RESUMO
The genus Texoreddellia (Zygentoma; Nicoletiidae) is an important component of the cave-adapted fauna of Texas and northern Mexico. Specimens are often found in caves in central Texas. They are less common in western Texas and Coahuila, Mexico. We describe a new species, Texoreddellia chihuahuensis n. sp., from Chihuahua, Mexico, greatly expanding the range for the genus. The new species is found in an isolated karstic zone, far removed from the other cave forming areas inhabited by Texoreddellia spp. Phyletic analyses show the species to be the most basal and earliest to diverge within the genus. When compared to a calibrated molecular clock of the 16S rRNA for nicoleiids, its sequence supports a divergence of roughly 20 mya. Such a date is congruent with the geological origins of the Rio Grande and the Pecos River. Structural deformations coupled with long term erosion and downcutting through major river basins may have contributed in forming biological barriers that influenced speciation and isolation, especially between the western and eastern species of Texoreddellia.
Assuntos
Insetos , Animais , México , Texas , RNA Ribossômico 16S , FilogeniaRESUMO
INTRODUCTION Asylum seekers face a wide array of challenges, including the need for a fair and just adjudication process. In the state of Georgia, the Atlanta Asylum Network addresses the needs of such individuals by providing them physical, psychological and gynecological assessments, the results of which are presented to the courts in the asylum appeal process. OBJECTIVE As a component of the Network's program evaluation, assess outcomes among asylum seekers using its services, as well as relation of outcomes to type of service provided, the individual's geographic origin and English language proficiency. METHODS A retrospective examination was conducted of program data gathered by the Network between 2003 and 2012. Subjects included asylum seekers who received assessments by the Network during this period. The primary variable of interest was the final case outcome, defined as determination of asylum status: granted, withholding of removal, administrative closure and prosecutorial discretion, denied or voluntary departure. Outcomes were subsequently collapsed into a single positive or negative outcome variable. Positive outcomes included asylum granted, removal withheld, administrative closure and prosecutorial discretion. Negative outcomes included asylum denied and voluntary departure. We conducted bivariate and multivariate analyses, relating final case outcomes to Network services, geographic origin and English language proficiency, among the key variables. RESULTS A total of 69 of 120 asylum seekers in the study had a known final case outcome, and of those, 63.8% (44) had a positive outcome; or 37% of the total number of asylum seekers (n = 120). Among the 20 who received 2 of the 3 types of assessment (physical, psychological, gynecological), 16 (80%) received a positive case outcome. Most persons with a known final outcome came from Africa (41), where 78% (32) of cases resulted positive. Asylum seekers not proficient in English were 2.4 times more likely to have a negative case outcome. CONCLUSION Network assessment appears to result in higher rates of positive case outcomes compared to the average for asylum seekers seen in the Atlanta circuit court. Areas for programmatic improvement include systematic followup and increased community awareness of Network services, since the Network may directly impact future case outcomes by offering assessment to more asylum seekers. Access to English language instruction and legal representation for asylum claimants may also contribute to more cases with positive outcomes. KEYWORDS Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), vulnerable populations, transients and migrants, human rights, human rights abuses, torture, PTSD, USA.
Assuntos
Administração de Caso , Refugiados , Adulto , Feminino , Georgia , Direitos Humanos , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Refugiados/legislação & jurisprudência , Refugiados/psicologia , Estudos Retrospectivos , Populações VulneráveisRESUMO
A dominant perspective in social capital research emphasizes a "structural" dimension of social capital, consisting of network connections, and a "cognitive" dimension, consisting of attitudes toward trust. Correspondingly, membership in organizations (i.e., membership density) and general trust in people (i.e., social trust) are two indicators commonly used to relate structural and cognitive social capital, respectively, to a variety of health and other outcomes. This study analyzed relationships between membership density, social trust and a more comprehensive set of household-level social capital indicators as well as selected civic and health behaviors in the context of Nicaragua. The sample of respondents was drawn from 6 communities and interviews were conducted with 482 heads of households, resulting in data on 2882 individuals. Factor analyses suggest that membership density loaded strongly (loading=0.81) onto an "organizational participation" factor which contained a number of qualitative characteristics of involvement, including bridging social capital. Further, this structural dimension of social capital appears to be a construct consisting of more than just informal social networks. However, factor analyses suggest that distinctions between levels of trust are warranted in Nicaragua: social trust loaded weakly (loading=0.32) onto a factor characterized by institutional trust in a factor analysis of trust items, and well below 0.30 in a factor analysis of both structural and cognitive dimensions of social capital. A nuanced understanding of these household-level indicators of structural and cognitive social capital held implications for civic and health behaviors. While membership density and institutional trust were positively related to an index of political engagement, social trust was either not related or negatively associated (among urban respondents). Similarly, social trust was associated with over 50% reduced odds of an additional childhood vaccinations whereas institutional trust was associated with increased odds (OR=1.7) of an additional vaccination. The findings highlight the complexity of social capital and the importance of exploring more comprehensive indicators.
Assuntos
Pobreza , Apoio Social , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Análise Fatorial , Feminino , Comportamentos Relacionados com a Saúde , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Nicarágua , Política , População Rural , Inquéritos e Questionários , Confiança , População Urbana , Vacinação/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
Although its etiology remains unknown, evidence has accumulated to support an autoimmune pathogenesis for alopecia areata. Our review summarizes the immunologic data and also examines the role of genetics, atopy, and psychologic stress in this disorder. Until etiology is better understood, treatments for alopecia areata are likely to remain palliative. Nevertheless, newer therapies such as photochemotherapy, topical immunotherapy, and perhaps systemic immunotherapy (e.g., inosiplex) offer new hope for patients with extensive disease.