Supplemental feeding influences reproductive success of the Hawaiian goose (Branta sandvicensis) at Haleakala National Park, Maui, Hawai'i

Low reproductive success has been typical of high elevation populations of the Hawaiian goose (Branta sandvicensis) or nēnē. Researchers identified predation and inadequate nutrition as limiting factors. Reproductive success remained low in most years despite on-going predator control programs. I used a supplemental feeding program over two breeding seasons in 2001-2003 at Haleakalā National Park, Maui, Hawai‘i to determine if increased nutritional resources would influence reproductive success. I used field observations of marked nēnē to track activity at feeding stations and to monitor nests and broods. To evaluate reproductive success I compared nest success and recruitment between breeding pairs that used supplemental food and those that did not. Reproductive success was higher for breeding pairs that used supplemental food during a year of severe weather (heavy rainfall and greater percentage of low temperature days) but did not differ between groups during the year of mild weather. I concluded that for this high elevation population, reproductive success was limited by nutrition and weather, and that weather in particular strongly influenced the importance of nutrition. Habitat management to provide nutritious forage is recommended to improve and sustain the reproductive performance of this population

Understanding disability accommodations in a postsecondary setting

The project presents an overview of postsecondary disability accommodations and an insider’s guide for providing these services. With an influx of students with documented disabilities attending postsecondary, faculty are required to accommodate to enhance the students’ academic success. There is ambiguity when providing accommodations for students with disabilities, and often a discrepancy in understanding the need for, and responsibilities of, service provision at the faculty level (Harrison & Wolforth, 2012; Mullins & Preyde, 2013). Therefore, this project addresses the knowledge gap, provides insights into the nature of disabilities, and provides recommendations for faculty. This project is split into two parts: first a literature review on the theoretical foundations of the disability accommodation; and second, a manuscript focused on An Insider’s Guide for Supporting Postsecondary Students with Disabilities. It is anticipated that this project will enhance understanding of disability accommodations in postsecondary and will minimize ambiguity for faculty members

Southern Alberta Okinawan diaspora (1907-present): the kika nisei journey of Naoko Shimabukuro

Okinawan Canadian researchIn 1907 a group of 152 Okinawans came to Canada as a labour diaspora marked for the Canadian Pacific Railway. This would be the largest group from Okinawa to enter the country for in 1908 the Hayashi-Lemieux Agreement would restrict immigration from Japan. This thesis examines the kika nisei journey of Naoko Shimabukuro whose grandfather was one of those Okinawan migrants who came to settle in southern Alberta. Through Naoko’s lens the research will address this lesser-studied experience within Okinawan diasporic scholarship and fill a lacuna that exists in the experiential representation specific to this prairie region of Canada. I investigate and contribute to Okinawan Canadian research through: 1) connection between the geographies of southern Alberta and Hamahiga Island; 2) Naoko’s eye witness account of the Battle of Okinawa during the prewar, wartime, and postwar periods; and 3) Canadian sansei self-reflexive exploration of generational cultural transference and related critical thought

Human T-cell leukemia virus type I infects human lung epithelial cells and induces gene expression of cytokines, chemokines and cell adhesion molecules

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) is associated with pulmonary diseases, characterized by bronchoalveolar lymphocytosis, which correlates with HTLV-I proviral DNA in carriers. HTLV-I Tax seems to be involved in the development of such pulmonary diseases through the local production of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in T cells. However, little is known about induction of these genes by HTLV-I infection in lung epithelial cells.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We tested infection of lung epithelial cells by HTLV-I by coculture studies in which A549 alveolar and NCI-H292 tracheal epithelial cell lines were cocultured with MT-2, an HTLV-I-infected T-cell line. Changes in the expression of several cellular genes were assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry. Coculture with MT-2 cells resulted in infection of lung epithelial cells as confirmed by detection of proviral DNA, HTLV-I Tax expression and HTLV-I p19 in the latter cells. Infection was associated with induction of mRNA expression of various cytokines, chemokines and cell adhesion molecule. NF-κB and AP-1 were also activated in HTLV-I-infected lung epithelial cells. <it>In vivo </it>studies showed Tax protein in lung epithelial cells of mice bearing Tax and patients with HTLV-I-related pulmonary diseases.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results suggest that HTLV-I infects lung epithelial cells, with subsequent production of cytokines, chemokines and cell adhesion molecules through induction of NF-κB and AP-1. These changes can contribute to the clinical features of HTLV-I-related pulmonary diseases.</p

A Psychosocial Look into Types of Bullying Victimization

M.Ed. University of Hawaii at Manoa 2015.Includes bibliographical references.Bullying affects many adolescents in America. Although widely recognized as a problem, research has been complicated by bullying’s many definitions and types. Further, findings have been mixed across types, gender, and social contexts. Although an interpersonal problem, bullying shares a compelling relationship with individuals’ sense of belonging, perceived safety, and sense of self-worth. In this study, I analyzed a sample of 8,048 eight graders (4,134 females and 3,915 males) from 501 schools who participated in the 2011 Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). I applied latent class analysis (LCA) to identify typologies associated with physical, verbal, and relational bullying. Although I did not find these specific types of bullying, for my three-class model, gender and sense of belonging were significant predictors of latent class membership. I discuss the effect of statistical remedies such as modeling direct relationships between predictors and indicators in the study of bullying and offer recommendations

Moquiniastrum e Richterago (Asteraceae): Phytochemical,chemosystematic and biological activities

Moquiniastrum e Richterago possuem 21 e 16 espécies, respectivamente. Nesse trabalho foi descrita a composição química de três espécies de Moquiniastrum (M. floribundum, M. blanchetianum e M. oligocephalum) e duas de Richterago (R. discoidea e R. campestres), avaliado as atividades citotóxica, antirradicalar, antileishmania, antitripanossoma e a inibição enzimática da transcriptase reversa (HIV-1) pelos metabólitos isolados, e as informações químicas dos metabólitos isolados e de literatura foram analisados como caracteres quimiotaxonômicos na segregação dos gêneros estudados. Dessas espécies foram identificadas 109 substâncias, sendo vinte e dois componentes graxos, um derivado de tocoferol, dezessete triterpenos, uma flavanona, quatro flavonas derivadas de apigenina, seis flavonas derivadas de luteolina, oito flavonóis derivados de caempferol, três flavonóis derivados de quercetina, três flavonóis acilados, quatro flavonóis glicosilados, dois ácidos fenólicos, quize derivados de ácido cinâmico, cinco lactonas sesquiterpênicas, seis diterpenos e doze sesquiterpenos de esqueleto bisabolano, totalizando 19 componentes inéditos em literatura. Moquiniastrum e Richterago apresentam como caracteres compartilhados a presença de triterpenos, flavonas derivadas de apigenina e luteolina, flavonóis acilados, ácidos cafeoil-quínicos e ácidos C6-C3. Adicionalmente, as espécies de Moquiniastrum caracterizam-se pela produção de flavonóis 3-O-metoxilados derivados de caempferol além de germacranolídeos, eudesmanolídeos e guaianolídeos lactonizados na posição 6,12. Por outro lado, as espécies de Richterago acumulam flavonóis 3-O-glicosilados derivados de quercetina, além de germacranolídeos lactonizados na posição 8,12. Dessa forma, os dados permitem a distinção química entre os gêneros e corroboram a segregação proposta para os mesmos. Na atividade antirradicalar os ácidos monocafeoilquinicos apresentaram mais de 100% Tx (comparativamente ao Trolox) e tanto os ácidos como os ésteres di- e tricafeoilquinicos mostraram mais de 213%Tx, evidenciando um grande potencial antirradicalar. No ensaio antileishmania nenhuma das substâncias isoladas apresentou atividade considerável. No ensaio antitripanossoma a genkwanina e o éster metílico do ácido 3,4,5-tricafeoilquínico apresentaram atividade frente a forma tripromastigota de Trypanossoma cruzi. No ensaio citotóxico a fase DCM de M. floribundum apresentou um grande potencial bioativo (> 90% na concentração de 50,0 &#181;g.mL-1) porém as flavonas isoladas dessa fase foram testadas não apresentando atividade e as substâncias inéditas estão em avaliação. No ensaio anti HIV-1 os ácidos clorogenicos e as flavonas mostraram potencial como inibidores da transcriptase reversa do HIV-1.Moquiniastrum and Richterago have 21 and 16 species, respectively. This work describes the chemical composition of three species of Moquiniastrum (M. floribundum, M. blanchetianum and M. oligocephalum) and two Richterago (R. discoidea and R. campestris). The isolated metabolites were evaluated as cytotoxic, antiradicalar, antileishmania, antitrypanosome and enzymatic reverse transcriptase inhibition (HIV-1) activities and the chemical data from the isolated compounds and literature data were analyzed as chemotaxonomic characters in the segregation of both genera. From these species 109 compounds were identified, including twenty-two fatty components, a tocopherol derivative, seventeen triterpenes, a flavanone, four flavones derived from apigenin, six flavones derived from luteolin, eight flavonols derived from caempferol, three flavonols derived from quercetin, three acylated flavonols, four glycosylated flavonols, two phenolic acids, fifteen cinnamic acid derivatives, five sesquiterpene lactones, six diterpenes and twelve sesquiterpenes pertaining to the bisabolane skeleton. Among these compounds 19 metabolites were unpublished in literature. Moquiniastrum and Richterago show as shared characters the presence of triterpenes, flavones derived from apigenin and luteolin, acylated flavonols, caffeoylquinic acids and C6-C3 acids. In addition, Moquiniastrum species are characterized by the production of 3-O-methoxylated flavonols derived from kaempferol, and germacranolides, eudesmanolides and guaianolides lactonized at 6,12 position. On the other hand, Richterago species accumulate 3-O-glycosylated flavonols derived from quercetin and germacranolides lactonized at 8,12 position. Therefore, the data allow the chemical distinction and corroborate the proposed segregation between both genera. For antiradical activity, the monocaffeoylquinic acids showed more than 100% Tx (compared to Trolox) and both di- and tricaffeoylquinic acids and esters exhibited more than 213% Tx, showing a great antiradical potential. None of isolated compounds showed considerable activity in the antileishmania assay, however for antitrypanosome assay, genkwanin and 3,4,5-tricaffeoylquinic acid methyl ester showed activity against the promastigote form of Trypanosoma cruzi. For cytotoxic assay the DCM phase from M. floribundum showed a high bioactive potential (> 90% at concentration of 50.0 &#181;g.mL-1), however the isolated flavones were tested and showed no activity. The new compounds are under evaluation. Finally, for anti-HIV-1 assay the chlorogenic acids and flavones showed potential as inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase