Registered Map 2375 : Island of Kauai (tracing)

Scale 1:60,00

Development and Utilization of Transcriptome SSR Markers in <em>Procambarus clarkii</em>

To accelerate the research process of molecular marker-assisted breeding in Procambarus clarkii, this study conducted transcriptome sequencing of P. clarkii muscle tissue using the Illumina NovaSeq platform. Microsatellites (SSRs) were analyzed for distribution and sequence characteristics using MIcroSAtellite (MISA), and genetic diversity was studied in seven cultured populations. The results showed that the sequencing yielded between 9.9 to 12.7 Gb of clean data, and after assembly, produced between 52,244 to 83,367 contigs, identifying a total of 11,304 SSR loci. The SSRs were predominantly dinucleotide and trinucleotide repeats, accounting for 33% and 27% of the total loci, respectively. The average observed heterozygosity (Ho) across the seven different regional aquaculture populations ranged from 0.374 to 0.502, while the average expected heterozygosity (He) ranged from 0.502 to 0.604. The average polymorphic information content (PIC) for the populations was greater than 0.450, indicating substantial genetic variability. According to Nei's genetic distance, an Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA) cluster tree divided the seven different regional aquaculture populations into two major clades: one comprising Yunnan (YN) and Qianjiang (QJ) and the other comprising the remaining five populations. The study found that 93.52% of the variation originated within populations, with only 6.48% of genetic variation attributable to differences between populations. These results lay a foundation for further assessment of the genetic diversity of P. clarkii, innovative utilization of germplasm resources, and in-depth studies into its molecular genetics and evolutionary mechanisms

Assessment of the Scope of Tasks to Completely Phase out Fossil Fuels in Hawaiʻi

Our co-authored report, three years in the making and in collaboration with the Geological Survey of Finland’s (GTK) Dr. Simon Michaux, is now available. This report aims to establish baseline, scenario-driven models for the electrical power required to electrify the Hawaii economy without using fossil fuels. Beyond its analysis, it aims to stimulate meaningful dialogue on the public policy modernization necessary to prepare for a non-fossil fuel economy. Our government can’t fund this transition alone. Investment is required to achieve this objective. Hawaii must become a place where responsible business can be conducted. The goal is that our work can serve as a starting point for effective decision-making that balances the environment, the economy, and our rich Hawaiian culture while acknowledging our economy's role in supporting the vibrance of our broader community. We believe it is a reasonable expectation that it will stimulate the decisions necessary for Hawaiʻi to achieve a sustainable and resilient future. The main report is substantial, comprising over 690 pages of well-referenced analysis, accompanied by two appendices that provide supporting details. A summary of the report is available here.The task of phasing out fossil fuels is upon us. All fossil fuel systems are about to be phased out and replaced with something else. The next industrial era will be powered by different energy-consuming and power generation technologies than we use now. An assessment of the scope of tasks to do this for the State of Hawaiʻi was conducted. All major aspects of industrial and economic activity in the State of Hawaiʻi were examined and mapped out in the context of the state’s officially reported data for the calendar year 2019. This year was selected, as it was the last year before the COVID-19 pandemic supply chain disruptions. After this year, many data surveys were discontinued or reported unusual data signatures if they were operating. Therefore, 2019 was the last well-reported calendar year that showed normal operation. Areas of study ranged from commerce, trade, energy consumption, petroleum consumption, electricity generation, and the various natural and geographical resources available across the principal Hawaiian Islands. Basing calculations on total energy consumption reported by the State of Hawaiʻi, the size and form of the Hawaiian transport fleet were mapped in full, estimating the mechanical work performed for the calendar year 2019. This included transport vehicle classes, from light duty to heavy duty ground transportation to domestic maritime shipping and aviation. For this report, a scope of tasks was defined, and a series of non-fossil fuel solutions were evaluated, each representing a public policy or paradigm. These policies were each represented as scenarios. Each scenario was referenced within a naming convention “H(X).” The first four scenarios were designed to be boundary condition estimates for broad brush policies like all systems were electrified (Scenario HA), all systems were hydrogen-fueled (Scenario HB), all systems were biomass and biofuel supported (Scenario HC), and all existing Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) technology was to be fueled with ammonia (Scenario HD). The electrical power required for each scenario was then modelled in the context of exclusive power generation by each of the available non-fossil fuel power generation systems. This included solar PV, wind turbines, hydroelectricity, biomass-fueled Combined Heat and Power (CHP), conventional nuclear power, geothermal energy, and ocean energy. An analysis of status quo conditions was also conducted. All Hydrogen production is electrolytic. These four scenarios are not the basis for real-world implementation but would serve as a foundation for developing hybrid solutions using the technologies examined in Scenarios HA to HD. The first of these hybrids was Scenario HE-Hybrid 1, which was to model the Green Transition as promoted internationally as the current consensus to phase out fossil fuels. The approach was to apply these non-fossil fuel options in context with what was practical in Hawaiʻi and what rules and regulations would allow

Gut Microbiota deliverables: reflecting the Efficacy of Dietary Probiotic Supplementation for Growth and Feed Utilization in <em>Litopenaeus vannamei</em> Towards Sustainable Aquaculture

The growing demand for sustainable aquaculture requires improvements in shrimp production efficiency and health management. This study investigated the effects of dietary Bacillus subtilis and Lactobacillus acidophilus supplementation on the gut microbiota dynamics, growth performance, survival, and feed utilization of the Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) post-larvae. Shrimp were reared over 84 days under four experimental groups: control (a probiotic-free diet), supplemented with 10⁷ CFU/g Lactobacillus (L), 10⁷ CFU/g Bacillus (B), and a mixed probiotic treatment (M) with 0.5x10⁷ CFU/g per each. Growth metrics, survival rate and, feed utilization were assessed, and entire intestinal samples were analyzed using high throughput DNA sequencing of V1-V9 of 16S rRNA hypervariable regions. Bacillus supplementation significantly improved final body weight and specific growth rate (SGR) compared to the other groups (p 0.05). The mixed probiotic group demonstrated significantly better FCR than the Bacillus group (p Vibrio at the genus level (18.06%–48.28%). Neither alpha nor beta diversity was significantly affected by probiotic treatments (p > 0.05), though temporal and treatment-specific shifts in bacterial composition were detected. These results suggest that Bacillus and mixed probiotic supplementation may enhance shrimp growth and feed efficiency, supporting their potential application in sustainable shrimp farming

Registered Map 2081 : Oahu Plantation

Scale 1:6,00

Molecular Characterization and Functional Analyses of IGFALS in the Chinese Soft-Shelled Turtle (<em>Pelodiscus sinensis</em>)

The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system plays a crucial role in the regulation of development, reproduction, and growth. Within this system, the IGF acid-labile subunit (IGFALS) plays a pivotal role in modulating IGF activity by stabilizing circulating IGF complexes. In this study, two IGFALS gene transcripts, named IGFALSX1 and IGFALSX2, were identified for the first time in the Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis). The cDNA sequences of IGFALSX1 and IGFALSX2 were 2,452 bp and 2,520 bp, respectively, encoding 617 and 616 amino acids (AAs). The IGFALS gene was expressed in all tissues of P. sinensis, with particularly high expression in the liver, gonads, and lungs, and marked sexual dimorphism observed in the liver. Short-term stimulation of juvenile P. sinensis with sex steroids led to significant changes in IGFALS expression in the livers of both male and female individuals, suggesting its potential involvement in steroid-mediated growth modulation. These observations collectively indicate that IGFALS may function as a key molecular mediator in the steroid-responsive growth regulatory pathway of P. sinensis