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Hawaii
Selected AbstractsAN APPLICATION OF MULTI-CRITERIA DECISION MAKING INCORPORATING STOCHASTIC PRODUCTION FRONTIERS: A CASE STUDY OF ORGANIC COFFEE PRODUCTION IN KONA, HAWAIINATURAL RESOURCE MODELING, Issue 1 2010TADAYOSHI MASUDA Abstract In this paper, we develop a land use allocation model to search for the optimal ratio of organic (nonchemical) and conventional (chemical-use) farming acreage. The idea is to incorporate stochastic production frontiers (SPFs) to a multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) model as technological constraints. The objectives of this model are to maximize net returns, minimize chemical inputs, and optimize organic inputs given environmental and ecological concerns. The compromise solutions suggest the desirable ratio of organic and conventional farming acreage and targetable operations for each farming system to improve regional welfare. This method was applied to the Kona coffee belt, Hawaii, and the analysis determined the optimal proportion of organic and conventional Kona coffee farming fields as 0.265 to 0.735 in terms of optimizing community benefits or regional welfare. [source] Patterns of chromosomal deletions identified by a birth defects registry, Hawaii, 1986,2003CONGENITAL ANOMALIES, Issue 2 2007Mathias B. Forrester ABSTRACT The aim of the investigation was to describe the chromosomal deletions identified by a birth defects registry with respect to the chromosomes involved, pregnancy outcome, method of diagnosis, inheritance, sex, and the diagnosis of major structural birth defects. Cases were derived from a population-based birth defects registry in Hawaii and comprised all infants and fetuses with chromosomal deletions delivered during 1986,2003. A total of 71 cases were identified through a statewide birth defects registry in Hawaii during 1986,2003. The chromosomes involved in the greatest proportion of deletions were chromosomes 22 (14.1%), 4 (11.3%), and 5 (11.3%). Live births accounted for 58 (81.7%) of the cases. Diagnosis was made by amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling in 19 (26.8%) of the cases. Of the 18 cases with known inheritance, the deletion was inherited in 5 (27.8%) and de novo in 13 (72.2%). Males accounted for 28 (39.4%) and females for 43 (60.6%) of the cases. Major structural birth defects were identified in 51 (71.8%) of the cases. Chromosomal deletions do not appear to affect all chromosomes equally. Most of the chromosomal deletions that were detected occurred among live births and were de novo conditions. Infants and fetuses with chromosomal deletions are more likely to be females and to be associated with major structural birth defects. [source] Descriptive epidemiology of anotia and microtia, Hawaii, 1986,2002CONGENITAL ANOMALIES, Issue 4 2005Mathias B. Forrester ABSTRACT The objective of this investigation was to describe the epidemiology of anotia and microtia with respect to various factors. The cases studied were all infants and fetuses with anotia or microtia identified by a population-based birth defects registry in Hawaii. The anotia and microtia rates were determined for selected factors and comparisons made among the subgroups by calculating the rate ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). A total of 120 cases were identified, for a rate of 3.79 per 10 000 live births. The anotia and microtia rate increased during 1986,2002, although the trend was not significant (P = 0.715). Of 49 specific structural birth defects examined, four were found to be significantly more common in the presence of anotia and microtia. When compared with Caucasians, the anotia and microtia rates were higher among Far East Asians (RR 1.79, 95% CI 0.89,3.68), Pacific Islanders (RR 2.26, 95% CI 1.24,4.32), and Filipinos (RR 2.34, 95% CI 1.23,4.64). The defects were less common among females (RR 0.64, 95% CI 0.43,0.93) and more common with multiple birth (RR 3.72, 95% CI 1.66,7.33), birth weight <,2500 g (RR 3.35, 95% CI 2.04,5.30), and gestational age <38 weeks (RR 2.27, 95% CI 1.49,3.40). In conclusion, the rate for anotia and microtia increased in Hawaii during the study period. The rates for only a few structural birth defects were substantially greater than expected in association with anotia and microtia. Anotia and microtia rates varied significantly according to maternal race/ethnicity, infant sex, plurality, birth weight, and gestational age. [source] The Declaration of Hawaii andClarence BlomquistACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 399 2000J. O. Ottosson The international code of ethics of psychiatry, the Declaration of Hawaii was in the main the achievement of Clarence Blomquist. There were several prerequisites for the success of this work. 1. The unique profile of the education of Clarence Blomquist, combining training to be a specialist in psychiatry with a doctor's degree in practical philosophy. 2. An outstanding competence in analyzing complicated issues and in putting thoughts into words. 3. The courage to challenge the Hippocratic ethics and adapt the principles of ethics to modern health care. 4. A scholarship at the Institute of Society, Ethics and the Life Sciences, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, where he could test his ideas in an intellectual interdisciplinary atmosphere. 5. Support from the late Professor Leo Eitinger, Norway and Professor Gerdt Wretmark, Sweden, who together with Clarence Blomquist constituted a task force on ethics of the World Psychiatric Association. 6. A continuous backing-up by Dr Denis Leigh, the then secretary general of the World Psychiatric Association. Denis Leigh was convinced that a code of ethics was the only means to reconcile the various member countries on issues of misuse of psychiatry and, in addition, would raise the quality of psychiatric care throughout the world. [source] Textural and compositional controls on modern beach and dune sands, New ZealandEARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, Issue 3 2007J. J. Kasper-Zubillaga Abstract Textural, compositional, physical and geophysical determinations were carried out on 111 beach and dune sand samples from two areas in New Zealand: the Kapiti,Foxton coast sourced by terranes of andesite and greywackes and the Farewell Spit,Wharariki coast sourced by a wide variety of Paleozoic terranes. Our aim is to understand how long-shore drift, beach width and source rock control the sedimentological and petrographic characteristics of beach and dune sands. Furthermore, this study shows the usefulness of specific minerals (quartz, plagioclase with magnetite inclusions, monomineralic opaque grains) to interpret the physical processes (fluvial discharges, long-shore currents, winds) that distribute beach and dune sands in narrow and wide coastal plains. This was done by means of direct (grain size and modal analyses) and indirect (specific gravity, magnetic/non-magnetic separations M/NM, magnetic susceptibility measurements, hysteresis loops) methods. Results are compared with beach sands from Hawaii, Oregon, the Spanish Mediterranean, Elba Island and Southern California. Compositionally, the Kapiti,Foxton sands are similar to first-order immature sands, which retain their fluvial signature. This results from the high discharge of rivers and the narrow beaches that control the composition of the Kapiti,Foxton sands. The abundance of feldspar with magnetite inclusions controls the specific gravity of the Kapiti,Foxton sands due to their low content of opaque minerals and coarse grain size. Magnetic susceptibility of the sands is related mainly to the abundance of feldspars with Fe oxides, volcanic lithics and free-opaque minerals. The Farewell Spit,Wharariki sands are slightly more mature than the Kapiti,Foxton sands. The composition of the Farewell Spit,Wharariki sands does not reflect accurately their provenance due to the prevalence of long-shore drift, waves, little river input and a wide beach. Low abundance of feldspar with magnetite inclusions and free opaque grains produces poor correlations between specific gravity (Sg) and Fe oxide bearing minerals. The small correlation between opaque grains and M/NM may be related to grain size. The magnetic susceptibility of Farewell Spit,Wharariki sands is low due to the low content of grains with magnetite inclusions. Hysteresis and isothermal remnant magnetization (IRM) agree with the magnetic susceptibility values. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Integrating physiology, population dynamics and climate to make multi-scale predictions for the spread of an invasive insect: the Argentine ant at Haleakala National Park, HawaiiECOGRAPHY, Issue 1 2010Stephen Hartley Mechanistic models for predicting species' distribution patterns present particular advantages and challenges relative to models developed from statistical correlations between distribution and climate. They can be especially useful for predicting the range of invasive species whose distribution has not yet reached equilibrium. Here, we illustrate how a physiological model of development for the invasive Argentine ant can be connected to differences in micro-site suitability, population dynamics and climatic gradients; processes operating at quite different spatial scales. Our study is located in the subalpine shrubland of Haleakala National Park, Hawaii, where the spread of Argentine ants Linepithema humile has been documented for the past twenty-five years. We report four main results. First, at a microsite level, the accumulation of degree-days recorded in potential ant nest sites under bare ground or rocks was significantly greater than under a groundcover of grassy vegetation. Second, annual degree-days measured where population boundaries have not expanded (456,521,degree-days), were just above the developmental requirements identified from earlier laboratory studies (445,degree-days above 15.9°C). Third, rates of population expansion showed a strong linear relationship with annual degree-days. Finally, an empirical relationship between soil degree-days and climate variables mapped at a broader scale predicts the potential for future range expansion of Argentine ants at Haleakala, particularly to the west of the lower colony and the east of the upper colony. Variation in the availability of suitable microsites, driven by changes in vegetation cover and ultimately climate, provide a hierarchical understanding of the distribution of Argentine ants close to their cold-wet limit of climatic tolerances. We conclude that the integration of physiology, population dynamics and climate mapping holds much promise for making more robust predictions about the potential spread of invasive species. [source] Diversified Agriculture, Land Use, and Agrofood Networks in Hawaii,ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY, Issue 1 2002Krisnawati Suryanata Abstract: Agriculture dominated the culture and economy of Hawaii until the mid-twentieth century, but has since been in a prolonged state of decline. This article examines strategies in Hawaii's diversified agriculture that seek to revitalize its agrarian sector and the difficult challenges these efforts face within the globalized agrofood systems. Drawing from the actor-network perspective, this article suggests an alternative approach to developing Hawaii's diversified agriculture. Networks of social actors that include growers, processors, gourmet chefs, retailers, and consumers have been able to create viable diversified agriculture in spite of the globalized agrofood systems. The article then discusses how the politics of land use and land development could condition Hawaii's ability to build networks that are critical to the maintenance of a diversified agricultural sector. [source] Impact of US and Canadian precursor regulation on methamphetamine purity in the United StatesADDICTION, Issue 3 2009James K. Cunningham ABSTRACT Aims Reducing drug purity is a major, but largely unstudied, goal of drug suppression. This study examines whether US methamphetamine purity was impacted by the suppression policy of US and Canadian precursor chemical regulation. Design Autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA)-intervention time,series analysis. Setting Continental United States and Hawaii (1985,May 2005). Interventions US federal regulations targeting precursors, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, in forms used by large-scale producers were implemented in November 1989, August 1995 and October 1997. US regulations targeting precursors in forms used by small-scale producers (e.g. over-the-counter medications) were implemented in October 1996 and October 2001. Canada implemented federal precursor regulations in January 2003 and July 2003 and an essential chemical (e.g. acetone) regulation in January 2004. Measurements Monthly median methamphetamine purity series. Findings US regulations targeting large-scale producers were associated with purity declines of 16,67 points; those targeting small-scale producers had little or no impact. Canada's precursor regulations were associated with purity increases of 13,15 points, while its essential chemical regulation was associated with a 13-point decrease. Hawaii's purity was consistently high, and appeared to vary little with the 1990s/2000s regulations. Conclusions US precursor regulations targeting large-scale producers were associated with substantial decreases in continental US methamphetamine purity, while regulations targeting over-the-counter medications had little or no impact. Canada's essential chemical regulation was also associated with a decrease in continental US purity. However, Canada's precursor regulations were associated with purity increases: these regulations may have impacted primarily producers of lower-quality methamphetamine, leaving higher-purity methamphetamine on the market by default. Hawaii's well-known preference for ,ice' (high-purity methamphetamine) may have helped to constrain purity there to a high, attenuated range, possibly limiting its sensitivity to precursor regulation. [source] Life history and host specificity of the Japanese flea beetles Trachyaphthona sordida and T. nigrita (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), potential biological control agents against skunk vine, Paederia foetida (Rubiaceae), in the southeastern parts of the United States and HawaiiENTOMOLOGICAL SCIENCE, Issue 2 2008Chie OKAMOTO Abstract Skunk vine, Paederia foetida (Rubiaceae), is native to Asia and has been recognized as an invasive weedy vine of natural areas in Florida and Hawaii. Two insects, Trachyaphthona sordida and Trachyaphthona nigrita (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) from Japan are being considered as potential biological control agents against skunk vine. To gather fundamental information on their biology, we carried out field surveys and laboratory experiments in Kyushu, southern Japan, between 2003 and 2006. We found that T. sordida is commonly distributed in Kyushu and T. nigrita is restricted to the southern parts of Kagoshima Prefecture on the southern part of Kyushu. These species are fundamentally univoltine and adults appear in late April to early July. Trachyaphthona sordida overwinters as mature larvae and T. nigrita as mature larvae or rarely as adults. Larvae of both species feed on fine roots of P. foetida in the field and Serissa foetida (Rubiaceae) under rearing conditions, and they appear to have tribe-level host specificity in their host range. On the basis of these results, we suggest that both species are suitable as biological control agents. [source] PLASTICITY IN QUEEN NUMBER AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE IN THE INVASIVE ARGENTINE ANT (LINEPITHEMA HUMILE)EVOLUTION, Issue 10 2002Krista K. Ingram Abstract., In many polygynous social insect societies, ecological factors such as habitat saturation promote high queen numbers by increasing the cost of solitary breeding. If polygyny is associated with constrained environments, queen number in colonies of invasive social insects should increase as saturation of their new habitat increases. Here I describe the variation in queen number, nestmate relatedness, and nest size along a gradient of time since colonization in an invading population of Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) in Haleakala, Hawaii. Nest densities in this population increase with distance from the leading edge of the invasion, reaching a stable density plateau approximately 80 m from the edge (> 2 years after colonization). Although the number of queens per nest in Haleakala is generally lower than previously reported for Argentine ants, there is significant variation in queen number across this population. Both the observed and effective queen numbers increase across the density gradient, and nests in the center of the population contain queen numbers three to nine times higher than those on the edge of the invasion. The number of workers per nest is correlated with queen number, and nests in the center are six times larger than nests at the edge. Microsatellite analysis of relatedness among nestmates reveals that all nests in the Haleakala population are characterized by low relatedness and have evidence of multiple reproducing queens. Relatedness values are significantly lower in nests in the center of the population, indicating that the number of reproducing queens is greater in areas of high nest density. The variation in queen number and nestmate relatedness in this study is consistent with expectations based on changes in ecological constraints during the invasion of a new habitat, suggesting that the social structure of Argentine ant populations is strongly influenced by ecological factors. Flexibility in social structure may facilitate persistence in variable environments and may also confer significant advantages to a species when introduced into new areas. [source] Microevolutionary analysis of the nematode genus Pristionchus suggests a recent evolution of redundant developmental mechanisms during vulva formationEVOLUTION AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 4 2001Jagan Srinivasan SUMMARY To identify the mechanisms by which molecular variation is introduced into developmental systems, microevolutionary approaches to evolutionary developmental biology have to be taken. Here, we describe the molecular and developmental characterization of laboratory strains of the nematode genus Pristionchus, which lays a foundation for a microevolutionary analysis of vulva development. We describe 13 laboratory strains of the Pristionchus genus that are derived from natural isolates from around the world. Mating experiments and ITS sequence analysis indicated that these 13 strains represent four different species: the gonochoristic species P. lheritieri and three hermaphroditic species, P. pacificus, P. maupasi, and an as yet undescribed species Pristionchus sp., respectively. P. pacificus is represented by five different strains isolated from California, Washington, Hawaii, Ontario, and Poland. Developmental differences during vulva formation are observed between strains from different species but also between strains of P. pacificus, like the strains from California and Poland. In particular, redundant developmental mechanisms present during vulva formation in P. pacificus var. California are absent in other strains. Amplified restriction fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analyses of the P. pacificus strains revealed that the American strains are highly polymorphic. In contrast, the developmentally distinct strain from Poland is identical to the Californian strain, suggesting that the developmental differences rely on a small number of changes in developmental control genes rather than the accumulation of changes at multiple loci. [source] Among- and within-species variation in plant litter decomposition in contrasting long-term chronosequencesFUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2009David A. Wardle Summary 1Following major disturbances ecosystem development occurs but in the prolonged absence of disturbance a decline (retrogressive) phase follows in which productivity and nutrient availability diminishes. Although it is recognized that litter quality and decomposition rates decrease as retrogression proceeds, little is known about the extent to which this is driven among- vs. within-species variation across these sequences. 2We selected six long-term chronosequences that each included retrogressive stages, in New Zealand, Hawaii, Sweden, Alaska and Australia. Two involve significant species turnover across the sequence so that different species dominate at different stages, two involve low species turnover so that the same dominant species occur at all stages, and two involve some turnover of species but with certain species persisting throughout most of the sequence. 3For each chronosequence, we collected litter from each dominant plant species at each stage of that sequence. For each litter collection we measured concentrations of N and P, and performed laboratory decomposition bioassays to measure mass loss, N and P loss, and the response of mass loss to mixture with litters of coexisting species. 4We found that litter N and P concentrations often declined with increasing ecosystem age, both among- and within-species. However, the relative importance of among- and within-species effects varied across the six chronosequences. Rates of litter mass, N, and P loss during decomposition sometimes decreased with increasing ecosystem age, but most often at the among-species rather than the within-species level. 5Litter mixing effects often varied across chronosequence stages, but the magnitude and direction of these effects was inconsistent among sequences. Variation in litter mixing effects across chronosequence stages was driven mainly by among- rather than within-species variation. 6Although several recent studies have emphasized the role of within-species variation on ecosystem properties, our results point to among-species variation as a consistently important ecological driver, with within-species variation being important only for some variables and in some instances. As such they highlight that decomposition processes are most likely to be highly responsive to gradients of soil fertility (such as across chronosequences) when significant species turnover occurs across the gradient. [source] Human-caused stratigraphic mixing of a coastal Hawaiian midden during prehistory: Implications for interpreting cultural depositsGEOARCHAEOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 5 2010Sasiphan Khaweerat Archaeologists rely on the spatial and temporal distribution of artifacts and other site-based materials to understand the stratigraphic integrity of the matrix in which remains are embedded. Although they are aware of taphonomic and site formation processes that can cause post-depositional movement of objects, misinterpretation can occur. We used high-precision 230Th dating of branch corals found throughout cultural layers of a coastal Hawaiian midden to identify the effects of post-depositional disturbances to the archaeological record. Fifteen corals distributed in three cultural layers of a Mo'omomi bay site on west Moloka'i, Hawaiian Islands, were 230Th dated between A.D. 1513 and A.D. 1623. Even though the cultural layers appeared visually intact, the positions of the dated coral samples indicate stratigraphic mixing as there is no positive age,depth correlation. Consequently, all cultural layers should be considered one analytical unit for analysis of contents. This study is applicable to other Pacific archaeological sites, especially throughout Hawaii and East Polynesia generally, that have well-preserved branch coral for 230Th dating. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Microtubules in basalt glass from Hawaii Scientific Driling Project #2 phase 1 core and Hilina slope, Hawaii: evidence of the occurrence and behavior of endolithic microorganismsGEOBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2008A. W WALTON ABSTRACT Elongate, fine tubes, ~1 µm wide and up to 200 µm long, extend from fractured surfaces, vesicle walls, and internal fractures into fragments of basalt glass in samples from the Hawaii Scientific Drilling Project #2 phase 1 (HSDP #21) core and the Hilina slope, Hawaii. Several features indicate that these tubes are microbial endolithic microborings: the tubes resemble many described microborings from oceanic basalt glass, their formation is postdepositional but restricted to certain but different ranges of time in the two sets of samples, and they are not uniformly distributed throughout glass fragments. Microtubules record several characteristic behaviors including boring into glass, mining, seeking olivine, and avoiding plagioclase. They also are highly associated with a particular form of glass-replacing smectite. Evidence of behavior should join morphological and geochemical criteria in indicating microbial alteration of basalt glass. In some samples, steeply conical tubes, ~10,20 µm in diameter tapering to 1 µm and commonly filled with smectite, appear to be modifications or elaborations of the microtubules. These also curve toward olivine and are associated with replacement smectite. In HSDP #21 samples, microtubules initiated at margins of shards before palagonite replaced those margins and are preserved during palagonitization. In fact, microtubules appear to have provided routes that enhanced the efficiency of water's reaching of unaltered glass. In Hilina Slope samples, the microtubules appear to postdate palagonitization because they initiate at the boundary between palagonite and unaltered sideromelane. Preservation of microtubules during palagonitization in samples together with recognition of other associated characteristics representing behavior suggests that such features may be recognizable in more heavily altered ancient rocks. [source] Magnetic field intensity study of the 1960 Kilauea lava flow, Hawaii, using the microwave palaeointensity techniqueGEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2000Mimi J. Hill It is extremely valuable to study historic lava flows where the geomagnetic field at their time of extrusion is well known. In this study, two vertical sections, 16 m apart, have been sampled from the approximately 1 m thick 1960 Kilauea lava flow, Hawaii. Variations are seen in the rock-magnetic and palaeomagnetic properties between and within the two sections, indicating that there are small-scale lateral and vertical variations in the lava flow. The two sections showed different responses to microwave palaeointensity analysis. Section H6001 generally gave ideal linear behaviour on plots of natural remanent magnetization (NRM) lost against microwave-induced thermoremanent magnetization (TM,RM) gained, whilst the majority of samples from H6002 showed anomalous two-slope behaviour. When all plots were interpreted by taking the best-fitting line through all points, the flow mean intensity for H6001 was 31.6,±,3.6 ,T and that for H6002 was 37.1,±,6.4 ,T, compared with the expected intensity of 36 ,T. Additional historic flows need to be studied in order to ascertain whether this behaviour is typical of all lava, and whether it is best to always interpret NRM lost/TM,RM gained plots by taking the line of best fit regardless of shape. [source] Faster returns on ,leaf economics' and different biogeochemical niche in invasive compared with native plant speciesGLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 8 2010JOSEP PENUELAS Abstract Plant-invasive success is one of the most important current global changes in the biosphere. To understand which factors explain such success, we compared the foliar traits of 41 native and 47 alien-invasive plant species in Oahu Island (Hawaii), a location with a highly endemic flora that has evolved in isolation and is currently vulnerable to invasions by exotic plant species. Foliar traits, which in most cases presented significant phylogenetic signal, i.e. closely related species tended to resemble each other due to shared ancestry, separated invasive from native species. Invasive species had lower leaf mass per area and enhanced capacities in terms of productivity (photosynthetic capacity) and nutrient capture both of macro- (N, P, K) and microelements (Fe, Ni, Cu and Zn). All these differences remain highly significant after removing the effects of phylogenetic history. Alien-invasive species did not show higher efficiency at using limiting nutrient resources, but they got faster leaf economics returns and occupied a different biogeochemical niche, which helps to explain the success of invasive plants and suggests that potential increases in soil nutrient availability might favor further invasive plant success. [source] Mandating Americanization: Japanese Language Schools and the Federal Survey of Education in Hawaii, 1916,1920HISTORY OF EDUCATION QUARTERLY, Issue 1 2003Noriko Asato Under the policies of the United States, it will be very difficult to prohibit schools of this kind unless it were definitely proven that they were teaching treasonable things. ,P. P. Claxton, U. S. Commissioner of Education1 [source] The effect of culture and self-construals on predispositions toward verbal communicationHUMAN COMMUNICATION RESEARCH, Issue 3 2001M-SKKS Aune This study tested the effects of culture and self-construals (i.e., independence and interdependence) on predispositions toward verbal communication. For the purpose of this study, we focused on two main areas of verbal communication predispositions: (a) communication apprehension and (b) argumentativeness. In our path model, we expected that culture-level individualism increases one's construal of self as independent, which, in turn, leads to a higher degree of argumentativeness and a lower level of communication apprehension. We also expected that culture-level individualism decreases one's construal of self as interdependent, which, in turn, leads to a lower degree of argumentativeness and a higher level of communication apprehension. Data to test the model were drawn from undergraduates (N=539) studying in Korea, Hawaii, and mainland U.S. The data were partially consistent with the theoretical predictions made. The implications of the results for theory and practice are discussed. [source] Impact of next generation sequencing: The 2009 Human Genome Variation Society Scientific MeetingHUMAN MUTATION, Issue 4 2010William S. Oetting Abstract The annual scientific meeting of the Human Genome Variation Society (HGVS) was held on the 20th of October, 2009, in Honolulu, Hawaii. The theme of this meeting was the "Impact of Next Generation Sequencing." Presenters spoke on issues ranging from advances in the technology of large-scale genome sequencing to how this information can be analyzed to uncover genetic variants associated with disease. Many of the challenges resulting from the implementation of these new technologies were presented, but possible solutions, or at least paths to the solutions, were also given. With the combined efforts of investigators using next-generation sequencing to help understand the impact of genetic variants on disease, the use of the personal genome in medicine will soon become a reality. Hum Mutat 30:1,4, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Erratum: In memoriam: Philip St. John Smart, 1961,2008INTERNATIONAL INSOLVENCY REVIEW, Issue 2 2009Article first published online: 26 JUN 200 The article above (DOI: 10.1002/iir.167) was published in IIR18:1on pages 1,4. The article was attributed in error to Harold Hsiao-Wo Lee. Harold Hsiao-Wo Lee is the name of the Chair that Philip St. John Smart held at the University of Hong Kong. The correct attribution should have been to two authors only: AndrewJ. Halyard of the University ofHong Kong, Hong Kong and Charles D. Booth of the University of Hawaii, USA. We apologise to Andrew J. Halyard and Charles D. Booth for this oversight. [source] Exposure to the carcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) in smokers from 3 populations with different risks of lung cancerINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 10 2009Kiersten S. Derby Abstract Native Hawaiian smokers are at higher risk and Japanese-American smokers at lower risk of lung cancer (LC), compared with white smokers, even after accounting for smoking history. Because variation in carcinogen exposure/metabolism may occur separately of smoking amount, we compared urinary biomarkers of uptake and detoxification of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK),a potent lung carcinogen,among 578 smokers in these ethnic/racial groups in Hawaii. We measured the NNK metabolite 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) and its glucuronide (NNAL-Gluc) and examined total NNAL (NNAL + NNAL-Gluc) and the NNAL detoxification ratio (NNAL-Gluc:NNAL). Native Hawaiians and Japanese,Americans had lower age- and sex-adjusted mean total NNAL, compared with whites. When further adjusting for urinary nicotine equivalents (the sum of nicotine, cotinine, trans -3,-hydroxycotinine and their respective glucuronides), only the difference between Japanese,Americans and whites was eliminated. Therefore, consistent with their lower LC risk, a lower cigarette smoke exposure explains the lower NNK dose of Japanese,Americans, but it does not explain that of Native Hawaiians. The mean detoxification ratio was also lower in Native Hawaiians and Japanese,Americans, compared with whites, even after adjusting for nicotine equivalents (p < 0.0001). Lower NNAL glucuronidation in Native Hawaiians might contribute to their increased LC risk; however, this is inconsistent with the low glucuronidation ratio similarly observed in the low-risk Japanese-American group and because Native Hawaiians had lower total NNAL levels. Thus, exposure and detoxification of NNK are unlikely to explain, by themselves, the differences in LC risk among the 3 populations studied. © 2009 UICC [source] Effectiveness of kukui nut oil as a topical treatment for psoriasisINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 8 2005Amy C. Brown PhD Background, No cure for psoriasis exists for the 1,3% of the American population who suffer from it; however, anecdotal reports from patients with psoriasis visiting Hawaii who purchased kukui nut oil, claim it helped reduce the severity of their lesions. Objective, This pilot study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to determine the effectiveness of kukui nut oil as a topical treatment for psoriasis. Methods, Thirty adult subjects (18,78 year) were recruited from the community for a 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study. Subjects were previously diagnosed with mild, stable plaque psoriasis (less than 15% of total body surface area [TBSA]) and agreed to abstain from other treatments during the course of the study. Following a 4-week washout period the subjects were randomized into a treatment group (15 subjects applying kukui nut oil) or a control group (15 applying the mineral oil placebo). Patients were seen every 2 weeks (seven visits at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 weeks) by a dermatological nurse practitioner under the general supervision of a board certified dermatologist. Measurable outcomes included evaluation of one targeted lesion and of the overall severity of their psoriasis using clinical evaluation, Psoriasis Area and Sensitivity Index (PASI), Global Severity of Psoriasis Scale, and photographs. Each patient also evaluated their own lesions daily using the Global Severity of Psoriasis Scale, and noted any side-effects or other treatments used. Results, Although both groups improved, we found no significant difference between the treatment (kukui nut oil) and the placebo (mineral oil) among the 24 out of 30 subjects (80%) who completed the study. No side-effects or adverse events were reported. Conclusion, Kukui nut oil did not significantly reduce symptoms of psoriasis; however, this was a small pilot study, and the use of this oil cannot be dismissed without using a larger study population of patients with psoriasis. [source] Demands of immigration among nurses from Canada and the PhilippinesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING PRACTICE, Issue 2 2008Linda A Victorino Beechinor DNP APRN(BC) The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the demands of immigration on nurses from Canada and those from the Philippines, who immigrate to the USA and work in Hawaii. The findings can assist policy-makers in formulating plans to alleviate the shortage of nurses through effective immigration recruitment practices. Nurse educators can gain support for the recruitment of students from a diverse array of cultures. Managers and nursing leaders can use this information in designing recruitment, orientation, support and retention programmes for nurses that are specific to their cultural needs. The two groups of nurses were sampled from acute care staff nurse populations in Hawaii. Aroian's instrument, the Demands of Immigration scale, was used to measure and compare the distress levels of the nurses. The findings include a higher level of distress experienced by nurses from Canada compared with nurses from the Philippines. This might be attributed to a preponderance of social and collegial support available to the Philippine nurses in Hawaii where one-fourth of the population is derived from their country of origin. [source] Migrants, Settlers and Colonists: The Biopolitics of Displaced BodiesINTERNATIONAL MIGRATION, Issue 5 2008Cristiana Bastos All through the nineteenth century, Madeirans migrated from their Atlantic island to places as remote as Hawaii, California, Guyana and, later, South Africa. Scarcity of land, a rigid social structure, periodic famines and rampant poverty made many embark to uncertain destinies and endure the harsh labour conditions of sugarcane plantations. In the 1880s, a few hundred Madeirans engaged in a different venture: an experience of "engineered migration" sponsored by the Portuguese government to colonize the southern Angola plateau. White settlements, together with military control, scientific surveys and expeditions, contributed to strengthen the claims of European nations over specific territories in Africa. At that time, the long lasting claims of Portugal over African territories were not matched by sponsored colonial settlements or precise geographic knowledge about the claimed lands. There was little else representing Portugal than the leftover structures of the slave trade, the penal colonies and the free-lance merchants that ventured inland. In fear of losing land to the neighbouring German, Boer and British groups in south-western Africa, the Portuguese government tried then to promote white settlements by attracting farmers from the mainland into the southern plateau of Angola. As very few responded to the call, the settlement consisted mostly of Madeiran islanders, who were eager to migrate anywhere and took the adventure of Angola as just another destiny out of the island where they could not make a living. Their bodies and actions in the new place became highly surveilled by the medical delegates in charge of assessing their adaptation. The reports document what were then the idealized biopolitics of migration and colonization, interweaving biomedical knowledge and political power over displaced bodies and colonized land. At the same time, those records document the frustrations of the administration about the difficulties of the settlement experience and the ways in which colonial delegates blamed their failure on the very subjects who enacted and suffered through it. The eugenicism and racialism that pervade those writings, a currency during the age of empire, may now be out of taste both in science and in politics; however, they are not fully out of sight, and the subtle entrance of social prejudice into the hard concepts of biomedical science is still with us. Learning from this example may help analysing contemporary processes of medicalizing diversity or pathologizing the mobile populations, or, in other words, the biopolitics of migration in the 21st century. [source] Social Science, Geophilosophy and InequalityINTERNATIONAL STUDIES REVIEW, Issue 2 2002Michael J. Shapiro This chapter begins with a treatment of the inauspicious debut of social science in Hawaii, noting how it aided and abetted colonization. However, although much of the analysis is aimed at elucidating current political issues in Hawaii, its organizing concern is with a general critique of the historical role of social and political science "knowledge." Accordingly, much of the chapter deals with a trajectory of discourses on political analysis, nation,building, and equality throughout the twentieth century, to which the primary contributions have been from American social science. Finally, I turn to a way of theorizing inequality that challenges the predicates of state,centric discourses on rights and equality before the law. [source] Fruit fly liquid larval diet technology transfer and updateJOURNAL OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 3 2009C. L. Chang Abstract Since October 2006, the US Department of Agriculture,Agricultural Research Service (USDA,ARS) has been implementing a fruit fly liquid larval diet technology transfer, which has proceeded according to the following steps: (1) recruitment of interested groups through request; (2) establishment of the Material Transfer Agreement with agricultural research service; (3) fruit fly liquid larval diet starter kit sent to the requestor for preliminary evaluation; (4) problem-solving through email or onsite demonstration; (5) assessment on feedback from the participants to decide whether to continue the project. Up to date, the project has involved 35 participants from 29 countries and 26 species of fruit flies. Fourteen participants have concluded their evaluation of the process, and 11 of these 14, have deemed it to be successful. One participant has decided to implement the project on a larger scale. The 14 participants were, Argentina (Ceratitis capitata and Anastrepha fraterculus), Bangladesh (Bactrocera cucurbitae, C. capitata, and Bactrocera dorsalis), China (Fujia province) (B. dorsalis), Italy (C. capitata), Fiji (Bactrocera passiflorae), Kenya (Bactrocera invadens, Ceratitis cosyra), Mauritius (Bactrocera zonata and B. cucurbitae), Mexico (Anastrepha species), Philippines (Bactrocera philippinese), Thailand (Bactrocera correcta), Austria (C. capitata, Vienna 8 and A. fraterculus), Israel (Dacus ciliatus and C. capitata), South Africa (C. capitata, Vienna 8) and Australia (C. capitata). The Stellenbosch medfly mass-rearing facility in South Africa and the CDFA in Hawaii were two mass-scale rearing facilities that allowed us to demonstrate onsite rearing in a larger scale. Demonstrations were performed in CDFA in 2007, and in Stellenbosch, South Africa in 2008; both were found to be successful. The Stellenbosch medfly mass-rearing facility in South Africa decided to adopt the technology and is currently evaluating the quality control of the flies that were reared as larvae on a liquid diet. [source] A world-wide study of high altitude treeline temperaturesJOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY, Issue 5 2004Christian Körner Abstract Aim, At a coarse scale, the treelines of the world's mountains seem to follow a common isotherm, but the evidence for this has been indirect so far. Here we aim at underpinning this with facts. Location, We present the results of a data-logging campaign at 46 treeline sites between 68° N and 42° S. Methods, We measured root-zone temperatures with an hourly resolution over 1,3 years per site between 1996 and 2003. Results, Disregarding taxon-, landuse- or fire-driven tree limits, high altitude climatic treelines are associated with a seasonal mean ground temperature of 6.7 °C (±0.8 SD; 2.2 K amplitude of means for different climatic zones), a surprisingly narrow range. Temperatures are higher (7,8 °C) in the temperate and Mediterranean zone treelines, and are lower in equatorial treelines (5,6 °C) and in the subarctic and boreal zone (6,7 °C). While air temperatures are higher than soil temperatures in warm periods, and are lower than soil temperatures in cold periods, daily means of air and soil temperature are almost the same at 6,7 °C, a physics driven coincidence with the global mean temperature at treeline. The length of the growing season, thermal extremes or thermal sums have no predictive value for treeline altitude on a global scale. Some Mediterranean (Fagus spp.) and temperate South Hemisphere treelines (Nothofagus spp.) and the native treeline in Hawaii (Metrosideros) are located at substantially higher isotherms and represent genus-specific boundaries rather than boundaries of the life-form tree. In seasonal climates, ground temperatures in winter (absolute minima) reflect local snow pack and seem uncritical. Main conclusions, The data support the hypothesis of a common thermal threshold for forest growth at high elevation, but also reflect a moderate region and substantial taxonomic influence. [source] The biogeography of Gunnera L.: vicariance and dispersalJOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY, Issue 7 2003Livia Wanntorp Abstract Aim The genus Gunnera is distributed in South America, Africa and the Australasian region, a few species reaching Hawaii and southern Mexico in the North. A cladogram was used to (1) discuss the biogeography of Gunnera and (2) subsequently compare this biogeographical pattern with the geological history of continents and the patterns reported for other Southern Hemisphere organisms. Location Africa, northern South America, southern South America, Tasmania, New Zealand, New Guinea/Malaya, Hawaii, North America, Antarctica. Methods A phylogenetic analysis of twenty-six species of Gunnera combining morphological characters and new as well as published sequences of the ITS region, rbcL and the rps16 intron, was used to interpret the biogeographical patterns in Gunnera. Vicariance was applied in the first place and dispersal was only assumed as a second best explanation. Results The Uruguayan/Brazilian Gunnera herteri Osten (subgenus Ostenigunnera Mattfeld) is sister to the rest of the genus, followed sequentially upwards by the African G. perpensa L. (subgenus Gunnera), in turn sister to all other, American and Australasian, species. These are divided into two clades, one containing American/Hawaiian species, the other containing all Australasian species. Within the Australasian clade, G. macrophylla Blume (subgenus Pseudogunnera Schindler), occurring in New Guinea and Malaya, is sister to a clade including the species from New Zealand and Tasmania (subgenus Milligania Schindler). The southern South American subgenus Misandra Schindler is sister to a clade containing the remaining American, as well as the Hawaiian species (subgenus Panke Schindler). Within subgenus Panke, G. mexicana Brandegee, the only North American species in the genus, is sister to a clade wherein the Hawaiian species are basal to all south and central American taxa. Main conclusions According to the cladogram, South America appears in two places, suggesting an historical explanation for northern South America to be separate from southern South America. Following a well-known biogeographical pattern of vicariance, Africa is the sister area to the combined southern South America/Australasian clade. Within the Australasian clade, New Zealand is more closely related to New Guinea/Malaya than to southern South America, a pattern found in other plant cladograms, contradictory to some of the patterns supported by animal clades and by the geological hypothesis, respectively. The position of the Tasmanian G. cordifolia, nested within the New Zealand clade indicates dispersal of this species to Tasmania. The position of G. mexicana, the only North American species, as sister to the remaining species of subgenus Panke together with the subsequent sister relation between Hawaii and southern South America, may reflect a North American origin of Panke and a recolonization of South America from the north. This is in agreement with the early North American fossil record of Gunnera and the apparent young age of the South American clade. [source] Detection of ciguatoxin in fish tissue using sandwich ELISA and neuroblastoma cell bioassayJOURNAL OF CLINICAL LABORATORY ANALYSIS, Issue 4 2008Cara Empey Campora Abstract The applicability of a new enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) for detecting ciguatoxin (CTX) in fish tissue was evaluated by testing three fish species commonly implicated in ciguatera fish poisoning in Hawaii. A total of 164 individual almaco jack (Seriola rivoliana) and greater amberjack (S. dumerili) and a total of 175 individuals of the blue-spotted grouper (Cephalopholis argus) were caught at various locations in the Hawaiian Islands. Muscle tissue from each individual was assessed for the presence of CTX using two methods: a semi-quantitative ELISA that was recently developed for detecting picogram levels of CTX in fish extract and a neuroblastoma (NB) cell assay commonly used to screen for marine toxins in fish. Results of the tests were highly correlated, with the ELISA indicating the presence of CTX in 9.4% of all fish samples, and the NB assay indicating toxicity in 6.8% of the fish samples. We conclude that the ELISA produces reliable and accurate results that are consistent with those provided by the accepted NB assay and that the ELISA has potential for future applications in screening fish populations for CTX. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 22:246,253, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Prevalence of avian pox virus and effect on the fledging success of Laysan AlbatrossJOURNAL OF FIELD ORNITHOLOGY, Issue 1 2008Lindsay C. Young ABSTRACT Avian pox virus (Poxvirus avium) is a mosquito-borne disease that occurs worldwide in a variety of bird species, but little is known about its prevalence or effect on seabirds. We monitored prevalence of pox virus and its effect on fledging success of Laysan Albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) on Oahu, Hawaii, from 2003 to 2007. Pox prevalence in albatross chicks averaged 88% in years with high rainfall and 3% in years with low rainfall. Diagnosis of pox virus was clinically confirmed in two birds by Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata) fibrolast cultures. Severity of infection ranged from small wart-like nodules and lesions on the bill, face, eyes, tarsus, and feet, to large tumorous growths that completely covered both eyes and caused deformation of the bill and skull. Most chicks recovered from infection, and the fledging rate in pox epizootic years (82%) did not differ from that in years with low pox prevalence (80%) or the average fledging rate on Midway Atoll (86%). Three chicks with severe infections were resighted as healthy adults on Kauai and Oahu in 2007, confirming postfledging survival of at least some birds. The high recovery rate, fledging success, and postfledging survival indicate that Laysan Albatross have strong immunity to avian pox virus. SINOPSIS La viruela aviar (Poxvirus avium) es una enfermedad que afecta muchas especies de aves a nivel mundial. La enfermedad es transmitida por mosquitos y se sabe poco de su prevalencia y efecto en aves acuáticas. Monitoreamos la prevalencia de este virus y su efecto en volantones de albatros (Phoebastria immutabilis) en Oahu, Hawaii, en trabajo que se llevo a cabo desde el 2003,2007. Encontramos una prevalencia de 88% en pichones de albatros en años lluviosos y de 3% en años de poca lluvia. Se diagnosticó el virus, clínicamente, en dos patos comunes (Cairina moschata) mediante la técnica de cultivo fibroblástico. La severidad de la infección varió desde leve con algunas lesiones en el pico, cara, ojos, tarso y patas, hasta casos severos con grandes tumores que cubrían los ojos y causaron malformación de pico y craneo. La mayoría de los pichones se recobraron de la infección. La tasa de pichones que dejaron el nido (82%) en años de alta incidencia (82%) fue similar (80%) a los años de pocas infecciones y al promedio de volantones (86%) en el Atolón de Midway. Tres individuos observados como pichones con infecciones severas fueron avistados posteriormente como adultos saludables en Kauai y Oahu en el 2007, lo que confirma la sobrevivencia post-volanton de al menos algunas aves. La tasa tan alta de recobro, éxito en dejar el nido y sobrevivencia post-volantón indican que en el Albatros de Laysan hay una alta inmunidad hacia la viruela aviar. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||