserts. Described species of Helminthoglypta (Coyote) grouped together in our phylogenetic analyses and differed from each other by 8-18% in the sequence of the COI gene, concordant with differentiating shell characters. Two previously unknown populations also grouped with the Coyote species but their COI sequences differed from the described species by 5.7-17% suggesting they may represent undescribed Coyote species. Populations of Sonorelix from the eastern Mojave were somewhat similar genetically to Sonorella spp. from southern Arizona but the precise nature of any relationship between these genera remains unresolved. The remaining, previously unknown populations were genetically close to described species of Eremarionta, but inclusion of COI sequences of two Cahuillus spp. rendered the genus Eremarionta paraphyletic, raising questions about the validity of the names applied to some described species. In particular, the subspecies E. rowelli bakerensis was clearly different (\u3e11% in COI) from E. rowelli amboiana and E. rowelli acus, and deserves elevation to at least species status. The eastern Mojave Eremarionta from near Pahrump, Nevada may also be an undescribed species, differing in its COI sequence from its closest described relative by 6.0%. Perhaps the most surprising result from our study was the finding of a population close to the Salton Sea that was very closely related to E. rowelli ssp. bakerensis which occurs ~200 km further north. This highlights the complex nature of genetic variation among geographically isolated Eremarionta populations across the eastern Mojave and western Colorado Deserts
A NEW SPECIES of Lepeophtheirus (COPEPODA; CALIGIDAE) PARASITIC on THREE KELPFISH SPECIES (CLINIDAE) from the SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST
Full text linkA new copepod species, Lepeophtheirus schaadti n. sp., is established based on female and male specimens obtained from the Giant Kelpfish, Heterostichus rostratus Girard, 1854, and Striped Kelpfish, Gibbonsia metzi Hubbs, 1927, captured at Inner Cabrillo Beach in southern California, U.S.A. In addition, comparisons with copepod specimens identified by Wilson (1935) as L. parviventris Wilson, 1905 from the Spotted Kelpfish, Gibbonsia elegans (Cooper, 1864), in Newport Bay, California, revealed they are conspecific with L. schaadti n. sp. The new species differs from its congeners by a combination of characters that include: female with a genital complex that is more than half the length of the cephalothoracic shield and with posterolateral lobes, an abdomen that is composed of one somite and is less than one-quarter the length of the genital complex, a maxillulary dentiform process bearing a thin ridge on the inner tine and lacking a basal knob, no myxal process on the maxilliped, apically rounded tines on the sternal furca, the spine on the first exopodal segment of leg 3 inserted distally on the basal swelling, a 3-segmented leg 4 exopod, and a broad inner lobe of leg 5 that does not extend beyond the posterior margin of the genital complex; and male with three accessory claws on the antennal endopod and no myxal process on the maxilliped. L. schaadti n. sp. represents the first account of an ectoparasitic species from the Striped Kelpfish and Spotted Kelpfish, as well as the fourth ectoparasitic species reported from the Giant Kelpfish
Assessing and Addressing the Needs of Youth Experiencing Homelessness in Los Angeles and San Francisco
No full textEach year over two million children in the US will experience homelessness for a period of time. Throughout the United States, agencies serving youth are not consistently addressing the varying needs of LGBT youth experiencing homelessness. The following research outlines youth homelessness throughout the US, but specifically in Los Angeles and San Francisco. The research discusses the various paths into homelessness, homeless policies, stories from the streets, and an overview of the current situation in each city. It was quickly discovered that many young people chose not to seek help from homeless youth agencies due to the fact that they view this option as unsafe. The main methodology for the research was seven semi-structured interviews conducted with staff from the following homeless youth providers: Larkin Street Youth Services, LAYN, My Friend’s Place and the Los Angeles LGBT Center. The findings highlight a number of themes directly answering the primary and sub research questions. The findings specifically highlight the ways homeless programs are addressing LGBT needs, the gaps that exist in current programs, policy on youth homelessness, the importance of safe spaces and employment programs and the uncertainty surrounding a Trump future. Recommendations are made both on a state and local level. They provide potential solutions to a variety of the gaps and issues raised during the data collection. Ultimately, it is clear that there is a need for much more work in this sector to ensure that no more young people are faced with homelessness
Reproductive Morphology of Male Black Perch (Embiotoca jacksoni)
Full text linkBlack perch (Embiotoca jacksoni) are a common southern California fish that exhibits internal fertilization. During copulation, males transfer a spermatozeugmata to the female via an intromittent organ. Relatively little is known about the reproductive morphology of male black perch and the spermatozeugmata. The objective of our study was to describe the development of spermatocytes and the spermatozeugmata. We also used histology to examine the anal fin and describe the tissues of the intromittent organs. Black perch \u3c 90 mm SL had testes that were composed of spermatocytes at all developmental stages. All stages of spermatocytes in addition to spermatozeugmata were present in males ³ 90 mm SL. On both sides of the anal fin at the anterior end, an intromittent organ was housed in a sheath composed of smooth muscle. Our research note is the first to document the formation of black perch spermatozeugmata within the testis. We also characterized the tissues of the intromittent organs and its muscular sheath which reside on an unmodified anal fin. The copulatory structures of embiotocid species have not been fully investigated, thus our work contributes to understanding the reproductive biology of surfperches
Redescription of Bathygyge grandis Hansen, 1897 (Crustacea, Isopoda, Bopyridae) from Southern California with erection of a new subfamily, Bathygyginae, for it
Full text linkAbstract.—The bopyrid isopod species Bathygyge grandis Hansen, 1897, a reported parasite of several species of the genus Glyphocrangon (Caridea, family Glyphocrangonidae) worldwide, is fully described for the first time on the basis of material collected off the coast of southern California, the closest collection known to the type-locality of the species. Included are a complete synonymy and a discussion of the systematic position of the genus Bathygyge
