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State, Political Power and Revolution: Althusser, Poulantzas, Balibar and the “Debate on the State”
Full text linkMonstrilloid Copepods: the Best of Three Worlds
Full text linkMonstrilloids are one of the most intriguing groups of copepods. Their complex life cycle represents the successful evolutionary outcome of dealing with three distinct kinds of habitat, viz., planktonic, benthic, and endoparasitic, each of which presents particular challenges that have been overcome by monstrilloids. These copepods combine a unique set of strategies and adaptations to complete their life cycle. The non-feeding planktonic adult phase lacks mouthparts and their antennules are fixed, thus limiting their swimming abilities but they compensate for this handicap by having powerful swimming legs and probably generate a very distinct hydrographic signal that may be useful in avoiding predators and allowing sexual recognition between adult males and females. Parasitizing exclusively on abundant, gregarious sessile or sedentary benthic organisms represents an advantage in that potential hosts can be found without the need for long-distance dispersal. The endoparasitic stages of monstrilloids are unique; after infection by an early planktonic nauplius, successive nauplioid stages feed on their own vitellum while developing feeding tubes to absorb nutrients from their hosts. They grow within the host’s body as successive copepodite stages that are contained in a protective sheath. Preadult individuals exit through the host body wall causing significant host damage or death, behaving in these instances as parasitoids. The diversity of the group appears to be underestimated, and extensive geographic areas remain completely unknown for this group of copepods. More effort will be required to advance our knowledge of monstrilloid diversity and biology that are yet to be revealed
First Record of the Family Peltidiidae (Copepoda; Harpacticoida) from the Gulf of Mexico, with the Description of a New Species of Peltidium
Full text linkFemale harpacticoid copepod specimens representing an undescribed species of Peltidium (Peltidiidae) were found from an unidentified species of Sargassum during a series of samplings carried out in 2014 in Tampa Bay, Florida, U.S.A. The new species, Peltidium camilae, is similar to P. nichollsi Geddes, 1968 and P. lerneri Geddes, 1968. These species share the female exopod of leg 5 with two inner and three apical setae, the second endopodal segment of leg 1 with three setae, and the third endopodal segment of legs 2-4 with three, five and four setae, respectively. Peltidium camilae n. sp. can be distinguished from P. nichollsi and P. lerneri by having a shorter endopod relative to the exopod on legs 2-4, apical claws on the terminal exopodal segment of leg 1 that are as long as the first exopodal segment of leg 1, and subequal middle and inner apical setae on the exopod of leg 5. This is the first record of the family Peltidiidae from the Gulf of Mexico
Retour sur l’Intervention de Poulantzas au sein de l’Althussérisme: la Tentative de Constitution d’une Théorie Marxiste de l’Etat dans le Champ de la Science Politique
No full textGeometric morphometric differentiation of Two Western USA Lizards (Phrynosomatidae: Squamata): Uta stansburiana and Urosaurus ornatus, with Implications for Fossil Identification
Full text linkSquamate fossil identification has been challenging due to the incomplete understanding and sometimes complete lack of osteological research of extant species. Here we compared the maxilla of two similar species of phrynosomatids: Uta stansburiana (Common Side-blotched Lizard) and Urosaurus ornatus (Ornate Tree Lizard). Through landmark-based geometric morphometric analyses, we determined which characters significantly separated the two species. A principle component analysis (PCA) and a stepwise discriminant function analysis (DFA) were conducted, in which we compared 15 landmarks between U. stansburiana and U. ornatus. Both the PCA and stepwise DFA showed separation between the two species. The stepwise DFA selected five of the 15 characters as statistically significant, three of which are considered apomorphies and show promise for fossil identification. The first character is in the ventral region of the posterior maxilla process; U. ornatus has a defined notch, whereas U. stansburiana does not. The second and third characters are in the anterior portion of the maxilla, which is curved dorsally in U. stansburiana, whereas U. ornatus shows no curving. The results of this study are used to identify fossil Uta vs Urosaurus, but more analyses need to be conducted on other phrynosomatid species for comprehensive identification
The Role of Federally Qualified Health Centers in Serving the Medi-Cal Population
No full textThis paper will examine the question: What is the role of Federally Qualified Health Centers in delivering health care services to Medi-Cal beneficiaries, and what challenges can be addressed with healthcare policies, programs, and waivers? Detailed background research is given on Federally Qualified Health Centers and their ability to expand with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, as well as information about provider shortage and other challenges in accessing care that the Medi-Cal population faces. Interviews with executive staff at two FQHCs in Los Angeles serve to explain specific policies, programs, and practices that allow local FQHCs to effectively serve their populations.
The interviews and background research combined with supplemental charts and figures illustrate key findings about the role of FQHCs. FQHCs have largely been able to expand in recent years with the implementation of the ACA, and have more funding resources available to them which has allowed them to expand both their patient population and their workforce. However, many of these centers also face provider shortage and lack sufficient incentives to prevent high provider turn-over. There are current opportunities such as the Medi-Cal 2020 waiver and the Wrap Cap Pilot that aim to instigate payment reform, expand services for the FQHC patient population, and improve healthcare delivery.
Despite challenges that they face, it is largely agreed that FQHCs hold an extremely important role in serving those on government-funded insurance, and that they are a cost-effective way of delivering care. Recommendations include guidelines for federal healthcare legislation, such as suggestions to maintain provisions seen in the Affordable Care Act about an insurance mandate, insurance subsidies, and Medicaid expansion. It is also recommended that FQHCs take advantage of local programs that offer loan repayment to providers in exchange for a commitment to serve in areas with provider shortage, and recommended that FQHCs engage in community outreach to spread awareness of these programs and recruit within the community
Relationships Beyond the Rental Market: How do Stakeholder Interactions in the Housing Choice Voucher Program Relate to Tenant Outcomes?
No full textThis research examines the interactions of stakeholders (e.g. landlords, property managers, housing officials, inspectors, etc.) from the point of view of several housing advocates and landlords working in the HCVP in City of Pasadena, CA. I seek to answer how they impact tenant outcomes for voucher recipients. Since housing discrimination still persists in other forms, the perspectives of housing advocates who directly work with landlords and voucher households become important in understanding more about stakeholder relationships. Their unique perspectives, focusing on both the personal and the structural, make their voices tremendously important in analyzing the housing actions and approaches taken on by landlords. With the high number of low-income households that struggle to find affordable and decent housing, the HCVP only solves a part of the problem. This research uses the City of Pasadena as a case study for the continually increasing number of overburdened low-income households and consequent turnover to chronic homelessness. I use examples of fair housing ordinances, the Fair Housing Act, and administration of the HCVP in other cities to establish examples of forms of discrimination based on race and income. In addition, some of these examples show examples of local Public Housing Authorities that were successful in their
administration of housing choice vouchers. Overall, these examples serve to show that tenant outcomes are influenced by discrimination based on not only race but also one’s source of income. These findings contextualize the significance of stakeholders in causing tenant outcomes. The case study on the City of Pasadena provides context for rent overburden and housing shortage. Furthermore, a section of the case study includes considerations for the impact that new administrative and budget changes to the U.S. Depart of Housing and Urban Development. As the Trump Administration has released its preliminary 2018 budget blueprint, there will be a stark rise in unwanted concerns for the future of the HCVP and other housing assistance programs. My findings focus on the roles of stakeholders in the processes of administering the HCVP. Moreover, I use the perspectives of landlords and housing advocates in order to examine the relationships of stakeholders in these processes. Given the perspective of housing advocates in their personal experiences in working with landlords, voucher recipients, and housing officials, how do stakeholder interactions influence voucher households directly? There are four ways in which I identified how stakeholder interactions influence
household outcomes: voucher household selection, roles of HCVP stakeholders, responses to tenant behavior, and expectations for the future of the HCVP. In response to these findings, recommendations for the City of Pasadena are presented with consideration for voucher household outcomes and the expectations for the future of the HCVP. The primary recommendation for addressing voucher households that face housing discrimination based on race and income requires more support from not only the private sector but also housing advocacy groups. Consequently, housing advocates can help to form more transparent and favorable relationships between stakeholders through housing services and active outreach. These recommendations may allow for landlord exposure to the HCVP and administrative burdens to be minimized in their impacts on voucher tenant outcomes
Abnormal Coloration in Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis)
Full text linkDespite no mention of abnormal coloration in bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) in two earlier reviews addressing that subject, leucism, piebaldism, and melanism do occur in that species. Presented herein is a compilation of observations of abnormally colored bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) assembled with information obtained from personal observations and the use of on-line literature search services, other on-line searches, private interviews, and a questionnaire. The majority of abnormally colored bighorn sheep have been described as white or albinistic . Review of images provided by respondents, however, verified that the majority of such reports were of leucistic individuals. White or leucistic bighorn sheep have been described from 23 specific geographic areas distributed among one Canadian province, one state in Mexico, and seven of the western United States; reports of piebaldism or of melanism are much less frequent
Individually-unique Spot Patterns of Young of the Year Giant Sea Bass, Stereolepis gigas in Captive-raised Fish
Full text linkYoung of the year giant sea bass spend the first several months after planktonic settlement within recreational dive limits, where they are available for underwater study. After planktonic settlement, young of the year giant sea bass enter color phases where a pattern of black spots unique to individual fish appears distinct against a lighter background. To determine whether or not underwater photos of spot patterns might be used to identify and track individuals, several early-stage giant sea bass were captured and raised at public aquaria. Both sides of each fish were planned to be photographed monthly for a year from the capture date. The black spots of young of the year giant sea bass are so few and so distinct that computer programs developed to discern individuals of species with complicated spot patterns are not necessary for re-identification of individuals. Each of three fish that survived twelve months in captivity could be individually identified by eye using photographs of their spot patterns for a year after collection. Two other fish that expired after several months could also be individually distinguished through photographs. This information opens the door to underwater field studies using photography as a passive mark and recapture method for studying young of the year giant sea bass along soft-bottomed nursery beaches where they can be found for the first several months after settlement