SRS 2016S T U D E N TR E S E A R C HS Y M P O S I U M

Proudly presented by the University of Hawai‘i at ManoaCollege Tropical Agriculture and Human Resourcesand College of Engineering

April 8-9

University of Hawai‘i at Manoa

Welcome to the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) and College of Engineering (COE) 2016 Student Research Symposium. This annual event, now in its 28th year, brings together graduate and undergraduate students to share the research they are pursuing under the supervision of faculty in CTAHR and COE. The students are able to present their findings, exchange information, and incorporate what they have learned from their peers into their own scholarly work. The scientific exploration and engineering design conducted by students in CTAHR and COE is truly multidisciplinary, and the Student Research Symposium reflects this diversity and the strong relationship between CTAHR and COE. The investigations presented here range from fundamental studies to novel applications and encompass engineering, production agriculture, environmental technologies, health and food sciences, family and consumer sciences, and natural sciences. All stages of the research and development process and multiple types of student learning experiences are represented: discovery; advanced diagnostics and laboratory testing; design, validation, and field testing; and adoption of new methods and technologies. Each project represents a unique path that contributes to CTAHR’s mission of preparing students for life in the global community through research that fosters viable communities, a diversified economy, and a healthy environment, as well as COE’s mission of providing research experiences and opportunities to students that will enhance the growth of the technological workforce and stimulate the growth of technology-based industries in Hawai‘i. The pace at which knowledge and technology are advancing in the basic and applied sciences is breathtaking. Many of the projects presented here would not have been possible at the time these students were born. CTAHR and COE are proud of our new scientists and engineers and are proud to sponsor this event. We look forward to an exciting and informative Symposium, and we encourage you to take this opportunity to interact with students, faculty, and other professionals; exchange ideas; develop new research collaborations; and rekindle old friendships. Aloha, Maria Gallo Peter Crouch

Dean and Director, CTAHR Dean, COE

1

28TH ANNUAL CTAHR and COE STUDENT RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM

Agricultural Science Building

University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

PROGRAM SCHEDULE Poster Session

Friday, April 8, 2016

Agricultural Science Building 2nd, 3rd and 4th Floor Hallways

Abstracts 1 – 84, 133, 134 (Undergraduate, M.S., Ph.D.)

11:00 am - 1:00 pm Poster set-up by students 1:00 - 1:15 pm Judges’ Orientation (AgSci 219) 1:15 - 3:00 pm Viewing and judging of posters by judges (without

students and symposium participants present; only judges)

3:00 - 5:30 pm Viewing of posters by public Interviewing of students by judges 5:30 - 6:30 pm Networking (refreshments will be provided in tented area

near AgSci) Note: Posters should remain on display until 3:00 pm, Friday, April 15, 2016.

If students need to remove posters before that time, please discuss your plans with the program coordinators.

2

Oral Sessions

Saturday, April 9, 2016 Agricultural Science Building

Rooms 204, 219 and 220 7:45 – 8:15 am Refreshments AgSci Bldg., 2nd Floor 8:00 – 8:10 am Judges’ Orientation Room 219 8:15 - 10:15 am Session I Undergraduate (Section 1) Room 219 Abstracts 85-92 Session II M.S. (Section 1) Room 204 Abstracts 93-100 Session III Ph.D. (Section 1) Room 220 Abstracts 101-108 10:15 - 10:30 am Break AgSci Bldg., 2nd Floor 10:30 am - 12:30 pm Session IV Undergraduate (Section 2) Room 219 Abstracts 109-116 Session V M.S. (Section 2) Room 204 Abstracts 117-124 Session VI Ph.D. (Section 2) Room 220 Abstracts 125-132 12:30 - 1:30 pm Networking (lunch will be provided)

3

Poster Session

Friday, April 8, 2016 Agricultural Science Building 2nd, 3rd and 4th Floor Hallways

Abstracts 1 – 84, 133, 134 (Undergraduate, M.S., Ph.D.)

(* designates presenter)

Abstract No. Title, Authors Presenter’s

Home Unit 1

(Poster UG) Peptide transporters in Leucaena leucocephala. Mc Millan Ching*, Kazue Ishihara, and Dulal Borthakur.

MBBE

2 (Poster UG)

Measurement of the cellular conductivities of Escherichia coli K12 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Lexi Kaneshiro, Cherisse Chun*, Jireh Cebricos, Inae Lee, Yong Li, and Soojin Jun.

HNFAS

3 (Poster UG)

Ka ʻOihana Mahiʻai i ka Lumi Papa: natural farming curriculum in Hawaii’s middle and high schools. Keala Cowell* and Michael DuPonte.

HNFAS

4 (Poster UG)

Turn-the-page weed mat covering for weed management in a no-till cropping system. B. Domen* and K.-H.Wang.

PEPS

5 (Poster UG)

The Tropical Dessert for Gluten-Free Diet. Hyuk Ann, Llanie Ibarra*, and Alvin Huang.

HNFAS

6 (Poster UG)

Supplemental nutrients for aquaponic taro production using nutrient inputs prepared from Natural Farming practices. Jonathan Kam* and Koon-Hui Wang.

PEPS

7 (Poster UG)

Removal of Antibiotics and Microbial Pathogens in Dairy Farm Wastewater by Light-mediated Biochar-supported Photocatalysts. Cassie Kawamata*, Lisa Parente, and Eunsung Kan.

MBBE

8 (Poster UG)

Nutritional value of rendered products in swine studied in vitro. Alex P. Langlois*, William L. Ribeiro, and Rajesh Jha.

HNFAS

9 (Poster UG)

Use of anaerobic soil disinfestation for weed suppression in a basil (Ocimum basilicum) and onion (Allium fistulosum) intercropping system. Noelle Lee*, Christine Nakahara, Tiare Silvasy, Jennifer Michalski, Angela Kaneshiro, and Koon-Hui Wang.

PEPS

10 (Poster UG)

Are all milks created equal? Marissa Madeira*, C. Alan Titchenal, and Joannie Dobbs.

HNFAS

11 (Poster UG)

In vitro fermentation of Hawaiian feedstuffs and its effect on the intestinal microbiota of swine. Sarah Mattus*, Utsav P. Tiwari, Kabi Neupane, and Rajesh Jha.

BIOC

12 (Poster UG)

In vitro fermentation of cassava silages and their effect on the intestinal microbiota of chicken. Tyler Peterson*, Leilani Galicia, Alyssa Haygood, Kabi Neupane, and Rajesh Jha.

LCC

13 (Poster UG)

Facilitating the Restructuring of Food Waste Recycling on Oahu. Kristen Jamieson, Sean Reseigh, Tanya Torres* and Melissa Price.

NREM

4

Abstract No. Title, Authors Presenter’s

Home Unit 14

(Poster UG) How does Hawaiʻi (HI) stack up: Comparing nutrient intakes in 2-8 year old participants in the Children’s Healthy Living (CHL) program in HI to National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). R.K. Villiger*, C.J. Boushey, K.M. Yonemori, R. Novotny, M.K. Fialkowski, M. Esquivel, and J.C. Banna.

HNFAS

15 (Poster UG)

Analysis of synbiotic yogurts developed using probiotics and inulin. Beverly Yuen*, C.N. Lee, and Yong Li.

HNFAS

16 (Poster UG)

Developing a Demand Response Platform and Client Network for Residential Smart Grid Solutions. Bryce Adams*, Mitch McLean, Holm Smidt, Zack Yuen, and Reza Ghorbani.

ME

17 (Poster UG)

Modular, Low-Cost Environmental Sensor Networks. Brandon Amano*, Garrett Young, Brian Chan, Kim Pee Castro, Ryan Walser, Scott Nakashima, and Anthony Kuh.

EE

18 (Poster UG)

Study of a New Design in Breakwater Utilizing Diffractional Properties to Alter Long Wave Energy Distribution Resulting in Run-Up Reduction. Scott Arakaki*, Michelle Teng, and Shuji Seto.

ME

19 (Poster UG)

The Study of a New Reaction Wheel Design with Applications to Controllable Systems. Scott Arakaki*and Dilmurat Azimov.

ME

20 (Poster UG)

A Table Top Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion System Based On An Organic Rankine Cycle. Ileana Argyris*, Bryant Delgado, Shoshanna Douglas, William Lewis III, Tiffanee Pahia, Jared Reichman, Alverene Ribao, Stephen Sabala, Jeremy Santiago, Sy Yoshida, and Scott Miller.

ME

21 (Poster UG)

Piezoelectric Powered Biosensors. Stephen Bauer*, Bryson Padasdao, and Olga Boric-Lubecke.

EE

22 (Poster UG)

Inexpensive Scanning Tunneling Microscope. Matthew Chan*, Richard C. Ordonez, and David Garmire.

EE

23 (Poster UG)

Using InSAR to Assess Historical and Future Slope Movements. Bryan Fong* and Phillip S.K. Ooi.

CEE

24 (Poster UG)

Development and construction of a 12.5” Newtonian telescope with a mechanical primary mirror counterweight system. Nick Alejo, Cody Ichimura, Ryan Inouye*, Annam Le, Melissa Onishi, Andy Toothman, Jonathan Weber, and Henry Weiland.

ME

25 (Poster UG)

Investigating the Thermophysical Effects of the Impingement of Super-Cooled liquids on Solid Surfaces. Mitch McLean*, Holm Smidt, and John S. Allen III.

ME

26 (Poster UG)

Vital Sign Detection Using Remote Sensors on a Moving Platform. Arne Nakahara*, Charles Jarquio, Daren Martin, Romyl Lopez, Dean Kurozumi, Ashikur Rahman, Robert Nakata, Shuhei Yamada, and Victor M. Lubecke.

EE

27 (Poster UG)

Deployable Autonomous Glider for the 2016 CanSat Competition. Liem Nguyen*, Joshua Faumuina, Tayler Pave, Bryson Racoma, Lauren Sumida, and Trevor Sorensen.

ME

28 (Poster UG)

Occupancy Detection using Radar Noise Floor. Pooja Nuti*, Ehsan Yavari, and Olga Boric-Lubecke.

EE

29 (Poster UG)

Open Platform for Weather Data Aggregation and Collaboration. Christie Obatake*, Zachary Dorman, Kenny Luong, and Anthony Kuh.

CE

5

Abstract No. Title, Authors Presenter’s

Home Unit 30

(Poster UG) Autonomous Control Framework and Algorithms for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Michael Poon*, Jackson Pascablo, Caton Gabric, Dilmurat Azimov, John Allen, and Mehrdad Nejhad.

ME

31 (Poster UG)

Prediction of Local Scour around Bridge Piers Using Genetic Expression Programming (GEP). Emily Stack* and Sayed M. Bateni.

CEE

32 (Poster UG)

Drone Co-processing. Binguang Wang*, Kunliang Xiao, and Yingfei Dong.

EE

33 (Poster UG)

Reconfigurable RF Devices. Kevin Cho, George Zhang*, Sasha Yamada, Aaron Ohta, and Wayne Shiroma.

EE

34 (Poster UG)

Development of a Fixed-Wing Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV): Electrical and Electronics. Parkle Lum*, Jackson Pascablo, and Mehrdad N. Ghasemi Nejhad.

ME

35 (Poster UG)

Development of a Fixed-Wing Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV): Mechanical and Structure. Matthew Domenichelli*, Caton Gabrick, and Mehrdad N. Ghasemi Nejhad.

ME

36 (Poster MS)

Seasonal and locational variation of nutrient profile and in vitro digestion kinetics of guinea grass and kikuyu grass for grass-fed beef production system on Hawaii Island. Kayla Butler*, Glen K. Fukumoto, Yong Soo Kim, and Rajesh Jha.

HNFAS

37 (Poster MS)

Mentha spicata: A Potential Cover crop for Conservation Agricultural Practices in Tropical Climate. K. D. Chan*, B. Sipes, K.H. Wang, and P.S. Leung.

PEPS

38 (Poster MS)

Gelatinization of Breadfruit Flour (Artocarpus altilis) by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Alfred H. Chen*, Mahavir Chougule, Susanne Youngren-Ortiz, and Alvin Huang.

HNFAS

39 (Poster MS)

Marketing Potential for a Locally-Grown Oyster in Hawai‘i. Jessie Chen*, Maria Haws, Quentin Fong, and PingSun Leung.

NREM

40 (Poster MS)

Identification and Isolation of tannin biosynthesis genes in Acacia koa. Maia Corpuz*, Kazue Ishihara, and Dulal Borthakur.

MBBE

41 (Poster MS)

Genetic Improvement of Beef Cattle for Grass Finished Beef in the State of Hawai‘i. Nicole Correa*, Douglas Vincent, Michael DuPonte, and Jinzeng Yang.

HNFAS

42 (Poster MS)

Biochar increases temperature sensitivity of soil respiration and N2O flux in a Mollisol by increasing the proportion of N-fixing bacteria. Lauren M. Deem*, Susan E. Crow, Jonathan Deenik, Ryan Penton, and Julian Yu.

NREM

43 (Poster MS)

Proteomic study of the inhibitory effectof γ-oryzanol on non-small cell lung cancer. Sofia Doello*, Il Kyu Cho, Jung Bong Kim, and Qing X. Li.

MBBE

44 (Poster MS)

Versatile wireless data acquisition and control system. Catherine Go* and Daniel Jenkins.

MBBE

45 (Poster MS)

An improved RT-PCR Assay for Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Taro vein chlorosis virus (TaVCV). Riten Chand Gosai* and Michael Melzer.

PEPS

46 (Poster MS)

Inhibition of rhizomimosinase and mimosinase, the bacterial and plant enzymes responsible for mimosine degradation. Michael Honda*and Dulal Borthakur.

MBBE

6

Abstract No. Title, Authors Presenter’s

Home Unit 47

(Poster MS) Development of the commercially viable supercooling device to maintain the freshness of strawberry. Raymond Hoptowit*, Jaeyoung Her, and Soojin Jun.

MBBE

48 (Poster MS)

Using Conceptual Ecosystem Modeling to Support Ecosystem-Based Management in West Hawaiʻi. Rebecca J Ingram*, Kirsten Oleson, Jamison Gove, and Kimberly Carlson.

NREM

49 (Poster MS)

Designing a Male-Specific DNA Hydrolysis Probe for Quantifying Male Pollen Contribution in Bulked Papaya Seeds. Yosuke Kawai* and Richard Manshardt.

MBBE

50 (Poster MS)

Comparison of bacterial population between Korean Natural Farming (KNF), organic, and conventional farming methods. A. Keliikuli*, Y. Li, K. Cheah, K.H. Wang, and C.N. Lee.

HNFAS

51 (Poster MS)

Lab assay of systemic insecticides on the coconut rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros). Matthew Kellar* and Zhiqiang Cheng.

PEPS

52 (Poster MS)

Survey of plant-parasitic nematodes associated with breadfruit in Hawaii. Jin-Wah Lau*, Brent Sipes, Sharad Marahatta, Koon-Hui Wang, and Diane Ragone.

PEPS

53 (Poster MS)

Manganese Toxicity from “Healthy” Diets. Teresa LeMoon*, C. Alan Titchenal, Michael A. Dunn, and Joannie Dobbs.

HNFAS

54 (Poster MS)

Multi-omic data integration to stratify the population in hepatocellular carcinoma. Liangqun Lu* and Lana X Garmire.

MBBE

55 (Poster MS)

Using Controlled Exposure Trials to Assess Predation and Parasitism of The Kamehameha Butterfly (Nymphalidae: Vanessa tameamea). Colby Maeda*, William Haines, and Cynthia King.

PEPS

56 (Poster MS)

Effects of organic mulch on indigenous entomopathogenic nematodes and entomopathogenic fungi in a no-till cropping system. Josiah Marquez* and Koon-Hui Wang.

PEPS

57 (Poster MS)

Invasive pine detection and mapping using satellite remote sensing at Haleakalā National Park. Jonathan Marshall*, James Leary, and Tomoaki Miura.

NREM

58 (Poster MS)

The Development of Opihi Aquaculture Technology. Anthony B. Mau*, Jon-Paul Bingham, and Yong Zhi Ju.

MBBE

59 (Poster MS)

Testing the attractiveness and efficacy of baits for the monitoring and control of the thief ant, Solenopsis papuana. Cassandra S. Ogura-Yamada* and Paul D. Krushelnycky.

PEPS

60 (Poster MS)

Effects of cyclical changes in environmental salinity on osmoregulatory parameters in the Mozambique tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus. K. Pavlosky*, Y. Yamaguchi, D.T. Lerner, E.G. Grau, and A.P. Seale.

MBBE

61 (Poster MS)

Rhizosphere microbial community and activity of zero-tillage grasses cultivated for biofuel feedstock in Hawai‘i. Daniel Richardson*, Susan E. Crow, Adel Youkhana, Jennifer Moore-Kucera, and Richard Ogoshi.

NREM

62 (Poster MS)

Effect of tillage practices on performance of maize in Bàrué and Nhamatanda districts of Mozambique. António J. Rocha*, Russell Yost, Rebecca Ryals, and M’Randa R. Sandlin.

TPSS

7

Abstract No. Title, Authors Presenter’s

Home Unit 63

(Poster MS) Analysis of the expression of the pathogen defense gene Vst1 driven by papaya promoters in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana in response to defense response elicitors, salicylic acid and methyl jasmonate. Rick Shimshock* and David A. Christopher.

MBBE

64 (Poster MS)

Growth and Yield of Sweet Corn as Influenced by Tankage Rate and Application Timing. Tiare Silvasy*, Amjad Ahmad, Koon-Hui Wang, and Theodore Radovich.

TPSS

65 (Poster MS)

Potential Drug Leads and Diet: Is There Correlation in Conus? Nicholas Sinclair* and Jon-Paul Bingham.

MBBE

66 (Poster MS)

West Nile Virus NS4B Regulates the Retention of NS5 in Virus-Induced Replication Organelles. Alanna Tseng*, Vivek R. Nerurkar, and Pakieli H. Kaufusi.

MBBE

67 (Poster MS)

Characterizing fermentable qualities of resistant starch in Musa ABB bananas at different ripeness for potential health benefits. Surely Wallace* and Maria Stewart.

HNFAS

68 (Poster MS)

Gigapixel Imagery: An Application for Incipient Invasive Species Detection and Mapping. William Weaver* and Tomoaki Miura.

NREM

69 (Poster MS)

Identification and characterization of assigning Novel Conotoxin Sequences derived from the Milked Venom of Conus obscurus. Rui-Yang Zhang* and Jon-Paul Bingham.

MBBE

70 (Poster PhD)

Natural products that reduce postharvest disease of tomato on Oahu. Firas Ahmed*, Anne Alvarez, and Brent Sipes.

PEPS

71 (Poster PhD)

Isolation and Characterization of Genes for Drought Resistance in Leucena leucocephala, Ahmed Bageel*, Kazue Ishihara, and Dulal Borthakur.

MBBE

72 (Poster PhD)

Production and purification of truncated fish myostatin propeptide/Fc fusion protein in Escherichia Coli. Donghyuck Choi* and Yong Soo Kim.

MBBE

73 (Poster PhD)

Detection of Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) using an ultra-sensitive single-tube nested PCR assay. Islam Hamim*, Kishore Dey, Wang Zhuo, James C. Green, Wayne Borth, and John Hu.

PEPS

74 (Poster PhD)

Bio-nanocomposites-based electrochemical immunosensor for detection of Escherichia coli. Inae Lee* and Soojin Jun.

MBBE

75 (Poster PhD)

Productivity Hot Spots and Cold Spots: Setting Priorities for Achieving Food Staples Sufficiency Target in the Philippines. Rusyan Jill Mamiit*, John Yanagida, and Donald Villanueva.

NREM

76 (Poster PhD)

Systemic responses to symbiosis: does colonization of a symbiotic organ induce transcriptional changes in remote tissues? Silvia Moriano-Gutierrez*, Eric Koch, Mahdi Belcaid, and Margaret McFall-Ngai.

MBBE

77 (Poster PhD)

Micro-aeration process control system for anaerobic digestion. Duc Nguyen* and Samir K. Khanal.

MBBE

78 (Poster PhD)

High rate anaerobic digestion system for industrial wastewater with hydrogen sulfide removal by biochar. Fernanda R. Oliveira* and Samir Khanal.

MBBE

8

Abstract No. Title, Authors Presenter’s

Home Unit 79

(Poster PhD) Glycerol induced co-metabolism of dibenzothiophene in Burkholderia sp. C3. Camila A. Ortega Ramírez*, Abraham Kwan, and Qing X. Li.

MBBE

80 (Poster PhD)

Optimizing AD process to maximize VFAs production from Napier grass using micro-oxygenation. Chayanon Sawatdeenarunat* and Samir K. Khanal.

MBBE

81 (Poster PhD)

Effect of macadamia nut cake inclusion in diets on growth performance and cost of production of pasture raised broiler chickens in Hawaii. A. K. Singh*, J. D. Berrocoso, J. Ludovico, and R. Jha.

HNFAS

82 (Poster PhD)

Nutrient profile and in vitro digestibility of cassava silages in swine. Utsav P. Tiwari* and Rajesh Jha.

HNFAS

83 (Poster PhD)

Screening oil radish (Raphanus sativus) varieties for nematode management through trap cropping and biofumigation effects. Philip Waisen* and Koon-Hui Wang.

PEPS

84 (Poster PhD)

Nitrogen Transformations in Floating-Raft Aquaponic Systems. Sumeth Wongkiew* and Samir Khanal.

MBBE

133 (Poster MS)

Entomopathogenic Nematodes of Hawaii: Cryptic Species and Potential for Biological Control. J. Bisel*, R. Myers, Z. Cheng, and B. Sipes.

PEPS

134 (Poster UG)

Characterization of the Expression of Protein Disulfide Isomerase-M Subfamily Members, PDI9 and PDI10, during Development of Arabidopsis Plants. Cheyenne Barela* and David Christopher.

MBBE

9

Oral Sessions

Saturday, April 9, 2016

Agricultural Science Building (* designates presenter)

Session I Undergraduate (Section 1)

8:15–10:15 am AgSci Bldg, Room 219

Abstract

No. Title, Authors Presenter’s Home Unit

85 (Oral UG)

Finite Element Study of Self-Deflections in Large Mirrors Subject to Kinematic Mounts. Tina Li*, Mark Chun, and A. Zachary Trimble.

ME

86 (Oral UG)

Withdrawn. PEPS

87 (Oral UG)

Establishment of a CRISPR-Mediated Transformation System for Development of Virus Resistant Transgenic Plants. James Green*, Wayne Borth, and John Hu.

TPSS

88 (Oral UG)

Bacterial degradation of the toxic chemical dibenzothiophene. Abraham Kwan*, Camila Ortega, and Qing X. Li.

MBBE

89 (Oral UG)

Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of Ohelo berry juice. Christensen Mangahas*, Stuart Nakamoto, and Yong Li.

HNFAS

90 (Oral UG)

Comparing Reflective and Black Mulch on Growth and Pest Management of Tomato. Christian Mathias* and Leyla Kaufman.

PEPS

91 (Oral UG)

Indoor Vertical Agriculture. Zackery Morrison*, Noeloikeau Charlot, Loren Gautz, and Samir Khanal.

MBBE

92 (Oral UG)

Assisted Colonization Policy For Endangered Species Of Hawai’i In The Face Of Climate Change. Shannon N. Rivera* and Melissa P. Price.

IS

10

Session II M.S. (Section 1)

8:15–10:15 am AgSci Bldg, Room 204

Abstract

No. Title, Authors Presenter’s Home Unit

93 (Oral MS)

A review of biological carbon capture. Josephine Adolpho* and Eunsung Kan.

MBBE

94 (Oral MS)

Site-directed substitution mutagenesis of rhizomimosinase and mimosinase, the bacterial and plant enzymes that degrade mimosine. Michael Honda*, Manami Onitsuka, Yoshimitsu Kakuta, and Dulal Borthakur.

MBBE

95 (Oral MS)

Modifying seedling morphology and physiology of Acacia koa in nursery culture to promote outplanting establishment, survival, and growth. Bradley Kaufmann*, J.B. Friday, Travis Idol, and Jeremy Pinto.

NREM

96 (Oral MS)

Effects of soil nutrient availability on non-native invasive and native species in Hawaiian wet and dry ecosystems. Amanda Knauf*, Creighton Litton, Rebecca Cole, Christian Giardina, and Jed Sparks.

NREM

97 (Oral MS)

Acclimation of Pacific White Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei to low-salinity aquaculture. Donna Kuehu* and Jinzeng Yang.

HNFAS

98 (Oral MS)

Characterization of secondary metabolites in marine sponge-associated bacteria on Hawaii Island. Francis Sakai-Kawada* and Jonathan Awaya.

MBBE

99 (Oral MS)

Deformed wing virus in non-apis bees in the Hawaiian Isles. Jessika Santamaria*, Scott Nikaido, and Ethel Villalobos.

PEPS

100 (Oral MS)

Functional Characterization of Putative Effector Genes of Basil Downy Mildew Pathogen Peronospora belbahrii. Dandan Shao*, Dongliang Wu, and Miaoying Tian.

PEPS

11

Session III Ph.D. (Section 1)

8:15–10:15 am AgSci Bldg, Room 220

Abstract

No. Title, Authors Presenter’s Home Unit

101 (Oral PhD)

Evaluation of moringa leaves as an alternative feed ingredient in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) aquaculture from production, gut health, and economic perspective. Alyssa M. Haygood* and Rajesh Jha.

MBBE

102 (Oral PhD)

Evaluation of satellite-derived seasonal vegetation dynamics for climate change studies. Anna Kato* and Tomoaki Miura.

NREM

103 (Oral PhD)

Design of an Unmanned Aerial Treatment System for Invasive Species Management. Roberto Rodriguez III*, Daniel M. Jenkins, and James J. K. Leary.

MBBE

104 (Oral PhD)

Effect of supplemental enzyme on growth performance, digesta viscosity, nutrient and fiber digestibility of nursery pigs. Utsav P. Tiwari*, Sung Woo Kim, and Rajesh Jha.

HNFAS

105 (Oral PhD)

Modeling coral reef futures for management of ecosystem services in Maui Nui, Hawaiʻi. Lindsay Veazey*, Kirsten Oleson, Mariska Weijerman, Susan Yee, Kellie Vache, Jade Delaveaux, and Mary Donovan.

BIOL

106 (Oral PhD)

Methane potentials and detailed lignin analysis of sugarcane, energycane, and napiergrass: connecting plant structural components to bioconversion. Jon M. Wells*, Susan E. Crow, Richard Ogoshi, Samir Khanal, and Andrew Hashimoto.

NREM

107 (Oral PhD)

Decision Tree Analysis of Coffee Berry Borer in Hawaii. A. John Woodill*, Stuart T. Nakamoto, Andrea M. Kawabata, and PingSun Leung.

NREM

108 (Oral PhD)

“Feeding my sisters”----the hungry bees and busy hive. Zhening Zhang*, Ethel Villalobos, and Scott Nikaido.

PEPS

12

Session IV Undergraduate (Section 2)

10:30 am–12:30 pm AgSci Bldg, Room 219

Abstract

No. Title, Authors Presenter’s Home Unit

109 (Oral UG)

The effects of soil nitrogen and drought on mimosine content of Leucaena leucocephala. Makana Agcaoili*, Michael Honda, and Dulal Borthakur.

MBBE

110 (Oral UG)

Swimwear: The Investigation of Durability Features. Sophie Allin*, McCarthy, Minako, and Lorina Yancura.

FCS

111 (Oral UG)

Development and analysis of soft cheese using whey by-product from local cheese production. Maryhmelle Castillo*, Nathan Wong, C.N. Lee, and Yong Li.

HNFAS

112 (Oral UG)

Effects of in vitro fermentation of alternative feedstuffs on intestinal microbiota of chicken analyzed using 16S ribosomal DNA typing. Candice Malabad*, Karla Balagso, Alyssa M. Haygood, Kabi Neupane, and Rajesh Jha.

BIOL

113 (Oral UG)

Automatic Optical Coffee Cherry Sorter. Kimberly Tatsuyama*, Taylor Hori, Derek Sasaki, Tiffany-Heather Ulep, and Loren Gautz.

MBBE

114 (Oral UG)

Control of microrobots using laser technology towards the goal of tissue culturing. Leanne King*, Wendy Chong, Brent Kim, Matthew Savella, Alex Li, Lindsey Heupel, Connie Hoong, Sammy Landingin, Nigel Ng, Kawai Siliga, Matthew Bowers, Michael Sabido, Ethan Oshiro, Jordan Romanelli, and Aaron Ohta.

EE

115 (Oral UG)

Quantifying Chlordane and Dieldrin in storm water runoff in Manoa stream. Chad Morrow* and Tao Yan.

CEE

116 (Oral UG)

Biomechanics of Dance Turns and Jumps. Alexander R S. Ribao*, John S. Allen, and Elizabeth Fisher.

ME

13

Session V M.S. (Section 2)

10:30 am–12:30 pm AgSci Bldg, Room 204

Abstract

No. Title, Authors Presenter’s Home Unit

117 (Oral MS)

Separation of Bacteriophage MS2 as a Norovirus Surrogate From Contaminated Tap Water Using a Single Stage, Continuous Flow Dielectrophoresis (DEP) device. Jireh Cebricos*, Yong Li, and Soojin Jun.

HNFAS

118 (Oral MS)

Assessment of Plastic Ingestion and Associated Organic Pollutants in Sea Turtles across the Pacific Ocean. Katharine E. Clukey*, Christopher A. Lepczyk, George Balazs, Thierry Work, Qing Li, Linda Cox, and Jennifer M. Lynch.

NREM

119 (Oral MS)

Recovery of concentrated microbial pathogens using a portable electroflotation system. Lena Diaz*, Roberto Rodriguez, Ryo Kubota, and Daniel Jenkins.

MBBE

120 (Oral MS)

Broadening the genetic base of papaya via intergeneric hybridization with wild relatives. Gregory Hoover* and Richard Manshardt.

TPSS

121 (Oral MS)

A transdisciplinary assessment of sustainable biochar amendment in Hawaiian agriculture. Jabez Meulemans*, Susan Crow, Lauren Deem, John Yanagida, and Jonathan Deenik.

NREM

122 (Oral MS)

Develop Vermicompost Tea Drenching Protocol for Management of Root-Knot Nematodes, Meloidogyne incognita. Shova Mishra* and K.-H. Wang.

PEPS

123 (Oral MS)

Molecular Detection and Identification of Emara-like Viruses Associated with Ti Ringspot Disease of Cordyline fruticosa (L.) in Hawai’i. Adam Park* and Michael Melzer.

PEPS

124 (Oral MS)

Apparent metabolizable energy content of Macadamia nut cake for broiler chickens. Sudhir Yadav*, Julio F. Berrocoso, and Rajesh Jha.

HNFAS

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Session VI Ph.D. (Section 2) 10:30 am–12:30 pm

AgSci Bldg, Room 220

Abstract No. Title, Authors Presenter’s

Home Unit 125

(Oral PhD) Potassium Availability from Three Invasive Algae Species in a Pak Choi Model Crop. Chandrappa Gangaiah*, T.J.K. Radovich, Hue Nguyen, and Amjad Ahmad.

TPSS

126 (Oral PhD)

Evaluating freshwater ecosystem services models for use in Hawai‘i. Hla Htun*, Kirsten L. L. Oleson, and Oceana Francis.

NREM

127 (Oral PhD)

Resistance to Fusarium oxysporum in mechanically stressed Acacia koa seedlings. Kazue Ishihara*, Eric Lee, and Dulal Borthakur.

MBBE

128 (Oral PhD)

Algal biofilm bioreactor for wastewater treatment and biofuel production. Jung Shick Kwon* and Eun Sung Kan.

MBBE

129 (Oral PhD)

A novel mechanism of action of a corn silk flavone for Alzheimer’s drug discovery. Zhibin Liang* and Qing X. Li.

MBBE

130 (Oral PhD)

Functional characterization of a cytoplasmic effector gene highly conserved in plant pathogenic oomycetes. Natasha Navet*, Dandan Shao, and Miaoying Tian.

PEPS

131 (Oral PhD)

In ovo inoculation of raffinose improves hatchability, gut mucosal health and immune response in broiler chickens. A. K. Singh, J. D. Berrocoso, R. Kida, Y. S. Kim and R. Jha.

HNFAS

132 (Oral PhD)

An analysis of marine protected area governance along the Andaman Coast in Southern Thailand. Jutha Supholdhavanij* and Kirsten L.L. Oleson.

NREM

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CREDITS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

2016 Symposium Coordinating Committee

Charles Kinoshita (Overall Coordinator) Song Choi (COE Coordinator)

Mandy Chen (Program Coordinator) Travis Idol (Chief Judge)

Zhiqiang Cheng (Co-Chief Judge) Soojin Jun (Co-Chief Judge)

Jon-Paul Bingham (Judging Coordinator) Matthew Chun-Hori (Equipment/Facilities Coordinator)

Lisa Kitagawa-Akagi (Registration Coordinator) Lydia Gerakas (Refreshments Coordinator)

Douglas Vincent Miles Hakoda Thomas Lim Joel Bumanglag Kellie Taguchi Cheryl Ernst

Special thanks to the Student Activity Program and Fee Board (SAPFB), the Associated Students of

the University of Hawaii at Manoa (ASUH), and USDA-NIFA for funding part of this event.

Judges

Aaron Ohta Jinzeng Yang Minako McCarthy Shizu Watanabe Alan Titchenal Joannie Dobbs Nguyen Hue Shu Hwa Lin Alvin Huang John Allen Oceana Francis Soojin Jun Anita Schorlemmer Ju-Young M. Kang Olga Boric-Lubecke Susan Crow Brent Buckley Kabi Neupane Orville C. Baldos Susan Miyasaka Brian Turano Kauahi Perez Pakieli Kaufusi Tao Yan Carolyn Donohoe Mather Kelvin Sewake Parker Trauernicht Teresita Amore Catherine Chan Kent Kobayashi Peter Garrod Theodore Radovich Chris Yuen Kevin Schneider Peter Toves Thomas Wolfgruber Creighton M. Litton Koon-Hui Wang Phillip Ooi Tomoaki Miura David Christopher Krishna Lamichhane Pratibha Nerurkar Tony Kuh David Garmire Linda Cox Rajesh Jha Travis Idol Dilmurat Azimov Marcelo Kobayashi Rebecca Ryals Trevor Sorensen Douglas Vincent Margaret Baker Richard Criley Victor Lubecke Edward Drielak Maria Stewart Richard Manshardt Wayne Shiroma Eunsung Kan Mehrdad Nejhad Richard Ogoshi Winston Su Gernot Presting Miaoying Tian Robert Paull Yin-Phan Tsang Halina Zaleski Michael Espiritu Russell Yost Yingfei Dong Harry Davis Michael Kantar Ryo Kubota Yong Kim Helen Turano Michael Melzer Sayed Bateni Yong Li Jannai Yafuso Michael Muszynski Scot Nelson Zhiqiang Cheng

Oral Presentation Moderators

Emily Taylor Erik Saksa Nicholas Sinclair Ray Zhang Theodore Fitch Vinay Menon

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ABSTRACTS (* designates presenter)

(1) Peptide transporters in Leucaena leucocephala. McMillan Ching*, Kazue Ishihara, and Dulal Borthakur. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. Mimosine, a non-protein amino acid produced by the tree legume Leucaena leucocephala (leucaena), has been considered to be a phytosiderophore for the uptake of Fe3+ by the plant. Leucaena secretes mimosine to the rhizosphere, where it binds to Fe3+. Kinetic studies in our lab have shown that three molecules of mimosine bind to one molecule of Fe3+ to produce a stable mimosine-iron complex, which is taken up by the plant as a mechanism for iron acquisition. Sequestering and uptaking of iron are especially important in alkaline soils. The goal of this research is to identify the mechanism of transport of the mimosine-iron complex into the leucaena root system. It has been hypothesized that a large complex made up of three mimosine and one Fe3+ will require a peptide transporter for transporting into the plant cell. The specific objectives of this project are: (i) to identify peptide transporters in leucaena; and (ii) to identify the specific peptide transporter(s) for mimosine-iron complex. Nine peptide transporter sequences were identified from the transcriptome sequences of leucaena on the basis of sequence homology with known peptide transporters. The lengths of the sequences ranged 300-690 bp, while their homologies with Arabidopsis thaliana peptide transporters ranged 72-89%. The full length cDNA sequences for these transporters will be obtained using 5’ and 3’ Rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). We expect that the transporter for the mimosine-iron complex will be expressed exclusively in the roots. Therefore, the expression level of the nine transporters will be determined in leaves, stems, and roots of leucaena by quantitative PCR (qPCR). Discovering the mechanism of iron acquisition will be useful for developing plant varieties suitable for growing in alkaline soils. This research is supported by a HATCH grant. (2) Measurement of the cellular conductivities of Escherichia coli K12 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Lexi Kaneshiro, Cherisse Chun*, Jireh Cebricos, Inae Lee, Yong Li, and Soojin Jun. Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences. Knowing the cellular conductivity of select yeast and bacteria can serve as a valuable reference in a range of scientific applications. Dielectrophoresis, the lateral movement induced on particles by electric fields of different magnitudes, is a sensitive function of the electrical conductivity of the particles within the suspension. The study was designed to obtain the conductivity of the gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli K12, as well as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a yeast often used in fermentation processes. To create a suspension of E. Coli K12 cells, 100 µL of the bacterium was incubated for 24 hours in 10 mL of tryptic soya broth, and the cells washed a few times with deionized water. After centrifugation, the conductivity of the supernatant (σm) was measured using an OMEGA� Portable Conductivity Meter. Once the cells were resuspended, the conductivity of the suspension (σs) was determined before being altered with the addition of 100-µL aliquots of 0.1 M NaCl. The conductivity of both the supernatant and the suspension were measured again, and the addition of NaCl repeated several more times. After an experimental plot of σs-σm versus σm was constructed, a straight line was fitted through the data points, and the cellular conductivity was obtained from the point where the line crosses the x-axis. For E.coli K12, the cellular conductivity was found to be approximately 340 µS cm-1. Ongoing efforts are aimed at finding the conductivity of S. cerevisiae using a similar experimental procedure to that of the E. coli K12. Data on cellular conductivity can be applied to the dielectrophoretic separation of bacterial cells from a liquid medium, as well as the manipulation and trapping of yeast particulate remaining in beer post-fermentation.

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(3) Ka ʻOihana Mahiʻai i ka Lumi Papa: natural farming curriculum in Hawaii’s middle and high schools. Keala Cowell* and Michael DuPonte. Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences. Agriculture programs in Hawaii’s middle and high schools have been slowly dwindling over the past twenty years. Agriculture in the classroom is a vital hands-on learning process in which students observe, discover, and experiment, while learning to grow and raise their own crops and livestock. A two year program using various methods of natural farming has been introduced to four high schools on the Big Island of Hawaii. The primary objectives of this curriculum are to increase interdisciplinary studies by implementing various aspects of natural farming that satisfy Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) standards, as well as the Department of Education’s Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) program. A curriculum for school gardens is currently being incorporated using applied science, mathematics, chemistry, and microbiology into everyday lessons. Students learn about ecosystems, soil health, microorganisms, entomology, plant pathology, and various environmental issues as a result of poor farming management practices. (4) Turn-the-page weed mat covering for weed management in a no-till cropping system. B. Domen* and K.-H.Wang. Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences. One advantage of no-till farming is through the reduction of tillage. Weed seeds distributed in the soil will not be disturbed. Once weed seeds on the soil surface have germinated, grown, and been killed with weed management tactics other than tillage, such as post emergence herbicides, flaming, mowing, or crimping, the weed seed bank on the top soil layer will be depleted. This research aims to examine the use of the turn-the-page weed mat covering technique, developed by CTAHR specialist Dr. Joe DeFrank, to shade out weeds or cover crops using light excluding woven fabric in a no-till system. It is called turn-the-page because once the weeds have died from light exclusion, the fabric can then be used to cover an adjacent weedy area to prepare for the next crop. Several field trials were conducted during the Fall 2015 Weed Science class to determine the optimal weed mat coverage time (0, 1, 2, and 3 weeks) before crop planting. These plots were then split into weed flushing with sprinkler irrigation for 1 week vs no weed flushing. After removal of the fabric, sweet corn and daikon were directly seeded and weed data was monitored weekly. Weed coverage of 3 weeks suppressed broadleaf and grassy weeds more effectively than 0 or 1 weeks of coverage (P < 0.05). Flushing the plot with sprinkler irrigation one week before coverage also significantly suppressed broadleaf weeds versus no flushing (P < 0.05). However, weed suppression did not last more than a month, and the cash crop could not out compete the weeds. A second trial was repeated but instead of direct seeding, cash crop seedlings of corn, soybean, and zucchini squash were transplanted after 2 weeks of turn-the-page weed mat covering. In this case, the cash crops out competed the weeds. Overall, turn-the-page weed mat covering provided an herbicide free method for weed management in a no-till system, and would be most compatible with the transplanting of crop seedlings instead of direct seeding.

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(5) The Tropical Dessert for Gluten-Free Diet. Hyuk Ann, Llanie Ibarra*, and Alvin Huang. Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that can occur in genetically predisposed people where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine, or sometimes, death. The study is aimed to make a gluten-free twist on a popular “grab-and-go” dessert item commonly sold at Starbucks’, nationwide, cake-pops. The goals of the project are to a.) Create a unique gluten-free cake pop, and incorporating tropical flavors that are preferred and well known in Hawaii: haupia, guava, green tea, and/or lilikoi. b.) Use different types of gluten free flours to boost; palatability with the rice flour; and fiber content, with coconut flour. c.) Reduce added sugar levels to under 5% of total weight per cake-pop. The ingredients used in the trial run of making the cake of the cake-pop are simple and inexpensive. The group figured using a cake-pop machine with a top and bottom heat contact surface that heats up to around 190C was the fastest method of producing cake-pop cakes. The current capacity of cake-pop production is limited to 12 uniform cake-pop cakes forever 4 minutes, and holds the temperature of around 78C for about 5 minutes. The sugar content, by mass, of this product is currently at around 10% per cake-pop. A possibility is replacing some of the added sugar with flour to bring the overall sugar levels down. More trials are needed to make a product that receives the same positive feedback from colleagues and mentors alike over the first successful trial product, after bringing the added sugar content down. Since the group plans to incorporate tropical flavors to enhance the product, further testing needs to be done over which flavors will complement the cake the most. (6) Supplemental nutrients for aquaponic taro production using nutrient inputs prepared from Natural Farming practices. Jonathan Kam* and Koon-Hui Wang. Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences. Aquaponics is an integration of aquaculture with hydroponic crop production systems where fish effluent provide a source of nitrogen for the plants. Although aquaponic solution supplies abundant N, other nutrients such as P, K, Fe, Mn, and S has been reported to be limited. The first objective of this experiment is to examine if additional nutrients could be applied to aquaponic grown taro (Colocasia esculenta) to increase plant health. Using nutrient inputs prepared from Korean Natural Farming, we modified a foliar nutrient inputs (Type III solution) by adding banana bracts nutrient extract. Due to the water repellency of taro leaves, Type III solution was applied to the inner petiole close to the base of the plant. Three dosage of Type III solution tested were 0, 16 and 32 ml per plant each week, with 6 plant per treatment. Taro plants receiving 32 ml of Type III solution had higher number of leaves, canopy width and plant height, but lower keiki numbers than the untreated aquaponic taro plants (P < 0.05). The second objective of this research was to determine if 1) an OMRI certified insecticide that contained cottonseed oil, clove oil, and garlic oil and 2) hot water foliar spray (115-120°F) can manage spider-mites and aphid infestation on taro leaves. The OMRI certified insecticide did not suppress spider-mites numbers on the leaves. Experiment is in progress to determine the effect of hot water foliar spray on aphid infestation. The findings from this directed research would fill in the knowledge gap on supplying natural nutrient supplement needed for aquaponics taro production and pest management strategies that are compatible with fish production.

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(7) Removal of Antibiotics and Microbial Pathogens in Dairy Farm Wastewater by Light-mediated Biochar-supported Photocatalysts. Cassie Kawamata*, Lisa Parente, and Eunsung Kan. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. The pathogens and antibiotics in dairy farm wastewater has caused detrimental bacterial outbreaks in the food industry and polluted public water. The need for further treatment of waste lagoon effluent has never been so dire and necessary. Persistent antibiotics and pathogens in water reused from animal farms are detrimental to the environment and cause large food safety concerns. The dwindling clean water supply further emphasizes the need for a treatment process to allow water to be recycled. A wastewater system using biochar-supported photocatalysts aims to effectively treat wastewater from a dairy farm lagoon for the purpose of irrigation. This project centers on the use of biochar-supported photocatalysts as the product facilitating the treatment of the wastewater. Sulfamethoxazole (antibiotic) and E. Coli in water were tested for removal over a time period of 1 to 6 hours under ultraviolet light irradiation. Under the utilization of ultraviolet light irradiation the photocatalysts were able to kill pathogens and breakdown antibiotics while the biochar acted as an adsorbent and a surface for the attachment of the photocatalysts. Therefore, the significant findings in this project will be useful as an economic solution to treating dairy farm wastewater. (8) Nutritional value of rendered products in swine studied in vitro. Alex P. Langlois*, William L. Ribeiro, and Rajesh Jha. Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences. Rendered products (RP), byproducts of the packing/rendering industry are high in energy content and are good sources of amino acids, minerals and B-complex vitamins. Using RP in animal feed will not only reduce the cost of production, but also the waste going to landfills. However, the nutrient profile of rendered products varies widely depending on the source and type. Nutrient profile and in vitro digestibility of dry matter (DM) and gross energy (GE) of 13 RP samples (2 meat meals, MM; 3 meat and bone meals, MBM; 2 poultry meals, PM; 2 poultry byproduct meals, PBM; 2 feather meals, FM; and 2 blood meals, BM) were determined. In vitro digestibility was determined using a 3-step enzymatic assay (which simulates the digestion occurring in the gastrointestinal tract of swine) with 8 replicates of each sample. Residues after digestion were used to determine DM and GE digestibility. The DM of samples ranged from 90.3 (BM1) to 97.2% (PBM2). On DM basis, GE ranged from 4100 (MBM2) to 5797 kcal/kg (FM2). The DM digestibility was highest (P<0.05) for MBM2 (75.5%) and lowest for PBM2 (54.5%). The GE digestibility was highest (P<0.05) for PBM1 and lowest for PBM2 (39.6%). There were also differences (P<0.05) within the same type of RP for all variable studied. In conclusion, rendered products are reasonably high in GE content with fair digestibility value. Thus, rendered products can be used as a partial substitute for protein feedstuffs in animal feeding program to reduce feed cost, especially where these products are available. However, diets must be balanced to meet other nutrients requirement of swine.

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(9) Use of anaerobic soil disinfestation for weed suppression in a basil (Ocimum basilicum) and onion (Allium fistulosum) intercropping system. Noelle Lee*, Christine Nakahara, Tiare Silvasy, Jennifer Michalski, Angela Kaneshiro, and Koon-Hui Wang. Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences and Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences. Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD) is a form soil disinfestation through fermentation of high tonnage of organic matter in extremely high soil moisture content. A field trial was conducted to use invasive seaweed (Gracilaria salicornia and Acanthophora spicifera) collected from Heeia Lea Pier as 1) organic amendment tilled into soil at 15.6 tons/acre (34.9 Mg/ha) and water till the soil is fully saturated, 2) 103.5lb/acre of seaweed spread onto the plots, and 3) a control plot of 38.72 lbs/acre of seaweed. Weed suppression was determined calculating weed density using a 1ft x 1ft quadrants. It was hypothesized that ASD would cause weed suppression, and the highest yield of basil and onion. Weed density showed significantly high in ASD for broadleaf weeds, however, not significant for grassy weeds. Green onion crop yields did not show any significant differences in all crops while basil crop yields showed significant difference in the ASD plots compared to SW or BG. Weed suppression of the ASD plots remained stable, more replications of this experiment is needed and also controlling the environments maybe taken into account for. The use of using aquatic invasive weeds to suppress agricultural weed suppression is a great idea to sustainability. (10) Are all milks created equal? Marissa Madeira*, C. Alan Titchenal, and Joannie Dobbs. Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences. Plant-based “milk” products have become widely available in the current food market. These alternatives often are consumed in place of cow’s milk, which is classically known to provide protein, calcium, and Vitamin D. This study explored how well plant-based “milks” provide these key nutrients compared to cow’s milk as well as calories, fat, and sugar content. Twelve food retail stores were surveyed for all plant-based “milk” products on a single day in Honolulu, Hawaii. Brand, “milk” type, and nutrient information from the food label were collected. Nutrient information was then compared to the USDA values for 2% cow’s milk using JMP 12.0.1. Fourteen types of non-animal “milk” from 20 different brands were documented. The majority of these “milks” were almond (37.3%) and soy (28.7%) with the remainder based on miscellaneous grains, nuts and seeds. Only soy “milk” had similar protein content compared to cow’s milk; whereas others contained less than half of the protein. Calcium and vitamin D varied based on fortification. About 60% of plant “milks” had calorie and sugar content substantially lower than 2% cow’s milk. Also fat content was generally lower, except for coconut and hemp “milks.” Plant-based “milks” generally are low in protein, but can contain comparable amounts of calcium, and vitamin D when fortified. Calcium bioavailability, however, may be significantly lower in plant “milks”. Due to the nutritional non-equivalency of most plant “milks” with cow’s milk, use of the term “milk” on these products may represent deceptive marketing.

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(11) In vitro fermentation of Hawaiian feedstuffs and its effect on the intestinal microbiota of swine. Sarah Mattus*, Utsav P. Tiwari, Kabi Neupane, and Rajesh Jha. Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences and Math and Sciences Division, Leeward Community College. Fiber and resistant starch fermentation affect gut microbiota and the link between the gut microbiota and health has been well documented. Local Hawaiian feedstuffs, high in fiber and resistant starch, have potential for development of lower cost feeds while improving gut health of pigs. To gain insight into the impact of some locally available feedstuffs on the intestinal microbial communities, a fermentation study on six local feedstuffs was done using an in vitro pig model with fecal sample from three healthy sows as inoculum. The feedstuffs studied were macadamia nut cake, barley brewers grain, wheat millrun, Okinawan sweet potato, yam, and taro; inulin and blank inoculum was used as positive and negative control, respectively and replicated six times per feedstuff. Residue after 72 hours fermentation were used for genomic DNA isolation of the microbiome. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was done using universal primers for the V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene, with a GC clamp on the forward primer. The resulting PCR product was analyzed using temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE). Individual bands were excised from the gel and sequenced to identify the major bacterial species affected by the diets. Statistical analysis was done to compare the changes in microbial communities and their relationship to fermentation patterns. Within the high fiber and high starch containing feedstuff groups, similar banding patterns existed. Both groups were comparable to the inulin control. In conclusion, locally available feedstuffs have comparable prebiotics effects to inulin, thus are suitable for inclusion in swine diets to modulate microbiota favorably. (12) In vitro fermentation of cassava silages and their effect on the intestinal microbiota of chicken. Tyler Peterson*, Leilani Galicia, Alyssa Haygood, Kabi Neupane, and Rajesh Jha. Math and Sciences Division, Leeward Community College, Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, and Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences. This study examined the effects of the in vitro fermentation of cassava root and silages on the intestinal microbiota of chickens, for the purpose of determining the feed types that promote the growth of beneficial bacteria. Altogether 7 test samples- fresh cassava, 2 and 3 months ensiled cassava silages (3 each with root and leaves ratio 100:0, 50:50 and 25:75, respectively) were used in this study. The samples were fermented in vitro with chicken cecal content as bacterial inoculum; 16SrDNA was extracted from post-fermentation residues and microbiota were characterized using PCR-TGGE and Sanger sequencing. Shannon-Weiner Diversity Indices ranged from 0.69 to 0.80 suggesting low microbial species diversity in all samples. Results from a cluster analysis of the TGGE banding patterns indicated that the treatments were very similar. Additionally, preliminary results from the Sanger sequencing were inconclusive and more work needs to be done to determine the species present in all samples. The results suggest that the seven feedstuffs used in this study will produce very similar effects upon chicken intestinal microbiota.

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(13) Facilitating the Restructuring of Food Waste Recycling on Oahu. Kristen Jamieson, Sean Reseigh, Tanya Torres* and Melissa Price. Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management. Oahu generates an estimated 69,562 tons of pre-consumer food waste each year. A large contribution is generated by the restaurant sector, estimated at about 92% of total food waste on Oahu. The City and County of Oahu has implemented policies requiring restaurants of a certain size to recycle food waste. Partially due to lack of enforcement, recycling rates of restaurant food waste are estimated at only 25% each year. Some restaurants currently participate in recycling efforts by diverting their waste to recycling companies such as EcoFeed and the Hawaii Food Bank. The fundamental objective of this study is to understand all aspects of food waste on Oahu to make a recommendation on the best course of action to increase restaurant food waste recycling to 50% by 2020 using a structured decision making process. This processes involves the curation of quantifiable objectives that are carefully evaluated using models to predict risk. Acting as facilitators in this process, we engaged key stakeholders and decision makers to evaluate the feasibility of different avenues to increase food waste recycling. These discussions illuminated the need to restructure the current food waste policy to increase enforcement, and to diversify the food waste recycling stream through financial support for new food waste recycling businesses. We hope our findings inform future efforts to implement practices that expand food waste recycling on Oahu. (14) How does Hawaiʻi (HI) stack up: Comparing nutrient intakes in 2-8 year old participants in the Children’s Healthy Living (CHL) program in HI to National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). R.K. Villiger*, C.J. Boushey, K.M. Yonemori, R. Novotny, M.K. Fialkowski, M. Esquivel, and J.C. Banna. Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences and UH Cancer Center. NHANES collects dietary data for only the contiguous USA. Thus, nutrient intake data of HI children are scarce. The CHL program in HI collected dietary data from remote underserved children 2-8 y from Nov 2012 to Aug 2013. Our objective is to describe HI children’s intakes of ‘nutrients of concern’ based on Dietary Guidelines 2015 (i.e., dietary fiber (DF); vitamins (Vit) A, C, E; calcium (Ca); magnesium (Mg); potassium (K+)). Diet was collected using parent/caretaker completed 2-day dietary records and analyzed with PacTrac3. Nutrient intakes of children (2-5 & 6-11 y) from NHANES 2011-2012 were referenced. The 431 children were 2-5 y boys (n=142) & girls (n=154), and 6-8 y boys (n=61) & girls (n=74). Mean Ca intakes (mg) were the most disparate between NHANES and HI (NHANES 2-5 y boys & girls, 1062 & 949, respectively; 6-11 y boys & girls, 1137 & 1004, respectively; HI 2-5 y boys & girls, 757 & 741, respectively; 6-8 y boys & girls, 844 & 742, respectively). Mean DF, Vit A, and Vit E intakes were lower in HI than NHANES. Mean Mg and energy (kcal) intakes were similar for NHANES and HI; and K+ and Vit C for girls only. No nutrient intakes were notably higher for HI than NHANES. The sampling frame differences by income and age between NHANES and CHL may explain observed differences. Regardless, the gap in Ca intakes was large. The lower nutrient intakes in HI may be due to low intakes of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and dairy. These results support the need for collecting dietary information of the HI population.

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(15) Analysis of synbiotic yogurts developed using probiotics and inulin. Beverly Yuen*, C.N. Lee, and Yong Li. Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences. Synbiotic foods incorporating both probiotics and prebiotics have become popular in recent years. Prebiotics are fibers that can enhance the functionality of probiotics and confer health benefits to the host upon ingestion. This research aimed to develop and analyze functional synbiotic yogurts. Probiotic bacteria including Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA), Lactobacillus paracasei (LP), and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) were separately inoculated at 106 cfu/mL along with a common yogurt start culture Streptococcus thermophilus (ST) into pasteurized milk with or without 2% prebiotic inulin. The fermentation was conducted at 41°C for 18 h. Yogurts were analyzed for pH, ST count, and probiotic count. The synbiotic yogurt containing LGG exhibited the most coagulation and the lowest pH of 4.19. The yogurt containing LA without inulin exhibited the least coagulation and the highest pH of 5.02. LP in yogurt without inulin showed lower probiotic count than LA and LGG. Overall, LGG demonstrated to be the most effective and active probiotic in the development of synbiotic yogurt. Ongoing efforts are centered on viscosity measurement, shelf life stability, and inulin analysis of the yogurts during refrigeration. The advancement of synbiotic yogurts with inulin would aid the establishment of probiotics in the competitive gut environment. (16) Developing a Demand Response Platform and Client Network for Residential Smart Grid Solutions. Bryce Adams*, Mitch McLean, Holm Smidt, Zack Yuen, and Reza Ghorbani. Department of Mechanical Engineering. With the increase of renewable energy generation in the state of Hawai`i, the stability of our electric grid is prognosed to decrease. This is due to intermittent energy sources, such as solar and wind, having unpredictable power production profiles. Utility companies compensate for the variability in renewable power and consumer demand by increasing or decreasing their generator output. This in turn results in considerable wear and tear on the power plants and overall energy inefficiencies. Grid modernization with the integration of demand response (DR) strategies -- strategies where consumers can play an active role in reducing peak load by allowing the utility to have control over their appliances -- presents a key tool to maintaining a sustainable and reliable electricity grid. This project integrates software, electrical, and mechanical designs into a DR management system for residential applications automatically adjust energy usage to correct frequency problems. When installed in residential homes, our devices monitor overall household energy consumption and automatically control appliance loads. Our user interface displays real time energy data, as well as offers various analytics and services to the end user and the utility. The platform provides necessary and customizable tools to connect home appliances to a smart grid network, thus balancing demand and supply when needed, and contributing to a more sustainable, energy-efficient, and stable electricity grid in Hawai`i.

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(17) Modular, Low-Cost Environmental Sensor Networks. Brandon Amano*, Garrett Young, Brian Chan, Kim Pee Castro, Ryan Walser, Scott Nakashima, and Anthony Kuh. Department of Electrical Engineering. In the Galvin Electricity Initiative, a microgrid is defined as a “small scale version of the central electricity system”. Smart microgrids are also referred to as “an ideal way to integrate renewable resources.” Renewable energy sources, such as photovoltaic (PV), are intermittent, which raises concern when considering their integration on a large scale. The Renewable Energy and Island Sustainability group (REIS) is proposing the design, implementation, and assessment of a smart microgrid which provides a dynamic energy management plan based on sensing, modeling, and analysis. This project is focused on the development of weather sensor networks, a critical component in the smart microgrid infrastructure. The student team plans to design the hardware and software for a fifth generation of weather sensor network. This most current iteration will include features from the fourth generation as well as a more valid hardware design. This iteration will be used to as an educational tool to teach students about the importance of valid design principles. Once complete, nodes will be placed in various locations throughout the University of Hawai`i at Manoa campus. These nodes will measure various types of environmental data, including solar irradiation, temperature, and humidity. The sensor network boxes will be self--powered, have two way communications, low cost (much cheaper than commercial weather boxes), low energy consuming, take accurate measurements, reliable, and durable. The outcome of this project is the production of datasets which can be analyzed to help mitigate the University of Hawai`i at Manoa’s dependence on non-renewable energy. (18) Study of a New Design in Breakwater Utilizing Diffractional Properties to Alter Long Wave Energy Distribution Resulting in Run-Up Reduction. Scott Arakaki*, Michelle Teng, and Shuji Seto. Department of Mechanical Engineering and Kansai University, Japan. When a long wave such as a tsunami or storm surge interacts with a submerged or floating structure in the ocean, several physical properties including reflection, diffraction, and refraction will alter the propagation of the wave. For engineers, our goal is to find the physical factor that can most effectively reduce the transmitted wave energy and wave run-up on our beaches for protecting our coastal communities. Most of the existing breakwaters for reducing wave energy are large solid structures in the ocean. During the summer of 2015, a team of Hawaiian students from the SEE-3 program, mentored by Scott Arakaki and advised by Michelle Teng, performed a preliminary wave tank experiment to investigate the interaction between a long wave and a synthetic reef model (or man-made breakwater) incorporating diffractive and dissipative interference properties to test whether these behaviors could be a factor in reducing tsunami wave inundation. Instead of one large solid structure, the specific submerged breakwater model we designed consists of a series of vertical sieve-like plates spaced out in a certain length along the wave propagation path. In the current proposed project, we would like to expand our research to perform more wave tank experiments, and to investigate the detailed design factors such as the number of the vertical plates, the total length of the arrangement, the height of the plates, and the size of the sieve holes more thoroughly and completely.

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(19) The Study of a New Reaction Wheel Design with Applications to Controllable Systems. Scott Arakaki*and Dilmurat Azimov. Department of Mechanical Engineering. The purpose of this research is to demonstrate a new real-time attitude control capability to perform various autonomous maneuvers using a new approach to reaction wheel design. The frequency of applied electrical power, that is the timing between "off" and "on" states, and magnitude of voltage are considered as the control parameters thereby allowing torque control. The proposed research involves investigations of tangential force of the rotor to compute the torque control and attitude parameters of interest. The results of the reaction wheel design simulations have been compared with conventional reaction wheels powered by electric turbines to quantify the differences in power consumption per revolution, generated control torque, and momentum. The comparison has shown feasibility and likelihood of success of the proposed design to enable the attitude control capability. Although the emphasis is given to a wide range of controllable small satellites and flight vehicles, the proposed approach can also be applied to underwater and land-based vehicles. (20) A Table Top Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion System Based On An Organic Rankine Cycle. Ileana Argyris*, Bryant Delgado, Shoshanna Douglas, William Lewis III, Tiffanee Pahia, Jared Reichman, Alverene Ribao, Stephen Sabala, Jeremy Santiago, Sy Yoshida, and Scott Miller. Department of Mechanical Engineering. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is a form of alternative energy that utilizes the temperature differential between cold deep-sea ocean water and warm surface ocean water to produce energy. Based on an Organic Rankine Cycle, OTEC systems use warm surface water to vaporize an organic working fluid and spins a turbine to generate power. The working fluid is then condensed using the cold deep-sea ocean water and the working fluid flows back to the evaporator to repeat the cycle. In this project, a 1.22 x 1.22 x 0.61 m proof of concept model of the 100 kW OTEC system belonging to Makai Ocean Engineering in Kona was made. The system consists of a turbine, condenser, boiler, and a check valve. The key design requirement is to create a simple model to educate the public about how OTEC works. The model system should produce power, be mostly transparent, have an overall safety factor of at least 2, and be portable. The system should also be safe to operate around the general public. The thermodynamic, fluid, heat transfer, and stress analyses were done on the system to ensure safety and that the system would work. The system output 1.469 watts of power. The fluid analysis showed that the system would work and flow. A safety factor of 3 was calculated for the entire system. Based on the calculations, the system will flow and produce enough power to light up an LED light.

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(21) Piezoelectric Powered Biosensors. Stephen Bauer*, Bryson Padasdao, and Olga Boric-Lubecke. Department of Electrical Engineering. The piezoelectric effect can be utilized in order to capture energy created due to changing stress on a piezoelectric component. The effect relies on the bending or squeezing of a crystal which creates a voltage potential between the concave and convex sides of the crystal lattice. The natural expansion and contraction due to human breathing or heartbeat can be used to power piezoelectric devices. A mechanical chest and mechanical arm were constructed to test the power generation capabilities at these locations of the body. All acquired piezoelectric pieces were tested for power generated from heartbeat and breathing simulation at a specific rate and displacement for each. The best pieces were then tested at multiple points across the full spectrum of resting rates for human heartbeat and breathing. Ceramic piezoelectric pieces performed best for breathing, with a best charge rate of 151.7 uV/s added to the power module at a breathing rate of 0.2Hz. The best piece for heartbeat power on the arm was also a piezoelectric piece, but macro fiber composite (MFC) piezoelectric pieces were the next best pieces. The best ceramic breathing piece performed at 11.87 uV/s for a heartbeat rate of 1Hz and a displacement of 0.1mm. This was an important first step in meeting the long term goal of this project as it is continued by future students. Next will be the development of the correct integrated hardware that will be able to take this low power and input data in order to electronically monitor the heartbeat and respiratory rate of patients in a hospital or other scenario. (22) Inexpensive Scanning Tunneling Microscope. Matthew Chan*, Richard C. Ordonez, and David Garmire. Department of Electrical Engineering. The amazing properties of two-dimensional materials such as graphene provide opportunities to develop sensitive infrared, RF, and low power devices. However, the use of such materials have already proven to be challenging in that raw materials do not exhibit the desired electrical and physical properties once integrated on chip. Scanning Tunneling Microscopes (STM) can aid in the characterization and imaging of nanomaterial surfaces at the atomic level and on chip. Using STM we can identify areas of pristine graphene before and after device integration and learn from these experiments how the mechanical and electrical properties of graphene affect device operation. However, current STM systems are costly. We believe using inexpensive components such as 3d printing and a sensitive xyz translation stages, we can develop a scanning tunneling microscope that is at a much cheaper than what is currently available.

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(23) Using InSAR to Assess Historical and Future Slope Movements. Bryan Fong* and Phillip S.K. Ooi. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The purpose of this project is to monitor historical movements of two slopes using Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) obtained via satellite images from NASA. Dating back to the 1990s, these images will be compared to determine if and how much the two slopes have moved. The satellite images will also be used to determine if vegetation has an effect on the results as one slope is heavily vegetated and the other barren. Historical data was very difficult to find. After researching many avenues, the Alaska Satellite Facility, which is managed by NASA, has provided access to their data acquired from their older satellite RADARSAT-1. This data has the potential to be very useful. A 2-page proposal was written to allow us unlimited access to their data. Our proposal was accepted and we can now download the RADARSAT-1 data. After downloading the RADARSAT-1 data, an appropriate software for analyzing this data will be used to study the satellite images over time. If successful, the various federal, state and county agencies can utilize InSAR as a technology to aid in their assessment of the historical movement and stability of existing slopes. (24) Development and construction of a 12.5” Newtonian telescope with a mechanical primary mirror counterweight system. Nick Alejo, Cody Ichimura, Ryan Inouye*, Annam Le, Melissa Onishi, Andy Toothman, Jonathan Weber, and Henry Weiland. Department of Mechanical Engineering. Low thickness mirrors on commercial small reflecting telescopes are subject to stresses and uneven deformation during normal operation, which leads to image degradation especially as surface area increases. The Pioneer 01-A telescope is an experimental testbed for a counterweight system designed to mechanically compensate for mirror stresses developed due to gravitational forces. Ultimately, the telescope will serve as a platform for future astronomical instrument development. The team has finished all preliminary analysis and is currently developing the prototype testbed.

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(25) Investigating the Thermophysical Effects of the Impingement of Super-Cooled liquids on Solid Surfaces. Mitch McLean*, Holm Smidt, and John S. Allen III. Department of Mechanical Engineering. Supercooled rain drops have been reported to cause catastrophic failure of planes due to solidification upon impact with a fixed wing. These effects have been studied previously and have been mitigated in part to allow for safer airplane flight. The effects of drop impact on drones/quadcopters and other autonomous or remote-controlled multirotor aircraft are yet to be rigorously investigated, and due their smaller geometry, more devastating consequences may occur. The objective of this project was hence to investigate the drop dynamics of impacting supercooled liquids onto inclined solid surfaces, e.g. a drone and its rotors. Methods encompass the use of lab scale experiments with optical and infrared visualization. Two experiments were performed: supercooled liquid droplets were dropped from varying heights onto a solid, inclined surface, and solid objects were dropped into a pool of supercooled water of variable depth. A drop generator was programmed for consistent, controllable, and repeatable droplet generation. Photogate sensors were used in combination and synchronized with high-speed photography and infrared (IR) thermography to analyze the temperature changes in the droplet during the phase change during the ice formation. (26) Vital Sign Detection Using Remote Sensors on a Moving Platform. Arne Nakahara*, Charles Jarquio, Daren Martin, Romyl Lopez, Dean Kurozumi, Ashikur Rahman, Robert Nakata, Shuhei Yamada, and Victor M. Lubecke. Department of Electrical Engineering. This project hypothesizes that radar, combined with other remote sensors on a multi-sensor platform can measure vital signs of a live subject while the platform is in motion, such as when flying on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). To do this, several techniques have been examined: Signal-based motion compensation uses signals from multiple sensors to extract relevant respiratory motion data, ignoring extraneous motion. Platform stabilization determines whether the radar reading vital signs is moving relative to the target based on feedback from other sensors in order to make counter-movements to maintain a constant distance between the radar and subject. Methods to improve vital sign readings include DC offset cancellation and increasing the dynamic range of the radar. The process of refining these techniques include the design, construction, and testing of circuitry for sensors, utilizing robotic motion test-beds as well as live subjects for acquiring data, and processing and analyzing received sensor signals. Results include wireless transmission of data from UAV-mounted sensors to a computer, platform stabilization allowing the sensor to maintain a set distance within ±1cm relative to an object while its platform is oscillating ±5cm at 1 Hz, and the creation of a robots to mimic cardiopulmonary chest motion which are measured by a drone. Possible impacts of this study may include the development of new tools for search and rescue as well as scientific and industrial monitoring of humans and wildlife.

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(27) Deployable Autonomous Glider for the 2016 CanSat Competition. Liem Nguyen*, Joshua Faumuina, Tayler Pave, Bryson Racoma, Lauren Sumida, and Trevor Sorensen. Department of Electrical Engineering and Department of Mechanical Engineering. When considering Mars as the next habitat for humanity, further investigations of Martian landing zones are of utmost importance. NASA scientists depend on orbiting satellites for overhead images of the Martian surface. While these images provide scientists with a broad view of Mars' various terrains, highly detailed images of landing zone candidates taken at lower altitudes will become necessary when planning future robotic and manned missions to Mars. To address this issue, NASA intends to deploy an autonomous glider mission into the Martian atmosphere during future Mars rover exploration missions in order to capture high resolution images of proposed landing sites. The CanSat Competition is an international engineering design competition for undergraduate and graduate students to develop and fabricate small rocket payloads that resemble current space-related projects, specifically the NASA Mars glider mission. The 2016 University of Hawai’i at Mānoa (UHM) CanSat team, consisting of undergraduates in their junior and senior year in mechanical and electrical engineering, designed and fabricated a deployable, autonomous glider science payload that is restricted to fit inside a cylinder the approximate size of a two-liter soda bottle. The mechanical engineering team designed, built, and tested a lightweight, 3D printed glider with collapsible wings. The electrical engineering and controls team designed and fabricated an Arduino based sensor package as well as a ground control station for receiving glider telemetry. If the 2016 UHM team is successful at the CanSat competition, the technologies developed by the team could aid NASA in their future Mars glider designs and missions. (28) Occupancy Detection using Radar Noise Floor. Pooja Nuti*, Ehsan Yavari, and Olga Boric-Lubecke. Department of Electrical Engineering. Occupancy sensors are being utilized in residential and commercial buildings to reduce wasted energy associated with large loads such as HVAC and lighting systems. Currently, Passive Infrared sensors (PIR sensors) and Ultrasonic sensors are widely used for energy-saving purposes, but have many significant drawbacks. These sensors are prone to false-alarm and false-negative events and are not effective in detecting small-range motions and stationary people in an area. In an effort to counteract these problems and develop an occupancy sensor which is better suited for energy-savings and increasing quality experienced by occupants of an area, Doppler radar is used to detect occupants in conjunction with identification of noise floor. In this study, continuous-wave 2.4GHz Doppler radar was used to test for occupancy of a .2Hz periodic mover which simulates respiration in a 3.5m x 4.5m empty classroom. The room was split into 27 cells according to National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). The radar sensor then collected data in all 27 cells when the periodic mover was present in the room and when all cells were void of any presence. Root mean square (RMS) was applied to the time-domain data in order to observe radar return levels. In 93% of trials, radar was capable of detecting a mechanical target over noise. The implication of this test is that Doppler radar can be effectively used for innovative occupancy sensing purposes.

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(29) Open Platform for Weather Data Aggregation and Collaboration. Christie Obatake*, Zachary Dorman, Kenny Luong, and Anthony Kuh. Department of Electrical Engineering. The amount of aggregated data has been growing at an exponential rate in recent years. Every industry sector will have to deal with this increasing amount of data, since the trend of data growth will seemingly continue for the foreseeable future. Biology is an example of such a field, with the European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI) storing over 20 petabytes of data. Although such data can presently be stored, there are challenges with sharing, working with and analyzing that data. This project aims to create a platform for collecting, managing and sharing weather data in an attempt to accelerate the development of smart grid technologies for renewable energy. Taking advantage of some of the same mechanisms in social coding, the Weather Data Aggregation and Collaboration (WDAC) platform will enable researchers to easily collect, share and then analyze data using big data toolsets such as NumPy, MATLAB and R into Weather datasets. This will enable the data to be easily retrieved and processed for analysis and interpretation by forecasting groups. Work on the WDAC platform has been in progress and will continue this upcoming year, with additional visualization and data improvements coming in this iteration. Also during this iteration, the WDAC will be made easier to configure and setup for other universities and institutions. The WDAC platform will allow entities such as public utilities, private contractors and universities to easily input and share data by unifying the data pipeline for multiple database technologies. The main purpose is to create an open web-based platform to reduce friction for researchers working with weather collection and analysis networks. (30) Autonomous Control Framework and Algorithms for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Michael Poon*, Jackson Pascablo, Caton Gabric, Dilmurat Azimov, John Allen, and Mehrdad Nejhad. Department of Mechanical Engineering. The long-term goal of the proposed research is to develop a targeting, guidance, navigation and control (TGNC) system for fully autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that can operate in all domains and perform various maneuvers and tasks of scientific and commercial interest. The objectives of this work are to a) obtain targeting, guidance and control laws and functions, which are flexible in their level of autonomy; b) utilize sensor fusion technology and integrate the TGNC functions into a common framework to enable UAVs to autonomously perform maneuvers of interest; and c) implement the proposed TGNC framework on a light- weight and less expensive UAV platform, which will be developed utilizing high-performance multifunctional Nano-composites. Design and simulations of the proposed system have been performed for a single motor fixed-wing aircraft using two different approaches: (1) aircraft flight dynamical model utilizing the traditional motion representation and (2) non-traditional model utilizing instantaneous screw motion (ISM) invariants. The control laws for thrust and angle of attack have been obtained and the ISM invariants are investigated along with construction of their envelopes. On-going and future research focuses on (1) fusion of theoretical and experimental sensor data into the proposed control framework for UAV maneuvers, and (2) utility of Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene Nano-sheets to improve the properties and performance of the composites while reducing the required weight.

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(31) Prediction of Local Scour around Bridge Piers Using Genetic Expression Programming (GEP). Emily Stack* and Sayed M. Bateni. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. More than 600 bridges collapsed in the Unites States since 1999, mainly due to the scour of foundation materials, resulting in loss of life and devastating destruction. Local scour is defined as the flow-induced erosion of soil material from around bridge piers in rivers. It is of critical importance to obtain accurate scour predictions when designing new bridges. However, the results from existing methods show up to 100% variation, resulting in big controversy in design and cost of the protection methods against scour and the foundation of the piers. An underestimation of the scour depth would lead to potential risk of bridge failure, while an overestimation can unnecessarily increase the cost of the new bridge. The main shortcoming of regression-based formulae is that they cannot sufficiently capture the highly nonlinear and complex relationship between the scour depth and its influential variables. This project overcomes the abovementioned shortcomings by using the robust genetic expression programming (GEP) approach instead of the parsimonious regression-based method. 454 experimental data points were collected from published literature and were used to train and test the GEP program. The results show that the GEP model can estimate the scour depth accurately. A sensitivity test is performed to determine the influence of input variables on the scour depth. It is found that the width of piers has the most significant influence of the scour depth. (32) Drone Co-processing. Binguang Wang*, Kunliang Xiao, and Yingfei Dong. Department of Electrical Engineering. The objective of this project is to develop a UAV flight control system that can accomplish tasks requiring advanced computations. A Raspberry Pi onboard the UAV will recognize a specific target and use the processed data to notify users for any unexpected condition of the target. For this research we use a GoPro camera onboard a UAV to recognize targets on the ground beneath the drone, send these images to a Raspberry Pi computer onboard the UAV and perform image processing. We use OpenCV to perform the basic task of image recognition as well as other useful functions. OpenCV was able to recognize target using a self-trained Haar classifier, and notice unexpected condition of the target using Haar classifier and color detection. The Raspberry Pi onboard with OpenCV makes drones in image processing possible. This impacts UAV’s functionality and flexibility with the help of computer vision.

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(33) Reconfigurable RF Devices. Kevin Cho, George Zhang*, Sasha Yamada, Aaron Ohta, and Wayne Shiroma. Department of Electrical Engineering. As the world’s dependence on the Internet grows exponentially, the need to innovate and advance the technology behind it becomes increasingly apparent. Reconfigurable radio frequency (RF) devices may hold the key to the next great push in communications technology. The fluid, pliable nature of liquid metals coupled with its high conductivity and linearity makes liquid metals highly suitable for reconfigurable RF applications. Two liquid-metal actuation techniques, (1) sustained deformation and (2) vertical actuation, in addition to a work-in-progress liquid-metal pixel antenna are presented. Sustained deformation counteracts a liquid metal’s tendency to retract upon being deformed by utilizing localized surface energy wells, thus requiring no continuous power consumption. Potential applications for sustained deformation include switch and reconfigurable antenna technology. Vertical actuation allows a liquid metal to traverse in the ±z direction. Reliable and reversible vertical actuation of height 600 µm has been demonstrated via continuous electrowetting in a stacked, two-compartment channel. A proposed application for vertical actuation is an array of the stacked two-compartment channels that functions as an “electrical Etch A Sketch,” able to reconfigure itself into any circuit desired. The pixel antenna, serving as a demonstration device for the viability of vertical actuation, offers a return loss of -30 dB, a gain of -25 dB, and a cross-polarized gain of -60 dB. Both gains were measured via a double ridge guide horn antenna held roughly 30 cm above the pixel antenna. (34) Development of a Fixed-Wing Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV): Electrical and Electronics. Parkle Lum*, Jackson Pascablo, and Mehrdad N. Ghasemi Nejhad. Department of Mechanical Engineering and Department of Electrical Engineering. The goal of this project is to design and build a fully autonomous electric fixed-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to survey and monitor a 4,000 acre plot of land/farm and other UAV applications. The UAV will take land footage with an on-board HD camera. The aircraft will be a blended body fixed-wing aircraft made of fiberglass and carbon epoxy composite shell over the EPO foam. It will be capable of fully autonomous flight, following a GPS guided adjustable flight pattern, as well as manual RC control capabilities. The plane is also equipped with a real-time First Person (Brid-Eye) View system and high definition surveillance camera under the fuselage. This proposed research will build upon Dr. Nejhad’s former REU students’ research and will modify, assemble, and test the electronics, controllers, rechargeable batteries, and camera systems for the Autonomous UAV. The main control unit of this UAV will be the Ardu-pilot mega (APM) 2.6, a versatile microcontroller with open source autopilot software, with autonomous capabilities. The APM has separate compatible GPS and telemetry radio modules. The UAV will also have the capability of manual controlled using a Futaba 6J 6-Channel 24GHz S-FHSS TX/RX Radio Controller. The ESC (electronic speed controller) and servos are standard remote control accessories, which provide the aircraft with variable speed and movement of the wing flaps. Proper rechargeable batteries will be sized and purchased based on the power budget. The Camera System will give the operator a first person bird-eye live-view. We will be testing the RC capability as well as the autonomous surveying of a land using a GoPro camera mounted at a downward angle from the fuselage. This camera is perfect for getting footage when moving at high speed without being affected by turbulence that may occur. It will give us the clearest picture no matter what the weather conditions. The UAV electrical and electronic system will be modified, fabricated, assembled, and tested for flight operations with RC and autonoums flights.

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(35) Development of a Fixed-Wing Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV): Mechanical and Structure. Matthew Domenichelli*, Caton Gabrick, and Mehrdad N. Ghasemi Nejhad. Department of Mechanical Engineering. The goal of this project is to design and build a fully autonomous electric fixed-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to survey and monitor a 4,000 acre plot of land/farm and other UAV applications. The UAV will take land footage with an on-board HD camera. The aircraft will be a blended body fixed wing aircraft made of fiberglass and carbon epoxy composite shells. It will be capable of fully autonomous flight, following a GPS guided adjustable flight pattern, as well as manual RC control. The plane will also be equipped with a real-time First Person Bird-Eye View system and high definition surveillance camera under the fuselage. This proposed research will build upon the previous research work of Dr. Nejhad’s REU students and will further develop/modify the composite shell over the high-performance EPO (Expanded Poly Olefin) foam sandwich blended body fixed wing structure of the UAV, with proper incorporation and modifications of the wings flaps and control surfaces for flight control. There will also be a new design of internal substructure to house the electronics and camera. In addition, the propulsion system including the motor and propeller as well as the launcher will be modified, fabricated, and tested for flight operations with RC and autonoums flights. (36) Seasonal and locational variation of nutrient profile and in vitro digestion kinetics of guinea grass and kikuyu grass for grass-fed beef production system on Hawaii Island. Kayla Butler*, Glen K. Fukumoto, Yong Soo Kim, and Rajesh Jha. Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences. Guinea grass (GG, Panicum maximum Jacq.) and kikuyu grass (KK, Pennisetum clandestinum) are commonly found in tropical pastures for grass-fed beef production in Hawaii. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of season and location (different ranches) on nutrient profiles of these grasses. GG and KK samples at a growth stage just before grazing were collected in winter 2014 and summer 2015 from 4 different ranches on Hawaii island. Nutrient profiles of grasses were determined by Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy, and data were analyzed and compared using SAS v9.2. Overall, KK had a significantly higher nutritional value compared to GG (CP, 16.7 vs 12.0; ADF, 35.4 vs 40.1; Ash, 9.4 vs 12.7; TDN, 58.8 vs 54.7; RFV, 101.2 vs 90.1%; and NEM, 0.53 vs 0.49 Mcal/lb.), but had significantly lower digestibility (NDFom 120h, 67.1 vs 72.9%). Seasonal differences were found when GG and KK were analyzed together, with summer forages yielding higher values for certain nutrients and were more digestible (NDFom 30h, 59.3 vs 52.5%). Nutrient composition of both GG and KK were significantly different among ranches. It is not clear whether the difference in pasture nutritional quality among ranches is associated with climate and/or soil conditions of the ranches or due to differences in pasture management of ranches. In summary, results of this study show that GG and KK are different in their nutrient profiles, and season and location have an influence on nutrient profiles of both GG and KK grasses, suggesting that the differences in nutrient profiles as affected by various factors including season and location need to be considered in developing grazing/feeding programs for grass-fed beef production.

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(37) Mentha spicata: A Potential Cover crop for Conservation Agricultural Practices in Tropical Climate. K. D. Chan*, B. Sipes, K.H. Wang, and P.S. Leung. Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences and Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management. Mint (Mentha) is used raw or processed into oil for a variety of consumption purposes. As a potential cover crop, mint offers several environmental and economic returns. Mint can reduce erosion, help retain moisture and reduce run off while adding another income from farming other crops. The susceptibility of mint to Meloidogyne incognita, Meloidogyne javanica, Rotylechlus reniformis is not documented nor mints potential economic viability as a cover crop. Spearmint and peppermint plants were inoculated with M. incognita, M. javanica and R. reniformis in the greenhouse. After two months, nematode eggs were collected and counted and mint roots and shoots were weighed. Nematode egg numbers were lower what had been inoculated on both spearmint and peppermint, suggesting these plants may not be hosts to the nematodes. Fresh shoot weight in spearmint inoculated with R. reniformis was greater than the un-inoculated plants. Fresh root weight of both mints inoculated with R. reniformis had a lower weight than the control plants. Dry roots of those plants inoculated with R. reniformis were lower than controls. Economic value of mint will be determined in field experiments of eggplant intercropped with and without spearmint. The type and quantity of nematodes in each plot will be recorded along with eggplant yield to evaluate soil health. The profitability of local farmers returns on mint production throughout the value chain (wholesaler, retailer and direct online as oil) will be analyzed. (38) Gelatinization of Breadfruit Flour (Artocarpus altilis) by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Alfred H. Chen*, Mahavir Chougule, Susanne Youngren-Ortiz, and Alvin Huang. Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UH Hilo. Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) has been considered a traditional starch crop for islanders throughout the Oceania. The fruits are rich in starch and dietary fiber at ripe stage, about 100 days after flowering, but the starch breaks down rapidly one week after. In order to extend the shelf life of its starch, an off-grid solar dehydration process was recently developed so breadfruit can be stored and sold as a flour product. The current study is to understand the gelatinization and retrogradation of the breadfruit flour. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) was used to the flour dispersion in a de-ionized aqueous system. The dispersion was heated from 30 to 130C at the rate of 10C/min. The thermal profiling of this novel flour is compared with other common starches and its implication in baking behavior will be discussed.

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(39) Marketing Potential for a Locally-Grown Oyster in Hawai‘i. Jessie Chen*, Maria Haws, Quentin Fong, and PingSun Leung. Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resources Center, UH Hilo, and Marine Advisory Program, University of Alaska Fairbanks. While studies have long examined the economic viability of oyster industries along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of the mainland United States, Hawai‘i has had no industry to speak of in decades. The Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, is being cultivated in a traditional Hawaiian fishpond for the first time, providing fresh shell stock to the island of O‘ahu. Because imported products similar in nature (i.e. non-frozen and or live shell stock oysters) are competitively-priced and have long been the only source for the oyster market, it is uncertain if a new product can successfully infiltrate this market, or if there is potential to establish a new, specialty market. Data on pricing, freshness, and supply consistency were collected from wholesalers and retailers who currently supply oysters to the Hawaiian islands, and used to create hypothetical product profiles in a discrete choice survey. The survey was administered to approximately 60 restaurateurs on the island of O‘ahu that currently serve oyster dishes to patrons. We aim to identify the utility of different oyster attributes and determine whether or not a local product can capture a price premium. (40) Identification and Isolation of tannin biosynthesis genes in Acacia koa. Maia Corpuz*, Kazue Ishihara, and Dulal Borthakur. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. Tannins are a class of secondary metabolites of the phenylpropanoid pathway found in the plant cell wall and involved in pigmentation, disease resistance, and wood properties. Tannins can be considered a marker for both wood quality and disease resistance in Acacia Koa, which is an important timber wood tree in Hawaii. The objectives of this study are to identify and isolate phenylpropanoid pathway genes specific to tannin biosynthesis, determine these genes’ expression profiles, and characterize tannin contents in various A. koa families. From A. koa transcriptome sequences found previously in the lab, we identified partial sequences of four genes involved in tannin biosynthesis, including dihydroflavonol reductase (DFR), leucoanthocyanidin reductase (LAR), anthocyanidin reductase (ANR), and anthocyanidin synthase (ANS). For isolation of full-length cDNA, total RNA was isolated from one-month old A. koa seedlings grown in the growth room. Using 5’ and 3’ RLM-RACE the full length cDNA of the four genes will be determined. qRT-PCR analyses will also be performed using the four genes to determine the gene expression in shoot and root samples. Tannins are being isolated from the shoots and roots from seedling used for isolation of mRNA. We expect a high correlation between tannin biosynthesis gene expression levels and tannin contents. Characterizing genes for the tannin biosynthesis pathway and determining the gene expression levels in A. koa seedlings will be useful as a method of selection for disease resistance and improved wood quality. This research has been supported by the McIntire Grant #HAW05031-M.

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(41) Genetic Improvement of Beef Cattle for Grass Finished Beef in the State of Hawai‘i. Nicole Correa*, Douglas Vincent, Michael DuPonte, and Jinzeng Yang. Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences. The goal of this project is to encourage ranchers to finish cattle in the state and sell meat from cattle slaughtered locally. To prove that this is possible, we plan to show that genetic lines of a specific Wagyu-Angus crossbred cattle specifically bred for the ranches in Hawai‘i and raised at Mealani Experiment Station have advantages over other breeds. We then will identify areas in the industry that need improvement by surveying multiple cattle ranches throughout the state and asking how many sell local beef, how much local beef is produced per year, and how much profit each ranch sees from the local markets. One objective for this project is to evaluate performance of the Wagyu Angus crosses used at Mealani Experiment Station over time by reviewing birth weights, weaning weights, and carcass quality data. The second objective for this project is to measure differences in profit of three ranches. The third objective for this project is to put together a business model to show ranchers potential ways to maintain a cattle ranch in Hawai‘i that would allow ranchers to sell locally or if it is not possible to do that. The end goal is to produce high quality calves in a grass-finished setting in conditions specific to the state of Hawai‘i to encourage ranchers, to produce more locally-grown grass fed beef which is important for sustainability of the state and food security. (42) Biochar increases temperature sensitivity of soil respiration and N2O flux in a Mollisol by increasing the proportion of N-fixing bacteria. Lauren M. Deem*, Susan E. Crow, Jonathan Deenik, Ryan Penton, and Julian Yu. Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences, and Arizona State University. A benefit of some soil amendments and cropping systems may be to mitigate climate change through carbon (C) sequestration and a reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emission; however, little is known how these soil functions will respond to increasing temperatures. Soil respiration and nitrous oxide (N2O) flux of contrasting tropical agricultural soils (Oxisol and Mollisol) under two cropping systems (zero-tillage napiergrass and conventional sweet corn) with and without biochar was measured during an incubation of soils across an 8-point temperature gradient to determine temperature sensitivity. The temperature sensitivity of soil respiration did not differ by treatment in the Oxisol, but the temperature response of the Mollisol napiergrass with biochar was 134% greater than the sweet corn control (p=0.02). Similarly, the Oxisol soil N2O flux was temperature insensitive, but the Mollisol napiergrass amended with biochar was 167% greater than the mean of the other treatments (p=0.02). Given the importance of N2O in the context of climate change, the gene encoding nitrous oxide reductase (nosZ) was enumerated in concert with the total microbial community (16S rRNA gene) using quantitative PCR. While total microbial abundance and the abundance of those involved in N-cycling did not change with biochar or temperature, the ratio of N-cycling bacteria to total bacteria nearly doubled (p<0.01) in the 31°C compared to the 23°C, although there was no biochar treatment effect. Biochar may exacerbate climate change by facilitating the increase of N2O flux in soils at higher temperatures.

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(43) Proteomic study of the inhibitory effectof γ-oryzanol on non-small cell lung cancer. Sofia Doello*, Il Kyu Cho, Jung Bong Kim, and Qing X. Li. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering and Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer, which is the leading cause of cancer death, with an increasing prevalence every year. Specific treatments for some of the multiple kinds of NSCLC have been developed, but their efficacy is low and they are not applicable to all types. γ-oryzanol is a mixture of steryl ferulates that can be extracted from rice bran oil. It has shown to have anti-cancer properties on various prostate cancer cell lines and in some animal models. There is evidence that supports that this effect extends to other types of cancer, such as NSCLC. In this study, we intend to elucidate the mechanism of action of γ-oryzanol on A549 cells, a human NSCLC cell line. We determined the effect of this compound in cell proliferation and survival using the colorimetric MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. We used mass spectrometry to identify proteins that are differentially expressed after treatment with γ-oryzanol. Protein profiling data were analyzed with Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). We found that some of these differentially expressed proteins are main regulators of processes involved in cell cycle progression and cell survival. These results provide the first step for understanding the mechanism of action of γ-oryzanol as a promising treatment for NSCLC. (44) Versatile wireless data acquisition and control system. Catherine Go* and Daniel Jenkins. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. Computerized control of biological processes and experiments can be critical for improving the quality of biological products and data, but many existing commercial data acquisition and control systems are expensive and limited in capability. Advances in integrated circuit design for high-performance (and low-cost) controllers, sensors and wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are making it possible to develop highly versatile, discrete, and cost-effective solutions for virtually any application. We have developed a single platform to replace all of the data acquisition hardware used in an undergraduate Biological Engineering Laboratory course (BE 350L), which has the capability to record sensor data including temperature, pressure, pH, specific gravity, conductivity, torque, redox potential, and dissolved gas concentrations. The device has the ability to simultaneously control a stepper motor and several other high current devices such as heaters and brushed DC motors, and has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios to communicate wirelessly to a computer even remotely through the internet. We have also developed a flexible Android interface that can be populated by the firmware on the device, to facilitate data visualization, management, and control. The estimated cost of the device is less than $100 for commercial scale fabrication. We envision this platform to be a valuable tool for improving distance-delivery of “hands-on” laboratory exercises, meeting a variety of research instrumentation needs, and teaching students about basic programming and electronics.

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(45) An improved RT-PCR Assay for Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Taro vein chlorosis virus (TaVCV). Riten Chand Gosai* and Michael Melzer. Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences. Taro vein chlorosis virus (TaVCV; family Rhabdoviridae, genus Nucleorhabdovirus) causes a leaf disease of taro (Colocasia esculenta); an economically and culturally significant staple of the South Pacific Island countries including Hawaii. TaVCV was first discovered in Hawaii in 2013. The aim of this study was to enhance reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay for TaVCV with reference to sensitivity and specificity for detection of the virus from field samples. Previously sequenced Hawaiian isolates were used to design six primer pairs: DCGF1/DCGR1, DCGF2/DCGR2, DCGF3/DCGR3, DCGF4/ DCGR4, DCGF5/DCGR5 and DCGF6/DCGR6 that amplified 544, 368, 399, 240, 442 and 509 nucleotides respectively of the conserved RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene. The primers were optimized and evaluated against previously published primer sets TaVCV1/TaVCV2 and Pol2A1/Pol2A2 in a serial dilution assay. TaVCV1/TaVCV2 failed to amplify the template cDNA whereas Pol2A1/ Pol2A2 at best amplified template cDNA diluted to 101. DCGF1/DCGR1 also amplified template cDNA diluted to 101, DCGF2/ DCGR2 up to 104, DCGF3/DCGR3 up to 103, DCGF4/DCGR4 up to 104, DCGF5/DCGR5 up to 105 and DCGF6/DCGR6 up to 102. Overall, DCGF5/DCGR5 outperformed the other 7 primer sets and the results indicate this pair is up to 90,000 times more sensitive than previously used Pol2A1/Pol2A2. Sequencing of the RT-PCR product confirmed specificity as nucleotide identity only matched with a previously partially sequenced Molokai sample (GenBank accession #KF921086). This primer pair is the ideal choice for future detection and surveillance of TaVCV in Hawaii. (46) Inhibition of rhizomimosinase and mimosinase, the bacterial and plant enzymes responsible for mimosine degradation. Michael Honda*and Dulal Borthakur. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. Mimosine is a toxic non-protein amino acid found in Leucaena leucocephala (leucaena). The toxicity of mimosine is due to its ability to chelate divalent transition metals and pyridoxal-5’-phosphate (PLP), which are cofactors necessary for biological reactions. Mimosinase is native to leucaena, and rhizomimosinase is native to Rhizobium sp. strain TAL1145 which is a root nodulator of leucaena. Rhizomimosinase and mimosinase are PLP-dependent, C-N lyases that degrade mimosine into 3-hydroxy-4-pyridone (3H4P), pyruvate and ammonia. Not much is known about the inhibition of C-N lyases therefore, it is necessary to test different compounds in enzyme inhibition assays with rhizomimosinase and mimosinase. A total of 50 compounds were selected as potential enzyme inhibitors. Potential inhibitory compounds were selected based on their structural analogy with mimosine or 3H4P; ability to inhibit other PLP-dependent-enzymes; or known interactions with mimosine. Potential inhibitory compounds were added to enzymatic assays containing mimosine as the substrate. HPLC analysis was used to determine the difference in product formation between assays containing a potential inhibitory compound, and assays without an inhibitory compound. Twenty six compounds exhibited inhibitory effects on rhizomimosinase, and 25 exhibited inhibitory effects on mimosinase. Twenty compounds exhibited inhibitory effects on both enzymes, and 13 exhibited no effect on either enzyme. Seven compounds exhibited inhibition exclusively on rhizomimosinase, and 6 compounds exhibited inhibition exclusively on mimosinase. The relative inhibitory effects for both enzymes ranged from 0 to >95% of the non-inhibited assays. These results establish the structure function relationship for these 2 enzymes. This research was supported by a Hatch and CTAHR grant.

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(47) Development of the commercially viable supercooling device to maintain the freshness of strawberry. Raymond Hoptowit*, Jaeyoung Her, and Soojin Jun. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering and Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences. Supercooling is an emerging food processing technique which has the potential to significantly increase the shelf life of foods while maintaining high food quality. The general protocol for treatment involves: (i) different duty stages with different time durations for the pulsed electric fields (PEF) and (ii) an oscillating magnetic field (OMF) stage applied during the PEF duty stage to inhibit sudden ice nucleation. To ensure the reliable performance of each PEF/OMF stage, an IGBT (insulated-gate bipolar transistor) based H-bridge controlled by microcontroller was fabricated. In addition, a sample chamber containing electromagnets and electrodes for PEF and OMF generation was constructed to simulate compartmental housing in commercial freezers. The freezer was controlled via predictive control algorithm capable of maintaining the chamber temperature in the tolerance of ±0.5°C. In this method a supercooled state within strawberries at a chamber temperature of -8°C was achieved. Internal temperature of the strawberry under treatment was -3.5°C, approximately two degrees below its freezing point during the entire testing period. Quality assessment factors such as microstructure and drip loss of supercooled strawberry samples were evaluated and compared with samples stored at refrigeration (4°C) and at freezing (-8°C). The structure and drip loss of the supercooled and refrigerated samples were respectively non-altered. However, the cell structures of the strawberry stored at -8°C were seriously damaged. With further development, PEF and OMF combination technique can lead to innovative freezers for long term preservation of ‘fresh-like’ foods in subzero temperature. (48) Using Conceptual Ecosystem Modeling to Support Ecosystem-Based Management in West Hawaiʻi. Rebecca J Ingram*, Kirsten Oleson, Jamison Gove, and Kimberly Carlson. Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management and NOAA Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center. The west coast of Hawai‘i Island faces myriad threats related to environmental stress, population increase, and a rapidly changing climate. These compromise the region’s capacity to deliver ecosystem goods and services critical to human well-being. The problem’s complexity and region’s ecological and economic importance prompted NOAA’s Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center to initiate an Integrated Ecosystem Assessment (IEA), a program focused on conducting scientific research to support ecosystem-based management. Initial IEA phases involve comprehensively characterizing system components and identifying ecosystem-monitoring indicators that span the social and ecological system. This research will support the IEA through a participatory process with resource managers, scientists, and community members to develop conceptual ecosystem models (CEMs) guided by the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response framework. CEMs can help clarify the decision context, integrate stakeholder values, and reveal gaps in scientific information needed to support decision-making. The participatory process places emphasis on gathering and synthesizing place-based knowledge. The resulting CEMs will identify natural and anthropogenic stressors affecting different ecological states (e.g., reefs, fishes, water body), ecosystem services, and relationships among system components. These are the first CEMs for West Hawai‘i and will directly inform how we research and manage the region.

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(49) Designing a Male-Specific DNA Hydrolysis Probe for Quantifying Male Pollen Contribution in Bulked Papaya Seeds. Yosuke Kawai* and Richard Manshardt. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. Pre-commercialization testing of new transgenic crops has to be carried out in ways that minimize escape of gametes and seeds into the environment. In order to design good bio-containment procedures for papaya, we need good information about its reproductive biology. There are two mating systems in papaya: dioecious (male and female) and gynodioecious (hermaphrodite and female). Both male and hermaphrodite papaya are pollen producers, but no data exist regarding their relative effectiveness in cross-pollination. The purpose of this study is to develop a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) tool to analyze papaya seeds in “batches” to determine the relative efficiency of hermaphrodite and male papaya as pollen donors. Primer pairs and probes specific for the male genome were designed for a multiplex assay. The papaya ringspot virus coat protein (cp) transgene will be used to track the hermaphrodite pollen and the papain gene, common to all papaya, will be used as an internal control. Primer pairs for the male-specific 585-bp sequence were developed previously and this sequence was searched by Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) and Primer 3 Plus software to identify shorter 80 to 150-bp fragments with potential primers and probes. All candidates were analyzed with computer software to minimize flaws in the design, such as secondary structures and primer-dimers. The best candidates were tested for functionality and specificity by PCR and the resulting male amplicons were sequenced to ensure homology with the GenBank data that were used to design the primers. The probe we develop will help us better understand papaya reproduction and gene flow, provide data to improve bio-containment strategies in future papaya research, and offer strategies for crop isolation to organic farmers. (50) Comparison of bacterial population between Korean Natural Farming (KNF), organic, and conventional farming methods. A. Keliikuli*, Y. Li, K. Cheah, K.H. Wang, and C.N. Lee. Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences, and Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences. Korean natural farming (KNF) is a self-sufficient farming system that involves culturing indigenous microorganisms and reintroducing them into nutrient depleted soil, further enhancing soil microorganism activity and fertility. This experiment was designed to provide a greater understanding of the types of bacteria prevalent in: a) KNF, b) conventional (CON), and c) organic (ORG) farming systems and to observe any changes in the bacterial population over a period of time (pre-application, post-application (day 0, day 30), and post-harvest). Four sets of soil samples (in replicates of three) were collected from the Kula Experiment Station and plated on media that specifically selects for nitrogen-fixing and phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria - Azospirillum (pH adjusted to 6.8) and phosphorus-solubilizing media, respectively. Of these samples, three sets were collected in between the plant rows whereas the fourth was obtained within the rhizosphere (post-harvest). Each microbial colony was isolated and subjected to polymerase chain reaction-temporal temperature gel electrophoresis (PCR-TTGE) followed by DNA analysis to identify specific strains of bacteria isolated. Results show that Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus aryabhattai is prevalent amongst all three farming systems. However, KNF contains a higher bacterial count overall. Additionally, KNF is the only farming system that contains both Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis. The bacterial population for all farming systems did decrease over time (day 0 vs. day 30) but was greatest in the soil within the rhizosphere. The role of B. subtilis and B. licheniformis on plant growth is being investigated.

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(51) Lab assay of systemic insecticides on the coconut rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros). Matthew Kellar* and Zhiqiang Cheng. Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences. The coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB, Oryctes rhinoceros L.) is a pest native to Southeast Asian and feeds on various palm species, including coconut palm, oil palm, date palm, and more. It was first detected on Oahu in 2013 and was suspected to have arrived from the South Pacific. Guam has established CRB population since 2007. The beetle attacks the crown of palms causing boreholes in the petioles and v-cuts in fronds. An IPM program to control CRB in Hawaii is urgently needed. This poster reports the lab efficacy of systemic insecticides acephate, imidacloprid, emamectin benzoate, and azadirachtin against adult beetles. Beetles were exposed to sugar cane dipped in their respective insecticide treatments or water for control. All treatments were tested on CRB mortality and paralysis rates in a two-week period (n=10). The first trial included acephate and emamectin benzoate, both at 100 parts per million (ppm), 1000ppm, and control. Acephate showed high mortality at 3, 8, and 14 days after treatment (DAT) at both 100ppm and 1000ppm (100ppm: 20%, 70%, 100%; 1000ppm: 40%, 90%, 90%), while emamectin benzoate was ineffective against adult beetles. The second trial consisted of acephate at 10ppm and 100ppm, azadirachtin at 1000ppm, imidacloprid at 1000ppm, and control. Imidacloprid showed the highest mortality at 3, 7, and 15 DAT (50%, 70%, 90%). Acephate was less effective compared to the first trial (100ppm: 0%, 10% 20%, 10ppm: 10%, 10%, 50%). Azadirachtin showed no difference compared to controls in mortality or behavior. As imidacloprid and acephate showed the most success, further testing of these insecticides will determine how efficacy changes at lower concentrations and lower exposure times. (52) Survey of plant-parasitic nematodes associated with breadfruit in Hawaii. Jin-Wah Lau*, Brent Sipes, Sharad Marahatta, Koon-Hui Wang, and Diane Ragone. Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences. Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis, Moraceae) is rapidly becoming a popular landscaping and food crop in Hawaii. Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs), obligate microscopic roundworms that parasitize plants, cause significant production losses of crops around the world and affect many ornamental and agricultural plants within the Family Moraceae. Though Hawaii’s isolation and quarantine regulations reduce the threat of plant pathogen introduction, soil-borne pathogens like PPNs travel undetected in imported plants, infected soils, and roots for propagation. Thus far, limited research is available on the presence of nematode pathogens of breadfruit in Hawaii. In 2014-2015, a survey of PPNs associated with the roots and rhizosphere of breadfruit in Hawaii was completed on the islands of Kauai, Maui, and Oahu. Criconema, Helicotylenchus, Heterodera, Meloidogyne, Mesocricoma, Paratylenchus, Pratylenchus, Rotylenchulus, Scutellonema, and Tylenchorhynchus spp. were found during the survey. Although Helicotylenchus was the most commonly occurring species, the feeding behaviors of Meloidogyne, Pratylenchus, and Rotylenchulus make them a greater potential threat. The presence of PPNs on breadfruit is indicative of potential disease and damage to breadfruit tree health management. This research will build upon current research on PPNs associated with breadfruit in other locales and apply it to breadfruit in Hawaii, giving local breadfruit farmers a global production advantage by identifying specific nematode pathogens problematic to Hawaii. Virulence and pathogenicity tests of specific nematode groups will follow in continuing research on management practices to prevent nematode disease on breadfruit.

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(53) Manganese Toxicity from “Healthy” Diets. Teresa LeMoon*, C. Alan Titchenal, Michael A. Dunn, and Joannie Dobbs. Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences. Manganese (Mn) is an essential nutrient that functions as a cofactor for several enzymes in the body. However, Mn is known to have neurotoxic effects when chronically consumed in excess amounts. The U.S. Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) is 11 mg/day for adults, and the Lowest Observed Adverse Effect Level (LOAEL) is 15 mg/day. Since the 1970’s, increasing amounts of foods high in Mn have been recommended for Americans. The objective of this study was to evaluate the Mn content of three 2000-calorie dietary patterns (omnivore, Mediterranean, and vegetarian) recommended by the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The Mn content of foods was determined from the US FDA Total Diet Study database. Analysis of each dietary pattern yielded values for mean and potential maximal Mn intake dependent on food choices. The mean and maximum Mn values for the three diet patterns included: omnivore (4.4 and 20.3 mg Mn/day), Mediterranean (4.5 and 23.1 mg Mn/day), and vegetarian pattern (5.6 and 22.6 mg Mn/day). Consequently, all dietary patterns have the potential to exceed the LOAEL for Mn, with the Mediterranean and vegetarian diets showing the potential to provide more than twice the UL for Mn. Food types providing the greatest amounts of Mn were whole grains, nuts and seeds, and fruits. Since chronic excess intake of Mn appears to have the potential to contribute to neurological dysfunction in both early developmental and aging life stages, additional research is needed to evaluate the Mn content of contemporary diets and potential links between Mn intake and neurological diseases such as autism and Parkinson’s disease. (54) Multi-omic data integration to stratify the population in hepatocellular carcinoma. Liangqun Lu* and Lana X Garmire. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. Liver cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death globally, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) alone accounts for approximately 80% of liver cancer cases. Building robust subgroups helps guide precise targeted therapeutics. Integrating different levels of omic datasets makes it possible to stratify patients and discover distinct features for each subgroup. However, such comprehensive integration of different omic data has been lacking investigation on robust subgroups in HCC. With TCGA omic data, we performed integrative clustering analysis of 360 HCC samples using DNA copy number, DNA methylation, RNA expression and miRNA expression. After Similarity Network Fusion (SNF) method, which uses graph fusions to integrate sample similarity matrices iteratively from each omic dataset into a comprehensive sample similarity matrix, we identified three optimal subtypes using spectral clustering in the molecular level. These groups show survival difference. When combined with physical and demographical features, including stage, grade, race and gender, the difference among survival is even more significant. Furthermore, we utilized the nearest shrunken centroid to capture the features of each subgroup and trained a model to predict the clustering of new patient cohort. Based on the gene expression of these features, the accuracy is 82.8%. Lastly, we provided the top corresponding features for each subgroup as possible potential regulatory elements in HCC therapy.

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(55) Using Controlled Exposure Trials to Assess Predation and Parasitism of The Kamehameha Butterfly (Nymphalidae: Vanessa tameamea). Colby Maeda*, William Haines, and Cynthia King. Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences and Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife. The Kamehameha butterfly (Nymphalidae: Vanessa tameamea) is Hawaii’s official state insect and is one of only two native butterflies. Unfortunately, the once common butterfly is rarely seen today, and is now absent from many areas where it was once common. The reasons behind its decline are uncertain, but non-native insect predators, parasitoids, and birds are suspected to play a role, in addition to host plant declines. To quantify impacts of predators and parasitoids, we have deployed about 350 eggs and 800 caterpillars at four sites on Oahu, under three different exclusion treatments: birds excluded, birds and ants excluded, and completely exposed. After three days, parasitism and predation was compared among treatments. So far, we have found significantly lower disappearance rates when caterpillars are protected from ants and birds, while larval parasitism rates have been negligible. For deployed eggs, predation and parasitism rates have varied drastically by site. This study provides insight into the decline of V. tameamea, and suggests that efforts to repopulate this species should involve protection from ants and birds. (56) Effects of organic mulch on indigenous entomopathogenic nematodes and entomopathogenic fungi in a no-till cropping system. Josiah Marquez* and Koon-Hui Wang. Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences and Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences. Rising restrictions on synthetic pesticide use has prompted farmers to look for alternative insect pest management strategies. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) and entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) show promising results as insect biological control agents, but are often challenged by failure to persistent in the field when introduced using an augmentative approach. This study’s focus is on providing a favorable soil environment that can enhance indigenous EPN and EPF populations, otherwise known as conservational biological control. It is hypothesized that cover cropping followed by no-till practice would provide organic mulch, reduce soil disturbance, and thus increase population densities of EPN and EPF. A field trial was conducted to compare effects of 1) black oat as cover crop in a 7-year no-till (NT), 2) bare ground (BG) followed by conventional tillage, and 3) conventional tillage followed by soil solarization (Sol) on relative abundance of EPN and EPF using larva trap method with mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) larva at 1, 2, and 3 months after corn (Zea mays) planting. Gravimetric soil moisture content measurements indicated that NT had higher soil moisture content (P < 0.05) than BG and Sol. Although there was no difference in relative abundance of EPN and EPF among treatments at 1 month after corn planting, higher abundance of EPN was detected in NT than BG and Sol (P < 0.01) at 2 months after corn planting. Corn was also greener (P < 0.01) and taller in NT than BG and Sol (P < 0.05). More on-going research will evaluate the benefits of organic mulch on potential conservation biological control in this corn agroecosystem.

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(57) Invasive pine detection and mapping using satellite remote sensing at Haleakalā National Park. Jonathan Marshall*, James Leary, and Tomoaki Miura. Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management. Invasive pine trees (Pinus spp.) pose a significant threat to the diverse native ecosystems of Haleakalā National Park. Nearby historical pine plantations, and recent fires, have resulted in an influx of pine seeds into the montane East Maui region. These pine trees are a threat to montane ecosystems that are crucial habitat for many endangered Hawaiian plants and animals. Due to the remoteness of this region, early detection will be crucial for successful control. Traditional field and airborne reconnaissance methods either lack the ability to comprehensively detect remote incipient populations or are expensive. To improve these capabilities, high spatial resolution satellite multispectral imagery was utilized to detect and map the presence of pine trees across the montane region of East Maui. Land cover classification techniques allowed for the statistical differentiation of pines from surrounding vegetation types. Classification relied on the unique spectral and textural characteristics inherent across the different vegetation types analyzed. The developed protocol allowed for high overall post-classification accuracy (>80%) and enabled population density and extent analysis when used in conjunction with a time series of satellite imagery. The results of this project provide a basis for a remote sensing component to invasive species management at Haleakalā National Park and will allow for improved prioritization of management effort. (58) The Development of Opihi Aquaculture Technology. Anthony B. Mau*, Jon-Paul Bingham, and Yong Zhi Ju. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. Opihi, a highly prized culinary marine snail, sells for $5-$10/kg. They are either consumed raw or prepared as appetizers during cultural gatherings. Opihi inhabit the dynamic intertidal zone, and in Hawaii, these areas were once covered in mats of opihi, but overfishing has decimated wild populations. Therefore we propose the development of opihi aquaculture technology to address the high demand for this under supplied seafood. Research on opihi tell us that yellowfoot opihi Cellana sandwicensis is an appropriate species to cultivate because it requires simple habitat. They also feed well on both naturally occurring benthic diatoms and artificially formulated feeds. In a recent study, an artificial feed containing 27% protein, 32% carbohydrate was developed to support grow out of broodstock. This work also reveals a diet containing a ratio of arachidonic acid to eicosapentaenoic acid of 0.7 is key to inducing final maturation as supported by histology, gonadal somatic index (GSI), and actual fecundity. GSI and fecundity are linearly related and larger values indicate that an opihi will offer high reproductive success. Preliminary work also shows using gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) in two injections induce maturation levels that parallel wild collected opihi during spawning season. We intend to combine proper diet and GnRH injections to yield high GSI for spawning. In the previous study, spawned larvae were only grown to 9 days post hatch while offered a mix of diatoms. This current study will improve opihi spawn quality, settlement and metamorphosis rates, and complete the lifecycle to establish a larval rearing protocol. This material is based upon work supported by the Center for Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture through a grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture of the U.S. Department of Agriculture under Award No. 2014-38500-22241.

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(59) Testing the attractiveness and efficacy of baits for the monitoring and control of the thief ant, Solenopsis papuana. Cassandra S. Ogura-Yamada* and Paul D. Krushelnycky. Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences. Solenopsis papuana is one of the few invasive ant species that have widely infiltrated undisturbed mesic and wet forests with high population densities in Hawaii. This may be problematic since most endemic Hawaiian insects are limited to mountain forests. Research investigating the potential impact of S. papuana on native arthropod species and food webs is currently in progress, which has required the development of experimental monitoring and control methods. Four non-toxic monitoring baits (corn syrup, SPAM, tuna and corn syrup blend, and peanut butter) and five ant pesticides (Advion Fire Ant Bait, Amdro Ant Block, Extinguish Plus, MaxForce Complete Brand Granular Insect Bait, and Siesta) were tested for attractiveness in choice tests at two field locations (Lyon Arboretum and Pahole Natural Area Reserve (NAR)). Amdro Ant Block and Siesta, were also tested for efficacy in a field plot experiment. It was determined that S. papuana is most attracted to SPAM and peanut butter monitoring baits at both locations. Relative attractiveness of the ant pesticides depended on location: there was no significant difference among the baits at Pahole NAR, but Amdro and Extinguish were the most attractive at Lyon Arboretum. In the efficacy test, Amdro has reduced numbers of S. papuana more effectively than Siesta to date. Although eradication of S. papuana is likely not feasible, these methods may be useful for controlling population densities in localized areas of interest or concern. (60) Effects of cyclical changes in environmental salinity on osmoregulatory parameters in the Mozambique tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus. K. Pavlosky*, Y. Yamaguchi, D.T. Lerner, E.G. Grau, and A.P. Seale. Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, and Sea Grant College. Mozambique tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus, are native to waters in which salinity varies tidally between that of freshwater (FW) and seawater (SW). Acclimation to changes in environmental salinity is regulated largely by the neuroendocrine system, which directs ion extrusion or ion uptake response via the gill and other osmoregulatory tissues. In teleosts, prolactin (PRL) is critical to FW acclimation, stimulating ion uptake mechanisms. Conversely, growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) are believed to have a role in SW acclimation. Osmoregulation in O. mossambicus has been studied extensively in steady state FW and SW, and after one-way transfers between FW and SW. It is unclear how O. mossambicus responds to cyclical salinity changes. Fish were reared in FW, SW, and under a tidal regimen (TR), characterized by salinity changes between FW (TF) and SW (TS) every 6 hours (h), and transferred from FW or SW to TR to investigate adaptive ability to TR. TR fish were also sampled every 3h in a 24-h period to observe osmoregulatory parameters throughout the TR cycle. Plasma PRL levels for FW and SW fish transferred to TR were similar to those of TR fish by 7 days, while plasma IGF-1 levels in SW fish reached TR levels within 3 days, as opposed to 7 days in FW fish. Plasma osmolality in TR fish sampled over 24h varied with the tidal cycle, while PRL levels tracked those of SW fish up to 18h. Thus, SW fish may have an adaptive advantage relative to FW fish under tidally changing salinities. Tidally-reared fish appear able to tolerate a range of plasma osmolalities, despite plasma PRL levels near those of SW fish.

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(61) Rhizosphere microbial community and activity of zero-tillage grasses cultivated for biofuel feedstock in Hawai‘i. Daniel Richardson*, Susan E. Crow, Adel Youkhana, Jennifer Moore-Kucera, and Richard Ogoshi. Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences, and Natural Resources Conservation Service, Portland, OR. The community composition and activity of soil microbes often serve as early indicators of soil quality due to a shift in management because of the important links between microorganisms, organic matter decomposition, and plant nutrient availability. The objective of this work was to study the effect of management practice, and depth on microbial communities of two potential biofuel feedstocks: sugarcane and energycane. Soil was sampled from pits at four depths, two within and two below the rhizosphere. Root biomass was measured volumetrically, microbial community composition and activity were analyzed by phospholipid-derived fatty acids (PLFA) and enzyme assays respectively. Two management practices were compared: 1) commercial - burning the crop on two-year rotations, and 2) four years of ratooning which is a form of zero-tillage harvest. Based on the PLFA analysis, which can serve as a measure of functional diversity, the ratooned plots hosted a more diverse microbial community compared to the commercial plots. Root biomass, microbial biomass and enzyme activity decreased with depth. The upper zone within the rhizosphere had a greater presence of fungi, mycorrhizal fungi, and gram-negative bacteria – root symbionts and digesters of labile plant material. With depth, the communities shifted to gram-positive bacteria and actinomycetes, which metabolize the more structurally complex and degraded organic matter. Conservation agricultural practices influencing the functional diversity of microbial communities can be an important contributor to the resilience of agricultural systems. (62) Effect of tillage practices on performance of maize in Bàrué and Nhamatanda districts of Mozambique. António J. Rocha*, Russell Yost, Rebecca Ryals, and M’Randa R. Sandlin. Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences. Due to inadequate use of agricultural technologies and low soil fertility, maize grain yields are extremely low in Mozambique, averaging only 0.9t/ha. Adoption of conservation tillage practice by farmers has the potential to increase yields. To evaluate the effect of tillage practices and maize varieties, we constructed a split block design where the main factor was tillage practices (conservation, conventional) and the secondary factor was the varieties of maize. The conservation tillage used a jab-planter and basins while conventional tillage, used slash and burn method. Five hybrid varieties were tested, ZM309, ZM401, ZM523 and ZM625 from CIMMYT and one local variety called Matuba. All treatments received fertilizer levels of 100 kg/ha N-P-K as 12-24-12 at planting and 100 kg/ha of urea applied as top-dressing fertilizer. The experiment was conducted during two cropping periods from 2010/11 and 2011/12 at Bàrué and Nhamatanda districts. The annual rainfall ranges from 1000 to 1200 mm in Nhamatanda and Bàrué exceeds 1200mm. We used ANOVA to evaluate the tillage practices and maize varieties effects on dry matter yield, grain yield, number of plants and number of cobs. The maize varieties differed significantly in both dry matter yield and plant density, with the ZM625 variety producing 6.3 t/ha ± (P≤ 0.05) and 66 ± (P≤ 0.05) plants/harvest area at Bàrué in 2011/12 season. Significant increases occurred due to basin practices and hybrid varieties. The highest grain yield, plant density and dry matter yield occurred with the ZM625 variety under conservation tillage practices at Bàrué. This research suggests that the implementation of conservation practices, combined with ZM maize varieties, greatly increases yields.

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(63) Analysis of the expression of the pathogen defense gene Vst1 driven by papaya promoters in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana in response to defense response elicitors, salicylic acid and methyl jasmonate. Rick Shimshock* and David A. Christopher. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. In Hawaiʻi, papaya (Carica papaya) is very susceptible to disease caused by the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora palmivora. To mitigate this problem, transgenic papaya were engineered to express the Vst1 gene, which codes for the enzyme stilbene synthase. Stilbene synthase catalyzes the biosynthesis of piceid, a resveratrol derivative, which inhibits the growth of P. palmivora. Vst1 expression was placed under the control of pathogen- and tissue-responsive promoters from papaya. To efficiently analyze expression patterns of the Vst1 transgene controlled by the papaya promoters, a heterologous system in Arabidopsis thaliana was developed to express the promoter-Vst1 gene fusions, using the Cp29 promoter as an initial test prototype. This promoter was derived from a gene encoding a β-1,3 glucanase enzyme and was previously found to be highly upregulated in papaya during infection by P. palmivora. Transgenic Arabidopsis in liquid culture were treated with 1 mM salicylic acid (SA) or 50 µM methyl jasmonate (MeJA), both elicitors of separate plant defense pathways, to simulate pathogen attack. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to measure Vst1 expression at 0, 6, and 24 hr after treatment, relative to the control housekeeping gene Actin2. Expression of Vst1 remained unchanged after treatment with SA, indicating that the Cp29:Vst1 construct is not regulated by the salicylic acid defense pathway. Measuring changes in Cp29:Vst1 expression in Arabidopsis after treatment with defense response elicitors can indicate the defense signaling pathways involved in Cp29:Vst1 expression in response to P. palmivora challenge in papaya. (64) Growth and Yield of Sweet Corn as Influenced by Tankage Rate and Application Timing. Tiare Silvasy*, Amjad Ahmad, Koon-Hui Wang, and Theodore Radovich. Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences and Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences. Tankage is a high-nitrogen (N) solid by-product of animal waste rendering that is locally-available for use as a fertilizer. Local crop inputs, such as tankage, are key components of sustainable agricultural systems in Hawai‘i and must be applied properly to achieve crop yields and to limit adverse environmental impacts. The objectives of this study were to (1) examine plant growth and yield response to tankage and (2) to find an optimal range for application rate and timing. Field trials were conducted at Waimanalo Research Station using 5 rates of N (0, 112, 224, 336, and 448) kg*ha-1 and 2 timings of application, before planting (Preplant) or half preplant and the remainder one month later (Split) with 4 replications. Experimental plots 3.05 m2 were arranged in Split-Plot RCBD and planted with Supersweet #10 corn (Zea mays). Periodically, leaf chlorophyll was measured with a SPAD meter and lysimeters were used at two depths, 30 and 60cm, to collect soil water solutions for analysis of nitrate (NO3-N) and ammonium. Data analysis shows that rate of tankage had a significant effect on yield, shoot and root biomass, and leaf area. While application timing was not statistically significant, yield was 9.5% higher and NO3-N levels were reduced by nearly 20% below the root zone for Split. In conclusion, as expected yield increased with increasing application rate but more importantly, Split application reduced potential for groundwater pollution. The findings from this study will help local farmers work towards precision agriculture by improving their nutrient management and will also build upon a larger body of research for this local resource.

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(65) Potential Drug Leads and Diet: Is There Correlation in Conus? Nicholas Sinclair* and Jon-Paul Bingham. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. Naturally products have long been a source of potential drug leads. This is most evident in mankind’s dependence on opiates for pain management and the antibiotic properties of penicillins. The Bingham Laboratory has a main focus on studying and analyzing the toxins derived from the genus Conus, as source of novel drug leads and pesticides. Through these snails, we hope to provide more knowledge regarding both the peptide components within the venom and also the receptor-targets of these peptides. The raw milked venom of Conus striatus represented one branch of this research. The proposed study will conclude a ~5-year endeavor involving the maintenance and venom collection of 23 captive Conus – this presents the longest captive study of Conus ever undertaken. The objective of this study is to further examine if previously observed venom changes can be manipulated. Particularly we examine the impact of exogenous Vitamin C. The main focus of this Conus diet manipulation study is on cofactors that impact Post-Translational Modifications (PTMs), specifically the hydroxylation of proline residues within the sequences of venom peptides. Through previous studies in The Bingham Laboratory, it has become apparent that hydroxylation content and its position(s) impact the folding of peptide toxins. It is this folding that can lead to changes regarding toxin specificity. It is suspected that manipulation of Conus diet and its effect on hydroxylation of peptide toxins may possess the potential to diversify the milk venom constituents and lead to new peptide toxin drug leads and pesticides. (66) West Nile Virus NS4B Regulates the Retention of NS5 in Virus-Induced Replication Organelles. Alanna Tseng*, Vivek R. Nerurkar, and Pakieli H. Kaufusi. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology and Pacific Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, JABSOM. West Nile virus, a causative agent of neuroinvasive disease in humans, replicates in ER-derived membrane compartments known as replication organelles (RO), which contain all the viral nonstructural (NS) proteins (NS1, NS2A, NS2B, NS3, NS4A, NS4B and NS5) essential for virus replication in the target cells. NS5, a soluble protein, is central to viral RNA synthesis, as it possesses the methyltransferase and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP). Given that NS5 must associate with the RO to promote virus replication, how NS5 is recruited to these compartments remains unclear. Published data suggests that NS4B may contribute to NS5 association with the RO, but the mechanistic details of this interaction are unknown. Therefore, we analyzed whether the processing of NS4B-NS5 is essential for NS5 localization to the RO compartments. The subcellular localization patterns of NS5 tagged with GFP or V5/His epitopes when NS4B is provided in cis or trans in HEK293T cells was analyzed using high-resolution confocal microscopy. We demonstrate that NS5 released from the cleavage of NS4B-NS5-GFP by the viral protease was not localized to the ER but scattered in the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Similar intracellular distribution was also observed when NS5-GFP was expressed alone or coexpressed with NS4B or other NS proteins. However, unprocessed NS4B-NS5 predominantly localized to the ER, suggesting that NS5 may associate with the RO compartments only when it is still bound to NS4B. Future studies will examine the functional relevance of unprocessed NS4B-NS5 in infected cells and ultimately screen for inhibitors that disrupt NS4B-NS5 binding as a novel antiviral therapy.

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(67) Characterizing fermentable qualities of resistant starch in Musa ABB bananas at different ripeness for potential health benefits. Surely Wallace* and Maria Stewart. Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences. Low-fiber diets high in refined sugars are strongly correlated with increased risk of metabolic and digestive disease. Dysbiosis—detrimental changes in the gut microbiota—are a component of disease pathogenesis, which requires more study. When undigested fibers pass into the colon, bacteria utilize them as substrates for anaerobic fermentation, producing short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) metabolites. The SCFAs acetate, propionate, and butyrate have beneficial physiological effects on colonocytes, host metabolic function, and colon pH. Raw bananas comprise largely of resistant starch, especially when underripe, which favors SCFA production, particularly butyrate. The banana is a valuable commercial crop worldwide and a locally produced fruit that is often eaten raw but has use in cooking as flour when unripe. However, bananas have not been investigated for their fermentative qualities. The objective of this study was to quantify pH and SCFA production of two cultivars of Musa ABB bananas in an in vitro digestion and fermentation assay with human feces to evaluate potential health benefits. Decrease in fecal pH was observed in both banana cultivars during in vitro fermentation indicating that resistant starch in bananas is fermentable and may impart health benefits. (68) Gigapixel Imagery: An Application for Incipient Invasive Species Detection and Mapping. William Weaver* and Tomoaki Miura. Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management. The Hawaiian Islands are a showcase of biological diversity and host an array of unique and rare native species found nowhere else on earth. Disturbance and the subsequent introduction of many introduced plant species have severely impacted the native Hawaiian forest. Invasive species are increasingly becoming a major concern for conservation and resource management as they outcompete native plants for resources and affect ecosystem processes such as primary productivity, decomposition, hydrology, nutrient cycling and natural disturbance regimes. Many efforts are being made to eradicate invasive alien plants from Hawaiian forests. Analysis of remotely sensed imagery can provide an accurate and timely assessment of vegetation and guide management efforts. The Gigapan robotic unit allows a user to capture very high resolution digital images with billions of pixels. It is gaining use by researchers across many other fields of science to capture site information from geology to ecology to complement field work. Gigapan imagery was examined for incipient invasive species detection with the integration of a laser range finder and GPS for positional detection to facilitate ground location and control. Results show gigapan imagery with a spatial resolution of less than 1cm, allowing for visual detection of species. Positional accuracy of the laser rangefinder gps offsets was evaluated showing accuracy of approximately +10m ground distance.

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(69) Identification and characterization of assigning Novel Conotoxin Sequences derived from the Milked Venom of Conus obscurus. Rui-Yang Zhang* and Jon-Paul Bingham. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. The goal of this project is to discover novel bioactive conotoxin and synthesize conotoxin analogs from the milked venom of Conus obscurus. Different interpretations of mass spectrometric peptide sequencing data, has provided three putative conotoxin sequences: O1.39, O1.4 and O1.4a. We undertake their testing to validate their natural occurrence and bioactivity. However only O1.4a provides confidence in being a native conotoxin by BLAST analysis. Since disulfide rich conotoxins have ability to form multi isomers, in which conformation alteration occurs, examination of these novel non-native analogues provides a platform for the possible retention bioactive. Furthermore, according to the examination of folding pattern and bioactivity assays, peptides O1.39, O1.4, and O1.4a would make excellent candidates for phyla-specific pesticides. Our findings compound the issue of incorrect sequence analysis and assignment. Yet within specific limits opens new opportunities to consider novel peptide analogues and scaffolds. Taking these into consideration advances our knowledge of peptide structure and biological activity interrelationships. Which ultimately impacts our present understanding in how to achieve higher specificity and peptide target selectivity. USDA HATCH (HAW00595-R) in part sponsored this work. (70) Natural products that reduce postharvest disease of tomato on Oahu. Firas Ahmed*, Anne Alvarez, and Brent Sipes. Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences. Postharvest diseases cause losses of 23-25% of tomato production in the USA and 31-38% globally. The objective of this study was to reduce losses caused by the most prevalent fungal pathogens on Oahu, Hawaii. Ninety-nine fungi obtained from infected tomato fruit were identified by morphological features and confirmed by DNA sequence analysis. The most common postharvest disease on tomato was caused by Botrytis cinerea, which was recovered from 49% of locally produced fruit and 51% of imported fruit. All B. cinerea cultures isolated in this survey were highly virulent and caused grey mold of tomato. Due to high losses caused by grey mold on Oahu, nine natural products were evaluated for antifungal activity and two were selected for repeated studies. Leaves of candidate plants were frozen (-20C°) and cell extracts were diluted with water (10 to 40%) be evaluated in multi-well microplates driven by the Gen5 software program. Germination of B.cinerea conidia was measured by changes in optical density at 6, 12, and 24 hours after inoculation. The 30 and 40% extracts of two pepper cultivars (Capsicum chinense cv. Datil and cv. Carnival) completely inhibited conidial germination. Extracts from Waltheria indica (sleepy morning) and C. fruitescens (Hawaiian chili pepper) had intermediate antifungal activity. Capsicum annuum cultivars Red pepper, Criolla de cocina, and New Mexico, Aloe vera, and Tagetes patula (marigold) had no measurable antifungal activity. The most effective extracts (from cvs. Datil and Carnival) will be tested further in combination with edible surfactants on tomato fruit to reduce postharvest disease.

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(71) Isolation and Characterization of Genes for Drought Resistance in Leucena leucocephala, Ahmed Bageel*, Kazue Ishihara, and Dulal Borthakur. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. Developing drought resistance has become an important objective of crop improvement programs all over the world because of the increased global warming in recent years. Leucaena leucocephala (leucaena) is a highly drought resistant leguminous tree, which can be used as a model plant to study drought resistance. The goal of this research is to identify and characterize genes involved in drought resistance in leucaena so that the genes can be used for developing drought resistant crop plants. Specific objectives are: (i) identify all leucaena genes that are up-regulated by drought conditions, (ii) classify these genes into different groups based on the possible functions of the encoded proteins, (iii) determine expression levels of the genes under different drought conditions, and (iv) characterize some of the highly drought-induced genes in details in leucaena. From the transcription sequences of leucaena, 10,435 sequences were taken and used for microarray analysis with total RNA isolated from leucaena grown under normal and drought conditions. One hundred and twelve gene sequences were selected on the basis of increased expression under drought conditions. Sixty-one of these genes did not show homology with any genes with known function and were grouped as hypothetical protein (Hyp) genes. The remaining 51 genes were classified into 10 groups based on the functions of the encoded proteins. Among all drought-induced genes only two were induced in both roots and shoots of leucaena. One of them encodes a chloroplastic glucosyltransferase, while the other encodes a zinc-finger-motif-containing Hyp gene involved in crocin biosynthesis. Identification of the genes for drought resistance in leucaena is a step forward towards developing drought resistant crop varieties in the future. This research is supported by a HATCH grant. (72) Production and purification of truncated fish myostatin propeptide/Fc fusion protein in Escherichia Coli. Donghyuck Choi* and Yong Soo Kim. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. Myostatin (MSTN) is a potent negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass, implying that inhibition of MSTN can increase the muscle mass of meat producing animals. The activity of MSTN is inhibited by MSTN propeptides (MSTNpro), the N-terminal domain of unprocessed MSTN that is cleaved off during post-translational MSTN processing. A recent study from our lab showed that a MBP-fused, truncated form of fish MSTNpro (MBP-fMSTNpro45-100) had a full MSTN-inhibitory potency. Since the fusion of Fc domain of IgG to therapeutic proteins is known to increase the biological potency of the proteins when administered to animals, the objective of this study was to produce mouse-Fc fused MBP-fMSTNpro45-100 (MBP-fMSTNpro45-100-Fc) in E. coli and to examine its bioactivity. MBP-fMSTNpro45-100-Fc protein was produced in E. coli transformed with pMALc5X expression vector containing DNA sequence of MSTNpro45-100 plus Fc domain in C-terminal side. SDS-PAGE analysis showed a soluble expression of MBP- fMSTNpro45-100-Fc. Combination of amylose and protein A affinity chromatography was used to purify MBP-fMSTNpro45-100-Fc from the soluble fraction of E. coli lysate. The purified MBP-fMSTNpro45-100-Fc showed its MSTN inhibitory capacity in a reporter gene assay. Results of this study show that bioactive, Fc-fused, truncated forms of MSTNpro can be produced economically in E. coli. The fMSTNpro45-100-Fc will be useful to examine the inhibition of MSTN and improving skeletal muscle mass of meat producing animals.

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(73) Detection of Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) using an ultra-sensitive single-tube nested PCR assay. Islam Hamim*, Kishore Dey, Wang Zhuo, James C. Green, Wayne Borth, and John Hu. Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences. An ultra-sensitive single-tube nested PCR (nPCR) assay was developed for the detection of Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV). PRSV, causes significant losses to the commercial production of papaya throughout the world. This single tube nPCR assay incorporates different annealing temperatures for the individual primer pairs that allow the assay to be performed sequentially on both the first and the second rounds of PCR reactions using primary and nested primer pairs specific for the P3 gene of PRSV. A higher annealing temperature with limiting amounts of outer (primary) primers was used in the first round PCR. These reaction conditions prevent primer competition between the primary and nested primer pairs in the second round amplification reactions. This assay is highly specific and more sensitive than single primer-pair based PCR assays for PRSV detection. The benefits of this single-tube nested assay for PRSV include shorter analysis time and the prevention of potential cross contamination compared to regular nested PCR in which the reactions are performed in two separate tubes. This nPCR assay will facilitate studies of the epidemiology of PRSV in the field, and provide support for quarantine systems of governments by allowing the detection of very low infection rates of virus in field and imported plant samples. (74) Bio-nanocomposites-based electrochemical immunosensor for detection of Escherichia coli. Inae Lee* and Soojin Jun. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering and Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences. A novel bioaffinity and electrochemical reaction-based biosensor has been developed for rapid detection and identification of potentially harmful bacteria in foods. Because the antibody-antigen reactions on the sensor generate sensible shifts in the electrical signal that provide qualitative and quantitative results, it is important to fabricate sensitive and stable bioreceptors on the sensing platform. In this study, the biosensing device for detection of Escherichia coli was optimized by implementing the immobilization of bioreceptors using single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) as a signal enhancer and bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a non-specific binding blocker. A gold-coated tungsten microwire was functionalized with biotinylated E. coli antibodies at various concentrations from 500 to 25µg/mL. Changes in the impedance by introducing the SWCNTs and BSA to the sensor, and subsequent target binding events were measured and monitored with a frequency response analyzer. The cells captured on the sensor were quantitatively validated using a scanning electron microscope. Double-layered SWCNTs on the sensor provided the signal enhancement compared to the sensor without nanocomposites. The optimum concentration of the E. coli antibodies to achieve the highest surface coverage was 250µg/mL providing a maximum impedance change. The signal response from cells attached on the non-functionalized sensing area was reduced down to 58.4% by the use of 2% BSA solution. Therefore, the functionalization process developed for the electrochemical immunosensors contributed to enhanced sensitive and selective detection of other harmful microorganisms for food safety analysis.

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(75) Productivity Hot Spots and Cold Spots: Setting Priorities for Achieving Food Staples Sufficiency Target in the Philippines. Rusyan Jill Mamiit*, John Yanagida, and Donald Villanueva. Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management and International Rice Research Institute. For the last two decades, the Philippines has been dependent on rice imports. Local rice supply has fallen short of meeting local demand. This continued occurrence has necessitated the national government to introduce the Food Staples Sufficiency Program (FSSP) in 2012 with the belief that the Philippines can attain rice self-sufficiency. The program has a target to increase rice staples from 15.77 million metric tons in 2010 to 22.73 million metric tons in 2016. Accordingly, rice production should increase by 44 percent and yield per hectare by 25 percent. Increases in agricultural efficiency levels of farmers enable them to produce more with the same level of resources. Empirical results show that increasing farm productivity can help attain the FSSP target by potentially increasing yield per hectare to 7.32 and 5.63 metric tons per hectare at the maximum in the dry and wet seasons, respectively, in Guimba, and 4.78 and 3.90 metric tons per hectare in the dry and wet cropping season, respectively, in Tarlac City. Given that average annual regional technical efficiency in Central Luzon is 0.827, it is possible to increase national yield to 5.5 metric tons per hectare. The optimized hot spot analysis suggests that proximity to high-performing farms influences yield per hectare and the level of technical efficiency. Attainment of the FSSP target depends on the ability of the rice producers to increase farm technical efficiency. It is imperative that policy interventions prioritize productivity cold spot areas and hot spot zones for technical inefficiency. (76) Systemic responses to symbiosis: does colonization of a symbiotic organ induce transcriptional changes in remote tissues? Silvia Moriano-Gutierrez*, Eric Koch, Mahdi Belcaid, and Margaret McFall-Ngai. Pacific Biosciences Research Center and Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. The light-organ symbiosis between Euprymna scolopes and the marine bioluminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri offers an experimentally accessible model for understanding the events and signals underlying host-microbe symbioses. This partnership is highly specific, as only V. fischeri, against the background of other species in the seawater, is capable of forming a stable relationship with the host. During the onset of symbiosis, the light-organ undergoes extensive transcriptomic responses. Using next-generation sequencing, we have shown that colonization by both the wild-type symbiont, as well as V. fischeri mutants that are defective in luminescence (Δlux) dramatically affects gene expression in the light organ at 24h after colonization. In the present study, we sought to answer the question: is colonization by the symbiont perceived by tissues remote from the light organ? To this aim, we used high-throughput transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) to compare gene expression in the light organ to that of the gills, eyes, and head; and gills and white body in adult animals. The database of transcripts assembled from the experiment increases the number of known E. scolopes transcripts by approximately 70%. Additionally, our experiment provides evidence that tissues remote from the light organ begin a minor transcriptional response providing a hint of systemic response at early symbiosis, which possibly matures in adult animals.

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(77) Micro-aeration process control system for anaerobic digestion. Duc Nguyen* and Samir K. Khanal. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. Anaerobic digestion (AD) technology shows an immense potential for recovering renewable energy from organic waste materials. However, the AD process is susceptible to process failure due to the accumulation of short chain organic acids known as volatile fatty acids (VFAs). In this research, a novel micro-aeration process control system based on oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) values was proposed to remove excess VFAs. The sensitivity of ORP probe to the present of oxygen allowed the precise control of the micro-aeration system. The performance of the AD reactor was compared between anaerobic and micro-aerobic conditions. The result showed that micro-aeration could help reduce the VFAs accumulation and increase the methane production. This study showed that ORP-based micro-aeration could be adopted as a simple yet effective control strategy for anaerobic processes. (78) High rate anaerobic digestion system for industrial wastewater with hydrogen sulfide removal by biochar. Fernanda R. Oliveira* and Samir Khanal. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. The objective of this study is to investigate the performance of a high rate anaerobic digestion (AD) system for industrial wastewater treatment and the use of a column packed with biochar for H2S removal. We have designed single-fed and multi-fed fixed film bioreactors to increase the efficiency of biological treatment systems by allowing greater organic loads (OLR), minimizing hydraulic retention time (HTR), reducing sludge production and promoting process stability and resistance to shock loading. Many cells have the ability to adhere to solid surfaces that can form the basis for an inexpensive but effective immobilization technique. Therefore, the use biofilms as dynamic environments have advantages that include maintenance of stable and active biocatalysts, faster reaction rates, high volumetric productivities, improved process control, and improved production efficiency. 5 mm tire beads are used as support media for the anaerobic treatment of high strength industrial wastewaters from sugar refining industries and it may exhibit good performance as carrier of microorganisms while producing CO2, CH4 and H2S as biogas. A column packed with biochar is attached to the system and the biogas continually recirculates through the bottom of the bioreactor. Hydrogen sulfide is adsorbed by the porous surface of the biochar and gradually removed from the system. Sulfur mass balance and the mechanisms of H2S sorption by the biochar are studied through GC, FTIR and SEM techniques. H2S gas estimated / calculated by Henry’s law.

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(79) Glycerol induced co-metabolism of dibenzothiophene in Burkholderia sp. C3. Camila A. Ortega Ramírez*, Abraham Kwan, and Qing X. Li. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were ranked ninth in the priority list of hazardous substances by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2015. PAHs are found in over 400 national priority sites. They are persistent, ubiquitous and carcinogenic. As the PAH molecular weight increases, so does its persistence in the environment. Bioremediation is an economical technology to degrade PAHs using microorganisms. Understanding mechanisms of PAH toxicity, bioavailability to bacteria and biodegradation kinetics allows optimization of factors for bioremediation efficiency. Burkholderia sp. C3, a bacterial strain isolated from a gasification site in Hilo, degrades several PAHs including dibenzothiophene (DBT), typically used as a model PAH for bioremediation studies. Chemical biodegradation kinetics and bacterial growth showed that glycerol, a byproduct of biodiesel production, enhanced DBT biodegradation kinetics by 16-fold in C3. Bioassays, surface tension, proteomic and metabolite analysis identified secretion of rhamnolipids, a glycolipid biosurfactant, by C3. Rhamnolipids fortification experiments and the use of β-oxidation and rhamnolipid synthesis inhibitors further confirmed the relevance of rhamnolipids to the enhanced DBT biodegradation. It is concluded that glycerol supports C3 growth and co-metabolism of DBT via a rhamnolipid mediated mechanism. This study provided insights into the mechanisms of glycerol induced co-metabolism of dibenzothiophene in Burkholderia sp. C3, which will allow us to design effective bioremediation strategies to remove carcinogenic PAHs from the environment. (80) Optimizing AD process to maximize VFAs production from Napier grass using micro-oxygenation. Chayanon Sawatdeenarunat* and Samir K. Khanal. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. Volatile Fatty Acids (VFAs) are organic acids with 2 to 5 carbon atoms produced during the acidogenesis stage of anaerobic digestion (AD). These VFAs are potential substrates to produce bioenergy and biobased products. Micro-oxygenation is an effective technology to enhance VFAs production from the AD of organic substrates. In this study, a series of batch experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of inoculum type, oxygen dosage and incubation time on VFAs production from Napier grass under mesophillic conditions. A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), utilizing a full factorial treatment of 2 levels of local inoculums (mixed culture derived from AD of cattle manure; ADCM, and from AD of waste activated sludge; ADWAS), 3 levels of O2 dosage (0, 15, and 30 ml/g of volatile solid (VS) added, VSadded), and 3 levels of incubation time (1, 3, and 5 days) was examined. The results indicated that using ADCM as an inoculum generated significantly higher VFA production compared with ADWAS. Additionally, the incubation time of 3 days and O2 dosing of 15 ml/gVSadded showed the highest overall VFAs production but was not significantly different from those with a dosage of 30 ml/gVSadded. Moreover, the VFAs production had a strong quadratic correlation with O2 dosage with a R2 of 0.86. With regards to the regression equation, it was predicted that the optimal O2 dosage to produce the highest amount of VFAs is 22 ml O2/gVSadded. This result was then confirmed by another batch experiment where the maximum produced VFAs was found to be 112.70±5.15 mg/gVSadded.

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(81) Effect of macadamia nut cake inclusion in diets on growth performance and cost of production of pasture raised broiler chickens in Hawaii. A. K. Singh*, J. D. Berrocoso, J. Ludovico, and R. Jha. Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, J. Ludovico Farm, Haleiwa, HI. Macadamia nut cake (MNC) is a byproduct of oil processing industry which is rich in energy and protein. An on-farm study was conducted to determine the optimum level of MNC inclusion in broiler chicken’s diet. A total of 96 birds were randomly and equally assigned to 8 floorless cages (chicken tractors). Two replicate cages were randomly allocated to one of 4 dietary treatments: a) control, without MNC; b) 5% MNC c) 10% MNC, and d) 15% MNC inclusion in corn-soybean based diets. The chickens were raised on their respective diets fed in pellet form for 4 weeks on starter and 3 weeks on finisher diets. Feed intake and body weight of the birds were recorded weekly. In starter phase, the average daily gain (ADG) was not different among the treatments while the gain-to-feed (G:F) ratio was significantly higher (P<0.05) in 15% MNC diets fed birds. Notably, ADG, average daily feed intake (ADFI) and G:F ratio did not show any significant difference among the treatments in finisher phase. Likewise, in overall 7 weeks, ADG, ADFI and G:F ratio were not significantly different (P>0.05). However, ADFI showed a trend (P=0.0523) in 7 weeks’ period with 15% MNC diets being lower than the control (96±2.0 vs 105±2.0). The results show that MNC can be incorporated as high as 15% in the broiler’s diet without any adverse effect on growth performance. Provided that MNC is available free as a byproduct in Hawaii, local farmers can get benefit by including MNC in diets to reduce feed cost to raise broiler chickens. This will contribute in promoting sustainable broiler chicken industry in Hawaii which, in turn, will benefit macadamia nut producers and processors as well. (82) Nutrient profile and in vitro digestibility of cassava silages in swine. Utsav P. Tiwari* and Rajesh Jha. Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences. Market availability and price of conventional feedstuffs are variable, making imperative to explore alternative feedstuffs. Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is a starchy tuber that can be a potential feedstuff for swine. Two different line (L1 and L2) and two sample type (combinations of cassava parts): 100% tubers (T100), 50% tubers and 50% vines (T50) were ensiled over three periods [fresh (M0), ensiled for two (M2) and three (M3) months]. Nutrient profile of samples were analyzed using standard method and digestibility was determined using in vitro method (3 step enzymatic assay). With increasing the vine proportion in the mix, there was increase in the ADF, NDF and CP content (T50>T100), while percentage of starch decreased. However, ensiling resulted in a reduction of the CP, NDF, ADF and starch contents compared with the fresh tuber samples. DM digestibility of L2T100M0 (91%) and L1T100M0 (86%) was higher (P˂0.05) than L1T50M0 (%) and L2T50M0 (%). Energy digestibility of L2T100M3 (92.0) and L1T100M3 was higher (P˂0.05) than L1T50M3 (69%) and L2T50M3 (61%). Nutritional value of cassava silages decreased with increase in proportion of vines in the sample. However, digestibility was still at reasonable level. Thus, ensiling the combination of tubers and vines of cassava can be useful strategy to supply enough feed for swine. However, ensiling period needs to be considered with combination of tubers and vines. The pH of silage decreased with increase in ensiling period, such silage may provide gut health benefit, in addition to providing energy and other nutrients to swine.

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(83) Screening oil radish (Raphanus sativus) varieties for nematode management through trap cropping and biofumigation effects. Philip Waisen* and Koon-Hui Wang. Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences. Oil radish (Raphanus sativus) is well-known for its biofumigation effect against plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) when soil incorporated. However, oil radish is also susceptible to several PPNs. One approach of using oil radish for nematode management is to trap the nematodes in its roots, followed by terminating this cover crop with biofumigation effect to kill remaining plant-parasitic nematodes in the soil. The objective of this research was to determine which varieties have the best biofumigation and trap cropping effects. Eight oil radish varieties ‘Alpine’, ‘April Cross’, ‘Discovery’, ‘Miyashige’, ‘Oshin’, ‘Sodbuster’, ‘Summer Cross’, and ‘Tiller Radish’ were screened in greenhouse conditions. In the trap cropping test, all varieties tested were replicated in 4 pots, inoculated with M. javanica at 218 second stage infective juveniles/pot, terminated at 2 weeks after M. javanica inoculation. Although M. javanica juveniles were recovered from all pots, no difference was observed among varieties. In the biofumigation test, oil radish leaves of each variety were finely chopped and amended into nematode infested soil at 1% (w/w) based on dry weights. A zucchini (Cucurbita pepo var. cylindrica) seedling was transplanted per pot and grown for 1 month prior to soil nematodes extraction. All varieties suppress reniform and root-knot nematodes compared to the unamended control (P<0.01). ‘Sodbuster’, ‘Miyashige’ and ‘Tiller Radish’ were most effective in suppressing root-knot nematodes whereas no difference among varieties was detected against reniform nematodes. ‘Miyashige’ was most effective in enhancing zucchini growth though not different from ‘Sodbuster’ and ‘Tiller Radish’. However, due to cheaper seed cost, ‘Sodbuster’ and ‘Tiller Radish’ will be recommended for nematode management as trap and biofumigation crops. (84) Nitrogen Transformations in Floating-Raft Aquaponic Systems. Sumeth Wongkiew* and Samir Khanal. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. Aquaponic systems have received significant attention in recent years for sustainable food production due to several attributes including recycling of nutrients and water conservation. Although nitrogen is a key nutrient, nitrogen transformations in aquaponic systems have not been widely examined. Such information is critical to design and operate an efficient system in a large scale. In this study, nitrogen transformations in a floating-raft aquaponic system with pak choi (Brassica rapa L. chinensis), lettuce (Lactuca sativa longifolia cv. Jericho) and chive (Allium schoenoprasum L.) were evaluated using nitrogen mass balance and natural abundance nitrogen isotopic compositions. Results show that high nitrogen loss via denitrification contributed to low plant nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE). Low dissolved oxygen (DO) at the inlet of biofilters promoted denitrification and resulted in the enrichment of 15N values in NO3

- in recirculating water. The NO3

- accumulation occurred in which NO3- exceeded plant’s requirement; suggesting

the imbalance of nitrogen. Adjusting feed-to-plant ratio and maintaining DO (> 6 mg/L), pH (6.7-7.2) and HLR (> 0.5 m/d) were suggested to reduce nitrogen loss and maintain effective nitrification. Overall, this research provides the understanding of nitrogen transformations that could improve NUE and ensure sufficient nitrogen in large-scale aquaponic systems.

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(85) Finite Element Study of Self-Deflections in Large Mirrors Subject to Kinematic Mounts. Tina Li*, Mark Chun, and A. Zachary Trimble. Department of Mechanical Engineering and Institute for Astronomy at Hilo. Due to the size and weight of large mirrors, gravity causes deflections onto the mirror surface that distort the output images. The design of a mount must be considered in order to support the mirror and limit self-weight deflection. This research compares various analytical models of self-deflection to calculations of mirror surface deflections using finite element analysis (FEA) softwares (COMSOL, SolidWorks, ANSYS, and PLOP) for various mounting designs. Assuming a Borofloat33 glass mirror with a 400-mm diameter and 50-mm thickness, the findings show a 3% difference between the FEA and analytical solutions (taking into account bending and shear stresses) for a ring mount, both simply-supported and fixed. As the aspect ratio (diameter/thickness) of the mirror increases, bending stress dominates the deflection and shear stress becomes negligible. Differences in the deflection predicted by the analytical and FEA approaches diverge at small aspect ratios below 8-10 due to localized stress. Analytical and FEA deflections will be compared to experimental results for various aspect ratios to examine the accuracy of analytical and FEA results. Verification and understanding of FEA will facilitate the design and analysis of more complex mounts under varying gravity vectors. Findings can help establish a foundation in designing mirror mounts for large mirrors for any given specifications. This knowledge is useful to attain as the improvement on the quality of our telescopes can further investigate the future and study the past. (86) Withdrawn.

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(87) Establishment of a CRISPR-Mediated Transformation System for Development of Virus Resistant Transgenic Plants. James Green*, Wayne Borth, and John Hu. Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences and Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences. CRISPR-Cas genome editing heralds the dawn of relatively simple and precise genome editing, enabling the engineering of transgenic resistance to plant pathogens. Engineering a CRISPR-Cas system in plantae is the initial step in a research project with the aim of developing a CRISPR- Cas transformation system to produce virus resistant transgenic plants. We designed small guide RNA (sgRNA), reassembled a 20-nucleotide target site of the sgRNA from the pUC119-gRNA vector using overlapping PCR, and confirmed the reassembly of the site via Sanger sequencing. We introduced the reassembled CRISPR-Cas system in E. coli strain DH5α into Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA105 through transformation. We used agroinfiltration to introduce the CRISPR-Cas system in A. tumefaciens into the transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana line 16c that had been previously transformed for constitutive expression of a modified green fluorescent protein (GFP). The sgRNA directs the Cas endonuclease to the integrated GFP locus generating double-stranded breaks (DSB) resulting in ‘knockout’ of expression of the GFP transgene. Creation of DSB at the GFP locus completes the first step of the project. This will be followed by the application of the newly engineered CRISPR-Cas system that allows homology directed repair of the cleaved GFP locus, thereby enabling the insertion of a gene of interest (e.g., a gene conferring resistance to a particular virus) at the targeted GFP locus. (88) Bacterial degradation of the toxic chemical dibenzothiophene. Abraham Kwan*, Camila Ortega, and Qing X. Li. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. Petroleum fuels contain sulfur compounds and their combustion emits sulfur oxides – detrimental to the environment and human health. Dibenzothiophene (DBT) is one of the sulfur compounds in petroleum fuels and is typically used as a model chemical to study the mechanisms of bacterial degradation of sulfur compounds. DBT and other sulfur compounds are often toxic to microorganisms. Burkholderia sp. C3, a bacterial strain isolated from Hilo soil, can degrade DBT. However, the biodegradation is slow and the metabolic pathway is unknown. Therefore, the project was motivated to elucidate the metabolic mechanism and enhance the metabolic rate of DBT. Metabolic studies and detection of DBT dioxygenase and other five relevant enzymes by mass spectrometry indicated that C3 degrades DBT through the lateral dioxygenation pathway. The metabolic and cell growth data further suggest that cometabolism (i.e., addition of another substrate) might be a potential strategy to enhance DBT degradation. It is very interesting that DBT degradation in C3 – analyzed with a high performance liquid chromatograph – was enhanced by 15-fold with addition of a trace amount (0.05 M) of glycerol – a biodiesel production byproduct. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of DBT biodegradation allows us to implement effective desulfurization biotechnologies to decrease the sulfur levels in fuel, thus, reducing the sulfur oxide emissions into the air.

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(89) Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of Ohelo berry juice. Christensen Mangahas*, Stuart Nakamoto, and Yong Li. Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences. Control of microbial growth in food is very important for extending its shelf life and preventing foodborne illness. Ohelo berry, a Hawaiian wild cranberry relative, has high antioxidant capacities and holds strong potential for food preservation. This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial effect of Ohelo berry on bacteria. Ohelo berry juice was serially diluted and tested against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus using the agar well diffusion assay. In addition, these bacteria were inoculated individually into Ohelo berry juice and tryptic soy broth (TSB) containing 25% Ohelo berry juice and incubated at 35°C. Over time, the bacteria were enumerated on plate count agar. Ohelo berry juice generated inhibition zones of 1.4 cm and 1.8 cm against E. coli and S. aureus, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration was determined as 50% and 12.5%, respectively. In the juice, E. coli at 4.2×104 cfu/ml died off within 3 h whereas it took 8 h to inactivate S. aureus. In TSB containing 25% Ohelo berry juice, growth of both bacteria was completed suppressed. By 48 h, E. coli reduced from 9.2×104 cfu/ml to 1.1×102 cfu/ml. S. aureus at 1.2×105 cfu/ml reduced to 4.6×102 cfu/ml and undetectable at 24 h and 48 h, respectively. These results suggest that Ohelo berry juice has strong antimicrobial activity. It might provide an alternative and green solution to enhancing the microbiological quality and safety of food. (90) Comparing Reflective and Black Mulch on Growth and Pest Management of Tomato. Christian Mathias* and Leyla Kaufman. Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences. Tomato is an important crop in Hawaii’s diversified agriculture. Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLCV) is transmitted by the silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, and Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV) is transmitted by several species of thrips. Plastic mulches provide many positive advantages for farmers, such as increased yields, earlier maturation of crops, enhanced insect management, and weed control. Two field trials were carried out at Poamoho Experiment Station. The trials tested two types of plastic mulches: black and silver reflective on their ability to improve growth and suppress insect vectors of viruses, and other pests in tomato. The trial also tested two tomato varieties: a) 72618 resistant to TYLCV but susceptible to TSWV, and b) Shiren susceptible to both viruses. Plant growth was measured by plant height, biomass, stem diameter; and counting node, fruit, and flower bunches. Measurements of pest densities were taken by counting silverleaf whitefly (eggs, nymphs and adults), thrips, leafminers and mites. Plants were harvested for five consecutive weeks to obtain yield data. Plants in the reflective mulch grew faster and more vigorously, flowered and set fruit earlier, and had significantly lower pest densities compared to plants growing in the black mulch. The reflective mulch did not prevent, but slowed down the transmission of TYLCV in the susceptible variety. Plants of both varieties had significantly more marketable yield when grown in the reflective mulch compared to the black mulch. The reflective mulch improved plant quality and yield while reducing pest densities in tomato, and can be a sustainable alternative for other cropping systems in Hawaii.

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(91) Indoor Vertical Agriculture. Zackery Morrison*, Noeloikeau Charlot, Loren Gautz, and Samir Khanal. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. The aim of the indoor vertical agriculture unit is to facilitate the growth of baby greens and other leafy vegetables on a small scale where square footage is limited. Additionally, the project strives to provide a therapeutic experience for agricultural hobbyists. A table top unit constructed of aluminum was erected to support a network of closed growth channels, connected in series, to a continuously flowing aqueous nutrient system as well as two photosynthetically active lights specifically tailored to provide the necessary energy for photosynthesis. Multiple tabletop units could then be stacked atop one other to utilize vertical space. This method of agriculture can be implemented in space-limited environments and improves utilization of the vertical space not used in traditional agriculture. Additionally, this method provides greater control over growing conditions such as light intensity and duration, aqueous nutrient delivery, and temperature and humidity ranges. (92) Assisted Colonization Policy For Endangered Species Of Hawai’i In The Face Of Climate Change. Shannon N. Rivera* and Melissa P. Price. Department of Environmental Studies and Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management. The Hawaiian Islands have the highest rate of extinction per square mile on earth. In order to counter the additional pressure that will be placed on vulnerable species as the effects of climate change increase, drastic and timely actions must be taken. Assisted colonization, the intentional movement of individuals outside the boundary of their species’ historical range, is one management alternative for those species. Focusing on cases where such an extreme action may provide a reasonable hedge against extinction, first person interviews with employees of federal, state and non-profit agencies, as well as literature searches were used to evaluate both the perceived and existing obstacles concerning the use of assisted colonization. Several potential barriers to utilization of this management tool were found. Translocation is considered by many to be a high-risk tool, due to the cost, the mortality often experienced by translocated individuals and the novelty of this method. Despite existing policies that allow for assisted colonization where it is warranted, this action is rarely considered. It is recommended that this management action be considered when planning for the conservation of endangered species in Hawaii that are projected to have little or no suitable habitat remaining as climate change progresses.

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(93) A review of biological carbon capture. Josephine Adolpho* and Eunsung Kan. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. This study summarizes a detailed review of biological carbon capture. The objectives of this study include:1) to gain awareness of CO2-driven problems such as greenhouse effects and climate change, 2) to understand conventional physical and chemical carbon capture technologies, and 3) to study recent biological carbon capture technologies in detail specifically focusing on systems using carbonic anhydrase and algae. Conventional physical and chemical carbon capture processes such as amine-based chemical absorption, adsorption, membrane separation and ionic liquid-driven absorption were comparatively summarized in terms of the major mechanisms, operating principles, advantages and limitations. However, current methods have several drawbacks that make them expensive or limit their practical application. Adsorption and absorption require regeneration of spent media and storage of captured CO2. Compared to physical and chemical carbon capture, biological carbon capture using carbonic anhydrase and microalgae were found to be more economical, environmentally benign and sustainable. Although current efficiency and application for large scale carbon capture are still limited. The mechanism, process, and limitations were studied in detail. Current biological capture processes have their limitations such as instability at high temperature and CO2 concentration in flue gases, product inhibition and fluctuation at varied operating conditions. As future directions of current biological carbon capture, novel carbonic anhydrase-driven carbon capture and algal process will need to be stable and effective at high temperature, broad pH and impurities in flue gases. To avoid dangerous climate change carbon capture technologies are essential for CO2 mitigation. (94) Site-directed substitution mutagenesis of rhizomimosinase and mimosinase, the bacterial and plant enzymes that degrade mimosine. Michael Honda*, Manami Onitsuka, Yoshimitsu Kakuta, and Dulal Borthakur. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. Mimosine is a toxic non-protein amino acid found in the tree-legume Leucaena leucocephala. The toxicity of mimosine is due to its ability to chelate divalent transition metals and pyridoxial-5`-phosphate (PLP), which are cofactors for various biological reactions. Previous studies in our lab have shown that rhizomimosinase and mimosinase are PLP-dependent C-N lyases that degrade mimosine into 3-hydroxy-4-pyridone, pyruvate, and ammonia. Recent X-ray crystallography work conducted by our collaborators (Yoshimitsu Kakuta, Japan) revealed the possible active site residues for both rhizomimosinase and mimosinase. To confirm the catalytic domain of these enzymes it is necessary to construct mutations in the predicted active sites of the enzymes through site-directed mutagenesis. Oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis by inverse PCR was utilized to construct substitution mutations in the midD gene encoding rhizomimosinase, and in the cDNA ORF encoding mimosinase. A total of 9 mutants for rhizomimosinase and 4 mutants for mimosinase were constructed. The mutant genes were cloned in the T7 expression vector pET-14b, and the proteins were expressed in E. coli BL21. The mutant sequences were confirmed by DNA sequencing. The recombinant mutant proteins were purified using the Promega HisLink™ protein purification kit. The mutant and wild-type enzymes were used in enzyme assays containing mimosine as the substrate. HPLC analysis products indicated that all mutants for both enzymes completely lost their ability to degrade mimosine. These results establish the structure-function relationship of these enzymes. This project was supported by a Hatch grant.

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(95) Modifying seedling morphology and physiology of Acacia koa in nursery culture to promote outplanting establishment, survival, and growth. Bradley Kaufmann*, J.B. Friday, Travis Idol, and Jeremy Pinto. Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management and USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station. After centuries of habitat loss, the distribution of Acacia koa (koa) has predominantly been relegated to high-elevation, fragmented populations. Reforesting koa can be challenging due to much of koa’s range being located in areas that experience seasonal drought. Ensuring the survival of nursery-grown seedlings in habitats that contain low soil-moisture necessitates the employment of horticultural techniques that modify morphological and physiological attributes of the field-bound seedling. An outplanted seedling’s capacity to initiate new root growth, and colonize adjacent soils is greatly associated with establishment success. It is therefore advantageous to increase seedling root to shoot ratio (R:S) in nursery culture. Nutritional hardening is a horticultural practice in which the amount of applied nitrogen is reduced in the weeks prior to outplanting. This reduction of applied nitrogen decreases stem and leaf growth and increases the R:S. To test the efficacy of hardening koa for outplanting, seedlings were grown for 12 weeks in both RootMaker® 3.125"X3.125"X4" and DeepotTM 2"X10" containers (both 25 in3), with/without hardening prior to being outplanted into a dry field site in the Northwestern Ko’olau Range in January, 2016. Subsets of all treatments were harvested for measurement and analysis. Hardened seedlings exhibited a significantly increased R:S with 100% survival in the field, compared to 94% survival among unhardened seedlings. Dry field conditions were also exacerbated by the strong 2016 El Niño phenomenon. These results give credence to nutritionally hardening koa stock to promote survival in dryland outplantings. (96) Effects of soil nutrient availability on non-native invasive and native species in Hawaiian wet and dry ecosystems. Amanda Knauf*, Creighton Litton, Rebecca Cole, Christian Giardina, and Jed Sparks. Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, USDA Forest Service, and Cornell University. Native ecosystems globally face constant pressure from nonnative, invasive plants that often outcompete natives. Ample evidence shows that this typically occurs under conditions of high resource availability. Therefore, one potential restoration method for favoring native species over nonnatives is to decrease soil nutrient availability (e.g., via carbon amendments). This is a particularly appealing concept in Hawaii where native species often have conservative growth strategies. However, this idea has received very little attention in tropical ecosystems. We evaluated survival, growth, and ecophysiology of four native and two invasive species from Hawaiian wet and dry ecosystems in a greenhouse competition experiment. The density of plants was held constant (2 plants/pot) and native species were grown with a conspecific and with a common invasive species in each of five soil nutrient treatments (control, high & low nutrient addition via fertilizer, and high & low nutrient reduction via carbon amendments). Results show somewhat individualized species responses. Both native and invasive species as a whole had significantly higher total biomass in the nutrient addition treatments. However, two natives had neutral growth responses and one had significantly higher mortality at higher nutrient levels. In addition, one of the invasives had much higher reproductive output with increasing soil nutrient availability. These results suggest that reducing soil nutrient availability to restore Hawaiian ecosystems where nutrient availability is high and invasive species are problematic is promising, but may be species and/or community dependent.

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(97) Acclimation of Pacific White Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei to low-salinity aquaculture. Donna Kuehu* and Jinzeng Yang. Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences. Pacific White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) native to the Eastern Pacific Ocean of Latin America has been developed for intensive breeding and rearing techniques, providing specific pathogen-free/specific pathogen-resistant (SPF/SPR) stock, and is the globally commercially cultured shrimp species A process for rearing healthy and viable stocks, capable of thriving in low-salinity grow-out systems furthers the development of intensive production of L.vannamei in the shrimp industry. Previous research has been conducted on the acclimation of L.vannamei to low-salinity because of their strong ability to maintain osmotic and ionic regulation in various saline concentrations. The application of probiotics has been shown suitable for intensive high-stocking density systems subject to pathogenic stressors, and improves the health of postlarvae and results in higher survival rates. Our research investigated the development of an integrated model for acclimating L.vannamei postlarvae to a low-salinity environment with ionic and probiotic enhancements, and to determine the rate of salinity reduction and end-point for optimum survival and growth of the shrimp. The results indicate increased postlarvae survivability over a longer acclimation period with a higher salinity end-point. The survivability are well correlated with ionic and probiotic enhancements. (98) Characterization of secondary metabolites in marine sponge-associated bacteria on Hawaii Island. Francis Sakai-Kawada* and Jonathan Awaya. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. Marine sponges are known to harbor diverse microbial communities, many of which contribute to the ecological success of the host organism. These microorganisms are capable of producing various bioactive secondary metabolites (e.g. antimicrobial, antioxidant), making them a target for natural product bioprospecting. Bacterial colonies were isolated from sponge tissues samples collected off of the eastern shore of Hawaii Island. A bacterium expressing a purple-pigmented compound was isolated from the purple endemic sponge, Iotrochota protea, and classified as Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea (IPB1) via 16S rRNA sequencing. Due to the common pigmentation between bacterium and host sponge, it is believed that IPB1 holds an important role within I. protea. The IPB1 genome was sequenced and annotated via Ion Torrent next generation sequencing technology and Rapid Annotation using Subsystem Technology (RAST) server. Previous studies have determined the pigment as violacein, a tryptophan-derived metabolite. Although exhaustive studies have been done in the characterization of violacein, little is known about other secondary metabolites synthesized by IPB1. Additional secondary metabolites were characterized through bioassay-directed chemical purification, utilizing disc diffusion assay and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power assay to probe for antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, respectively. This study was supported by the US National Science Foundation grant HRD 0833211.

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(99) Deformed wing virus in non-apis bees in the Hawaiian Isles. Jessika Santamaria*, Scott Nikaido, and Ethel Villalobos. Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences. The sudden decline of honeybees in 2006 brought attention and, subsequently, much research on the impact of pathogens on managed bee populations. Scientists now agree that non-managed honeybees and native bees are also declining. Deformed Wing Virus (DWV), along with its vector, the varroa mite, greatly reduce honeybee colony survival rates. Phylogeographic studies recently confirmed that although, DWV may be originally a honeybee pathogen, it can infect a diversity of Hymenopteran species, and could negatively affect wild bee populations. Honeybees are present on all Hawaiian Islands, but the varroa mite, is opportunely only present on Oahu and Hawaii. Using the unique geographical distribution of the vector we can assess the influence of varroa on the distribution of DWV in non-apis bees. We selected Ceratina smaragdula (Apidae), as our model for a wild, non-social, pollinator. This species is present in both varroa positive and varroa negative islands. The prevalence of DWV on C. smaragdula was examined using RT-PCR. Results suggest that 39.5 % (n=43) of C. smaragdula from Oahu, a varroa-positive island since 2007, tested positive for DWV. Bees from varroa-free Maui were all negative for DWV, 0% (n=18). Such contrasting numbers indicate a strong relationship between the mite and the viral presence in wild bee populations and should encourage stricter regulations to prevent further spread of the mite to the remaining Hawaiian Islands. While the impact of this virus on solitary bee populations is still uncertain, precautions to preserve our native bee populations should be taken nonetheless. (100) Functional Characterization of Putative Effector Genes of Basil Downy Mildew Pathogen Peronospora belbahrii. Dandan Shao*, Dongliang Wu, and Miaoying Tian. Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences. Peronospora belbahrii, the causing agent of the devastating downy mildew disease on sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum), is an obligate biotropic oomycete pathogen. Similar to other oomycete pathogens, P. belbahrii is believed to secrete effectors to facilitate parasitic colonization of its host. To this end, we did the functional characterization of 10 P. belbahrii effector candidate genes. First, we determined the gene expression patterns of these candidates during infection through reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The effector candidate genes with gene expression induced during infection were selected to further validate the functionality of predicted signal peptide using a yeast secretion system. To facilitate the genetic analysis of effector candidate genes, we also developed a transient expression system in basil for utilizing overexpression and host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) in a transient manner to determine the role of these genes in pathogenicity. Finally, the HIGS construct of one selected effector gene is currently being used to generate transgenic basil to determine its function in contributing to disease. This study is expected to facilitate the understanding of the pathogenesis of P. belbahrii and in turn help develop the potential tools to control this disease.

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(101) Evaluation of moringa leaves as an alternative feed ingredient in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) aquaculture from production, gut health, and economic perspective. Alyssa M. Haygood* and Rajesh Jha. Deptartment of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering and Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences. To continue to meet the protein demand of an ever increasing human population, innovative aquaculture methods must be developed to increase production without increasing cost. Tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) are the most widespread aquaculture species in the world due to their relative fecundity and tolerance of marginal growing conditions. This study investigated the use of moringa (Moringa stenopetala) leaves as an alternative protein source to reduce feed cost while maintaining production levels of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Four hundred tilapia fingerlings (1-3g initial body weight) were divided between 16 tanks and fed with one of the 4 diets with following inclusion levels of moringa leaves: 0% (control), 6%, 9%, or 12% for 12 weeks. Body weight was recorded weekly and intestinal and environmental samples were collected on a monthly basis and processed for microbiota characterization using PCR-TGGE and Sanger sequencing. Tilapia growth performance was not significantly different among treatments (P>0.05). The results indicate that moringa leaves can be incorporated into the tilapia diets up to 12% without negative impact on the growth performance. Preliminary analyses indicate that moringa leaf inclusion into the diets of tilapia diets significantly alter both the intestinal and environmental microbiota. Additionally, preliminary economic analyses indicate that moringa leaves are not a significant cost-saving replacement for fishmeal at current price and production levels worldwide, but may have the potential to be produced locally to meet tilapia production needs in Hawaii. (102) Evaluation of satellite-derived seasonal vegetation dynamics for climate change studies. Anna Kato* and Tomoaki Miura. Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management. Satellite vegetation products (vegetation indices, VIs), an optical measure of vegetation canopy “greenness”, have been widely used to understand and assess climate change impacts on vegetation-climate interactions. Global VI time series data acquired from polar-orbiting satellite sensors such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) launched in 1999, and Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) launched in 2012 have been found useful in characterizing seasonal vegetation dynamics. Rigorous validation of quality and compatibility of those satellite VI time series data is of particular interest. This study evaluated the potential of MODIS and VIIRS VI data products to assess inter-annual variability in vegetation growing season length (GSL) across a range of biome types. Multi-year VI data from MODIS and VIIRS sensors were compared with those obtained from a network of ground observation stations (in-situ VI) distributed in North America. The temporal signatures of VI time series data from MODIS and VIIRS sensors corresponded to those of in-situ VI time series. The GSL estimated from both satellite VIs showed higher correlation with a timing of spring green-up than fall senescence, indicating that GSL prolonged mainly due to the earlier spring green-up. Those relationships were similarly seen in results from in-situ VIs. This study revealed the ability of satellite VI products to capture inter-annual changes in vegetation GSL of different biome types in North America. The proposed approach can be applied to other locations on the Earth where ground observations are available.

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(103) Design of an Unmanned Aerial Treatment System for Invasive Species Management. Roberto Rodriguez III*, Daniel M. Jenkins, and James J. K. Leary. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. Successful invasive plant management strategies need a rapid-response capability to effectively eliminate newly discovered, incipient targets before they expand into uncontrollable infestations. Transformative technology in manned aerial herbicide treatment platforms have been developed for aerial reconnaissance and surveillance operations with the value-added capability for real-time target elimination. A translation of this capability to unmanned aerial systems (UAS) will result in further economization of operational resources and inherent operator risk reduction. We have designed a rapid deployable Herbicide Ballistic Technology (HBT) platform from an unmanned aerial system (HBT-UAS) to expand the capability of a precision, long range aerial plant target treatment in ground-based weed surveillance. The HBT-UAS would allow ground teams to efficiently engage inaccessible targets, e.g., colonizing cliff faces, using a line of sight telemetry guidance system for calculating in real time the target location for administering a precise treatment. Pesticide-filled projectiles are discharged from a ventrally mounted electro-pneumatic applicator on a rotating gimbal. The data generated from these experiments will be used as support for certifying the HBT-UAS as an agricultural aircraft operation for the purpose of dispensing an economic poison as defined under 14 CFR Part 137. (104) Effect of supplemental enzyme on growth performance, digesta viscosity, nutrient and fiber digestibility of nursery pigs. Utsav P. Tiwari*, Sung Woo Kim, and Rajesh Jha. Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences and Department of Animal Sciences, North Carolina State University. Fibers such as arabinoxylans and mannans are present in high concentration in agroindustrial coproducts such as distillers dried grain with solubles (DDGS), which are not degraded by endogenous enzymes of swine, increases the digesta viscosity, and subsequently reduces the digestibility of nutrients. Exogenous enzymes can be helpful in reducing such negative effect of fibers thereby enhancing the utilization of relatively low-cost coproducts in animal feeding. Three feed enzymes was used (xylanase, mannanase, and a combination of these two enzymes) for 20 days feeding trial to evaluate the effect of supplemental enzyme on fiber degradation and nutrient digestibility in nursery pigs fed corn soybean based diet with 15% DDGS. A total of 32 pigs were used in a randomized complete block design, where individual pigs were the experimental unit. Blocks were sex (fixed effect) and initial body weight (random effect). There was no significant effect of enzymes on the growth performance of pigs (body weight, gain feed ratio) as 20 day time period might not have been sufficient to show the change. However, addition of xylanase significantly reduced (P<0.01) the viscosity of jejunal digesta and increased fiber digestibility [acid detergent fiber (P<0.01) and Neutral detergent fiber (P<0.05)]. Thus feed efficiency can be improved by use of supplemental enzymes as it increases fiber digestibility and decreases the viscosity of digesta which ultimately increases the digestion and absorption of nutrients.

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(105) Modeling coral reef futures for management of ecosystem services in Maui Nui, Hawaiʻi. Lindsay Veazey*, Kirsten Oleson, Mariska Weijerman, Susan Yee, Kellie Vache, Jade Delaveaux, and Mary Donovan. Department of Biology, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Gulf Ecology Division, Gulf Breeze, Florida, and Biological and Ecological Engineering, Oregon State University. Development of ecosystem-based tools for management is an integral component of long-term environmental conservation. The Coral Reef Scenario Evaluation Tool (CORSET) model is a cost-effective method of projecting the impacts of various climate change and management scenarios on coral reef ecosystems. We are applying the CORSET model in Maui Nui and examining how three ecosystem services (reef health, seafood supply, and biocultural diversity) change under different management scenarios. Our model outputs and policy recommendations can be adapted by resource managers, stakeholders, and legislators statewide. (106) Methane potentials and detailed lignin analysis of sugarcane, energycane, and napiergrass: connecting plant structural components to bioconversion. Jon M. Wells*, Susan E. Crow, Richard Ogoshi, Samir Khanal, and Andrew Hashimoto. Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences, and Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. Global interest in renewable fuels is rapidly growing with particular emphasis on creating local bioenergy sources and novel feedstocks. However, the interactive effect of plant species/variety and growth environment on plant structural components, which may influence conversion efficiency and thus play an important role in optimizing the production of biofuels, is not fully understood. To assess the relationship between plant structural components and bioconversion, copper oxide (CuO) extractable lignin, which extracts and quantifies lignin-derived monomers, was determined for three varieties each of sugarcane, energycane, and napiergrass. In combination with measured methane potentials from the anaerobic digestion of each species/variety, the total conversion and conversion rates of the three species into methane were compared to their extracted lignin amounts. Based on previous findings that lignin protects plant material from enzymatic processes, and that lignin shows high speciation and location difference, species with larger amounts of cinnamyl compared to vanillyl lignin types (high C/V ratio) are expected to experience faster rates of bioconversion. Due to the differences in the way cinnamyl and vanillyl lignin types polymerize, it is expected that the C/V ratio will be correlated to bioconversion as has been found in studies of enzymatic breakdown of lignin in soils. If predictive tissue indices such as C/V persist for lignocellulosic and thermochemical conversion, CuO extractable lignin may be useful in feedstock selection in many biofuel applications.

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(107) Decision Tree Analysis of Coffee Berry Borer in Hawaii. A. John Woodill*, Stuart T. Nakamoto, Andrea M. Kawabata, and PingSun Leung. Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, Department of Economics, Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, and Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences. After the arrival of coffee berry borer (CBB) in Hawaii in 2010, integrated pest management strategies were adopted to combat this invasive pest of the Hawaii coffee crop. A decision tree framework is used to develop a model for management strategies described in the CBB Integrated Pest Management recommendations (Kawabata et al. 2015), for potential use by growers and to assist in developing and evaluating management strategies and policies. The model focuses on pesticide spraying (spray/no spray) as the most significant activity. Two results from the analysis suggest that with a high level of initial infestation, it is important to always spray; however, when this initial infestation level is lowered, the farmer will have a higher final net benefit. Furthermore, the results of the subsidy analysis shows that a typical farmer is receiving a positive net benefit of $947.17 which might be increased by the ability to spray more often. The results of the sensitivity analysis provides support for the robustness of the model as well as the importance of a low initial infestation level vis-a-vis any level of subsidy. The use of a decision tree can be an effective method for understanding integrated pest management solutions. (108) “Feeding my sisters”----the hungry bees and busy hive. Zhening Zhang*, Ethel Villalobos, and Scott Nikaido. Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences. Honeybees were introduced to Hawaii in the 1850's and had been relatively free of pest and diseases, which are common in other parts of the world. However, after the discovery and spread of the small hive beetle and the varroa mite on the islands, the frequency of colony failure significantly increased. Beekeepers responded to this new problem by implementing pest controls methods used on the mainland but colony losses in Hawaii still continue to threaten local honeybees. One aspect of honeybees that remains largely unexplored and may influence the survival of a colony is diet. The pollen collecting efforts of a honeybee colony have effects on individual bee health and also impact brood production. Video footage of worker bees entering and leaving the colony provides data on the seasonal colony strength, reflected in bee traffic. The number of pollen foragers observed can be correlated to brood production levels. Bee traffic together with pollen collection, can be used as a proxy for colony strength and may help provide a quick but reliable indication of possible colony developmental problems. Data on forager bee traffic from 9 managed bee colonies located at the Waimanalo Research Station indicate that individual hives devote different proportions of foragers to pollen collection, which may impact bee brood productivity and colony survival.

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(109) The effects of soil nitrogen and drought on mimosine content of Leucaena leucocephala. Makana Agcaoili*, Michael Honda, and Dulal Borthakur. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. Mimosine is a nitrogenous toxic aromatic compound produced by Leucaena leucocephala (leucaena). Leucaena chloroplast contains an enzyme for mimosine degradation, called ‘mimosinase’. It has been proposed that under stressful conditions such as drought, mimosine stored in the leaf will be degraded by mimosinase and converted to other metabolites. We hypothesize: (i) mimosine content in the leucaena foliage will vary according to the nitrogen status of the soil, and (ii) mimosine content of leucaena will be reduced when the plants are exposed to drought conditions. Leucaena seedlings were grown in vermiculite in pots and supplied with three levels of nitrogen (ammonium nitrate) in Hoagland medium: low (0.25 µM), medium (0.50 µM), and high nitrogen (1.0 µM) conditions. After one month, half of the number of plants under all three treatments were exposed to drought conditions by adding 300 mL of 5% polyethylene glycol (PGE) solution. Three weeks after PGE treatment, all plants were harvested. Mimosine was extracted from the samples and quantified by HPLC analysis. We are currently collecting data through HPLC analysis, and the experiment is expected to be completed by the end of March 2016. We expect that the plants receiving higher amounts of nitrogen will contain higher nitrogen content as well as higher amounts of mimosine. We also expect the mimosine content of plants exposed to PGE treatment to be reduced compared to the untreated plants. Results of this experiment will establish if mimosine provides a mechanism for drought tolerance in leucaena. This research is supported by a HATCH Project. (110) Swimwear: The Investigation of Durability Features. Sophie Allin*, McCarthy, Minako, and Lorina Yancura. Department of Family and Consumer Sciences. Swimwear has a purpose of fulfilling comfort, fit, performance, and durability. This research can help develop future trends of swimwear for sport and leisure pursuits by highlighting focused areas on durability features, which users are most conscious about. A report by the National Panel Data found that swimwear features of fit, comfort, and durability were the top three characteristics of swimwear for females (Blanck, 2000). There is a need to encourage more research and durability testing by evaluating consumer reflections on swimwear; thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between durability features and swimwear of current users. In the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Speedo showcased the all-in-one Sharkskin swimsuit, which transformed the industries universal approach of swimwear into a competitive durability design focus. The study explores the question on which durability features for competitive swimwear and leisure swimwear are the most important. The sample included 60 female student-athlete swimmers (50 Americans, 10 internationals) with an age range of 18-24 years old. All participants were volunteers, and they filled out a questionnaire, which was designed to assess durability feature preference. The trends for competition swimsuits yielded the following results: elastic recovery, longevity, and wicking. The leisure swimwear results had similar findings. For the future of swimwear design, companies should use the results from this study implementing the durability characteristics most important to current users today. The findings should be applied to both competitive and leisure swimwear.

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(111) Development and analysis of soft cheese using whey by-product from local cheese production. Maryhmelle Castillo*, Nathan Wong, C.N. Lee, and Yong Li. Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences. Increases in demand of whey protein perk the interests to research and development a profitable alternative for the by-product of cheese making. Oahu’s only dairy, Naked Cow Dairy produces different cheeses that can be found in Whole Food, farmers markets and high-end restaurants. The whey generated is generally discarded. The objectives of this study are a) develop a more efficient method to extract the protein components from the whey, b) determine if acidity affects the yield of the end product, and c) to determine which source of whey is best for making additional products for sale. Three acids were used to compare yield of the cheese curds: commercial brand vinegar, Aloha, (pH of 2.46), b) 5% ascorbic acid (pH of 2.41) and 10 % ascorbic acid (pH of 2.16) were used. Mixing the above acid and heating up the mixture to 89 ℃ produced our soft cheese. Trial 1 of the 5% and 10% ascorbic acid and vinegar produced 0.80g, 0.29g and 0.15g of soft cheese respectively. There was a difference in mass between the three samples with the different acids. Ongoing efforts are centered on more trials to produce accurate analysis and comparisons between the acids and the type of whey. (112) Effects of in vitro fermentation of alternative feedstuffs on intestinal microbiota of chicken analyzed using 16S ribosomal DNA typing. Candice Malabad*, Karla Balagso, Alyssa M. Haygood, Kabi Neupane, and Rajesh Jha. Math and Sciences Division, Leeward Community College, Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, and Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences. Dietary fibers fermented from different substrates affects intestinal bacteria, which in turn affects the digestion, health, and well-being of the host animals. The objective of this study was to investigate how feedstuffs (macadamia nut cake, barley brewers grain, wheat mill run, and okara) affect intestinal bacteria in chickens. An in vitro technique was used to simulate the fermentation activity in chicken intestinal tract; fermentation residues were collected and used for microbial diversity determination by polymerase chain reaction-based temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-TGGE). Shannon-Weiner diversity indexes ranged from 0.40 to 1.2 for all treatments, indicating low diversity throughout. Barley brewers grain samples had the highest diversity (1.026) while wheat mill run samples had the lowest average diversity (0.791). Using a cluster analysis of the TGGE banding patterns, samples were found to be very similar. An unclassified proteobacteria species was abundant in wheat mill run while Escherichia Coli was present in all the other feed samples but wheat mill run. Bacteroides were present in all feed samples. However, more bands need to be excised and sequenced to identify the rest of the bacterial species in each feedstuff to conclude which feedstuff stimulated the most growth of beneficial bacteria. Overall, although barley brewers grain has the highest average microbial diversity, more research is needed to determine which local feedstuff would be most beneficial to promote better performance and gut health of chicken.

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(113) Automatic Optical Coffee Cherry Sorter. Kimberly Tatsuyama*, Taylor Hori, Derek Sasaki, Tiffany-Heather Ulep, and Loren Gautz. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. Hawaii is the only state in the United States that has the growing conditions for commercial coffee production. According to the USDA the value of coffee green bean production was estimated to be $54.27 million in 2014. Color sorting of cherries increases the value to the farmer. Color sorting by hand is a rate limiting step in coffee processing. Thus, to increase speed and efficiency, an automated optical coffee cherry sorter was designed for small scale farms. Feeding, gesture and color sensing, and rejection methods were designed, built, and tested to match the hand sorting rate at a local coffee farm. The sorter passes a single stream of cherries in front of a color sensor to distinguish ripe cherries from unripe and overripe cherries based on a calibrated color threshold. This will allow a range of products, such as yellow and red coffee varietals, to be sorted. Once color data is acquired, a signal is sent to a rejection mechanism to remove undesired cherries from the product stream. Automated sorting machines suited for smaller scale farms would decrease processing time and increase coffee production. The availability of smaller scale automated sorters allows smaller farms in Hawaii greater access into this large industry through high quality coffee production. (114) Control of microrobots using laser technology towards the goal of tissue culturing. Leanne King*, Wendy Chong, Brent Kim, Matthew Savella, Alex Li, Lindsey Heupel, Connie Hoong, Sammy Landingin, Nigel Ng, Kawai Siliga, Matthew Bowers, Michael Sabido, Ethan Oshiro, Jordan Romanelli, and Aaron Ohta. Department of Electrical Engineering. The University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM) Microrobotics team utilizes a spacial light modulator (SLM) to generate multiple microrobots as well as control their movements. The laser heats up a specific area, which creates a heated spot in silicone oil, generating a bubble (the microrobot). The microrobot is attracted to the heat generated by the laser, enabling control of the microrobot. The microrobot system is being developed for tissue culturing, by assembling microfabricated hydrogel structures containing cells. HepG2, a type of liver cell, and 3T3, a type of fibroblast cell, are two types of cells that together have potential to form a human liver replica when grown in the microfabricated hydrogel structures. The UHM Microrobotics team is divided into three sub-teams for the purpose of establishing the optimal and reliable environment for growing cells. The first team is designing a closed-loop control system. This includes developing image processing software and path-generation software. The second team is tasked with creating stable hydrogel scaffold for the cells to grow on. They are also creating different structures for the microrobot bubbles to reside in, allowing for the control of microrobots size, as well as aiding in manipulation. The final group is testing different compositions of materialto attempt to generate and control fifty microrobots at once. Titanum coated slides will help to reduce power loss and allow the laser to control more microrobots at once.

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(115) Quantifying Chlordane and Dieldrin in storm water runoff in Manoa stream. Chad Morrow* and Tao Yan. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Chlordane and Dieldrin are two very widely known chlorinated pesticides, which are persistent, toxic, can bio-accumulate in the food chain, and once used very heavily on Oahu, especially in the Manoa residential area for termite control. As heavy rainfall washes soil sediment through urban runoff areas, it carries toxic chlorinated pesticides that are hazardous to both humans and animals alike. This affects not only downstream marine habitat but also human health, due to the consumption of various shellfish and other fish species, which rely upon the benthic habitat for its source of food. Although the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned the use of these pesticides by 1988, previous studies show significant amounts contained in several locations on the island of O’ahu. Through streambed soil sediment analysis, a significant amount of pesticides have been positively identified and quantified within a specific area of the Manoa stream. This level has exceeded the Canadian Sediment Quality Guidelines (CSQG) for the probable effect limit (PEL) of approximately 8.87 ppb for Chlordane and 6.7 ppb for Dieldrin. Through specific EPA lab testing methods, the soil sediment was analyzed using gas chromatography, and determined to exceed allowable limits set forth by the EPA. Although the EPA has previously conducted a previous study and found similar results, a remediation effort has not been attempted, due to the complexity and unknown origins of the specific target areas for removal. This study aims to pinpoint the location of contamination and to present a stronger case for a course of remediation action. (116) Biomechanics of Dance Turns and Jumps. Alexander R S. Ribao*, John S. Allen, and Elizabeth Fisher. Department of Mechanical Engineering and Department of Dance and Theatre. Dance movements require balance and agility. Complex biomechanics are typically involved in the turning and jumping motions; however, there has been limited research on the underlying biomechanics with respect to modeling and measurements. Typically, the turns and jumps are introduced through demonstration by the instructor and learned solely by constant repetition and practice. With investigation of the various spins, turns and jumps done by dancers in modern and ballet, we seek quantify the biomechanical velocities, forces and acceleration. Differences in execution by expert and novice dancers provide potential insight into more optimal methods for learning and performing. Ground reaction forces are measured with force plates (Vernier, Inc.) with a custom platform to facilitate turn placement and the associated frictional losses are quantified by infrared thermography. Complementary measurements force measurement for limbs and body core are done with wireless accelerometers (Vernier, Inc.) High-speed video captures the entire body movement and video analysis software (Tracker) allows for study of angular forces and rotational velocities.

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(117) Separation of Bacteriophage MS2 as a Norovirus Surrogate From Contaminated Tap Water Using a Single Stage, Continuous Flow Dielectrophoresis (DEP) device. Jireh Cebricos*, Yong Li, and Soojin Jun. Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences. Norovirus is the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis in the United States that plagues an estimated 2 million Americans annually. It is one of the common waterborne pathogenic viruses present in raw water that can be missed by traditional filtration methods. Dielectrophoresis (DEP) is a phenomenon that utilizes an electric field to induce a dipole moment in cells. By applying different fields of magnitude on each dipole, a DEP force is established that leads the cell towards a specific field gradient allowing separation of target cells from its liquid medium. The study explored the potential application of Dielectrophoresis (DEP) to remove a Norovirus surrogate (bacteriophage MS2) from tap water samples by manipulating the movement of MS2 towards another outlet with the use of an induced dipole in a non-uniform electric field. The relationship among flow rate, frequency, and electric field strength was also studied to determine the optimal conditions that produced the highest viral reduction. A milli-sized DEP device with a Y-shape channel was constructed using polydimethysiloxane (PDMS) and titanium electrodes. A continuous flow was achieved using a syringe pump while a voltage amplifier and frequency generator were used in tandem to produce different voltages and frequencies. A separation yield of 83% and 81% was observed at the conditions of 20 V, 0.1 ml/min, and 1 MHz as well as 20 V, 0.1 ml/min, and 100 kHz respectively. The data suggests that the change in frequency did not affect separation. The separation yield demonstrates DEP's potential to be an alternative and additional step to conventional water treatments. (118) Assessment of Plastic Ingestion and Associated Organic Pollutants in Sea Turtles across the Pacific Ocean. Katharine E. Clukey*, Christopher A. Lepczyk, George Balazs, Thierry Work, Qing Li, Linda Cox, and Jennifer M. Lynch. Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management. Plastic marine debris is a growing environmental concern. The risk of toxic exposure through plastic ingestion is potentially dangerous to an organism’s health, especially if persistent organic pollutants (POPs) adhere to hydrophobic plastic fragments. We hypothesized that ingestion of plastic debris is a potential source of exposure of POPs to threatened Pacific sea turtles. We quantified the amounts, types, and colors of ingested plastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of 38 sea turtles (3 Dermochelys coriacea, 3 Caretta caretta, 6 Chelonia mydas and 26 Lepidochelys olivacea) that were incidentally captured in longline fisheries. In addition, adipose samples from 21 of the turtles (2 C. caretta, 6 C. mydas, 17 L. olivacea) were analyzed by gas chromatography for 83 PCBs, 20 organochlorine pesticides, 32 brominated flame-retardants and by liquid chromatography for HBCD. Ingested plastic was found in 87% (n = 33) of the turtles. Amongst turtles that ingested plastic the mean dry mass of ingested plastic across all turtles was 9.68 g ± 14.0 g. C. mydas ingested significantly more plastic. Total DDTs were the predominant POP in C. caretta (mean = 18.3 ng/g wet mass) and L. olivacea (15.8 ng/g) turtles, and the second highest POP class in C. mydas (1.80 ng/g). Concentrations of several POPs increased with turtle length, indicating bio-accumulation. A geographic gradient was observed with concentrations of several POPs increasing with capture latitude. Amounts of ingested plastic were unrelated to POP concentrations, suggesting that sea turtle exposure to POPs is predominately through their natural food chain rather than from ingested plastics.

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(119) Recovery of concentrated microbial pathogens using a portable electroflotation system. Lena Diaz*, Roberto Rodriguez, Ryo Kubota, and Daniel Jenkins. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. Molecular diagnostic systems are becoming increasingly portable, enabling direct detection of pathogens in the field to facilitate appropriate treatment and containment. However, trace contaminations of pathogens on food and in the environment are notoriously difficult to detect without extensive sampling and time-consuming enrichment steps. To address these limitations, we have developed a portable, self-contained, electroflotation (EF) system to rapidly concentrate and recover small numbers of pathogenic bacteria dispersed in a bulk media. Electrolysis is supported on a planar, gold-plated electrode array patterned on a custom printed circuit board (PCB). Bubbles generated by the process impel suspended particles toward the media surface, and also displace media directing concentrated cells into an effluent that can be collected for further analysis. Conductive carbon pastes (CCP) were screen-printed onto gold surfaces of the PCB electrode to protect the anodic surfaces from corrosion. The CCP supported current densities in a 0.1 M phosphate buffer ranging from 1.5-14.2 mA/mm2 at 4.21 V over 120 minutes. Evidence of corrosion was present on some of the anodic surfaces of the electrode array suggesting that CCP can protect the underlying metal, but improved CCP application is necessary for long-term stability of the electrode array. To test the effect of EF on media later used for diagnostic reactions, collected samples of buffer subjected to EF for up to 40 minutes were added to a standardized quantitative LAMP reaction. We did not observe any correlation between threshold time of the reactions and duration of the EF process (p = 0.83), indicating that EF under the tested conditions is a viable pre-treatment step for molecular diagnostic reactions. (120) Broadening the genetic base of papaya via intergeneric hybridization with wild relatives. Gregory Hoover* and Richard Manshardt. Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences. Utilizing genetic resources found in crop wild relatives offers potential benefits for crop improvement. In papaya (Carica papaya), the closest relatives with known useful traits are found in the genus Vasconcellea, which contains 22 South American species with maximum diversity in the Andes Mountains These species possess traits including resistance to diseases, tolerance to abiotic stresses, and interesting flavor components. However, breeding efforts have been hindered by the sterility of the intergenic hybrids. Consequently, progress in the utilization of these genes necessitates greater insight into the causes of and solutions to the problem of hybrid infertility. To investigate this, various interspecific and intergeneric crosses were made. Presently generated interspecific plants include an F2 sibling cross between two V. quercifolia x V. parviflora F1 hybrids which displayed increased pollen stainability (40%) compared to its paternal F1 parent (20%). The cross of V. glandulosa x V. pulchra produced mature seeds with apparently normal endosperm and embryo tissues, but nonetheless required embryo rescue to germinate successfully. Established intergeneric F1s include C. papaya x V. goudotiana hybrids of three sexes, which had low to no pollen stainability, and a hybrid of C. papaya x V. monoica, which has not flowered. Among eight other intergeneric crosses attempted with papaya, only those using V. parvilfora resulted in embryos, although no hybrid plants have been recovered. Carica papaya x V. goudotiana hybrids are to be treated with oryzalin to test if induced allotetraploidy results in increased fertility.

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(121) A transdisciplinary assessment of sustainable biochar amendment in Hawaiian agriculture. Jabez Meulemans*, Susan Crow, Lauren Deem, John Yanagida, and Jonathan Deenik. Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management and Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences. The prospect for sustainable biochar amendment in Hawaiian agroecosystems depends on economic, environmental, and social factors, requiring assessment across discipline boundaries. To investigate biochar amendment using a transdisciplinary research approach, a fertile Mollisol and an infertile Oxisol were amended with biochar and cultivated with a no-till bioenergy feedstock (napier grass, var. bana) and a conventionally tilled food crop (sweet corn, Hawaiian Supersweet #9). Analysis combined economic benefit-cost analysis (BCA) with full-cost accounting to include environmental costs of global warming potential (GWP), using net present value (NPV) as a metric for sustainability. Lastly, relative variable importance was quantified using sensitivity analysis. Biochar decreased soil greenhouse gas emissions in the Mollisol, but increased emissions in the Oxisol; concurrently, biochar increased napier grass yields by 14%, yet decreased corn yields by 6%. These combined effects, plus biochar carbon sequestration, decreased GWP and increased NPV by as much as 73% in napier grass, resulting in a sustainable biochar system. In corn, however, the best-case biochar scenario still decreased NPV by 31%. In all, the most important factor was crop yield effects, followed by GWP and biochar investment cost. For the average Hawaiian farmer, this means that investment in biochar should be carefully considered, despite its burgeoning popularity; system-specific crop yield effects vary widely and are of high importance. This study showed that the best prospect for biochar amendment is for minimum-tillage crops, such as perennial bioenergy feedstocks, grown in naturally fertile soils. (122) Develop Vermicompost Tea Drenching Protocol for Management of Root-Knot Nematodes, Meloidogyne incognita. Shova Mishra* and K.-H. Wang. Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences. Vermicompost tea (VCT) is a water extract of vermicompost produced by mesophilic decomposition of organic matter by certain earthworms and microorganisms. This research focused on evaluating the performance of VCT on suppressing root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita. Greenhouse and laboratory trials confirmed that VCT prepared from uncured or partially cured (1-month cured) suppressed root penetration and egg hatch of M. incognita better than completely (6-month) cured vermicompost and the untreated control. Two greenhouse split-root trials demonstrated that VCT induced host-plant resistance against root-knot nematode infection on cucumber (Cucumis sativus) (P < 0.05) within 1 week after nematode inoculation. However, VCT from uncured vermicompost did not suppress the reproduction of M. incognita when the bioassay trials lasted for 10 weeks. Thus, two additional trials were conducted in a root-knot and reniform (Rotylenchulus reniformis) nematodes infested cucumber field to compare nematode suppressive effect of VCT drenched at 0, 1, 2 and 4-week interval. Drenching VCT only at 1-week interval suppressed numbers of M. incognita (P < 0.05) compared to no VCT in both trials. In addition, drenching VCT also increased (P < 0.05) abundance of bacterivorous nematodes and nematode richness (number of genera) in the first trial. These effect of VCT on soil health was not observed in the second trial. Overall, these studies concluded that drenching VCT from uncured vermicompost at weekly interval suppressed M. incognita consistently, but did not contribute nutrient to increase cucumber yield.

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(123) Molecular Detection and Identification of Emara-like Viruses Associated with Ti Ringspot Disease of Cordyline fruticosa (L.) in Hawai’i. Adam Park* and Michael Melzer. Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences. An emerging virus-like disease on Cordyline fruticosa is spreading quickly throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Foliar disease symptoms include chlorotic lesions constricted by secondary veins or circular ring-spots that can coalesce into amorphous lesions. Tissue samples were collected from various locations across Hawaii and RNA was extracted. Degenerate RT-PCR primers targeting the polymerase gene of known emaraviruses amplified a ~400 bp product from the RNA of symptomatic plants. The RT-PCR products were sequenced and found to be >97.5% identical, indicating they represent a single virus species. When translated into amino acid sequences, this virus was found to be 70% identical to Raspberry leaf blotch virus, 55% to European mountain ash ringspot-associated virus, 53% to Redbud yellow ringspot virus, 50% to Rose rosette virus, 49% to Fig mosaic virus, and 46% to Pigeon pea sterility mosaic virus. Sequence products were used to create specific primer and probes for RT-qPCR detection. Results show that the virus is detectable through the developed assay. These findings suggest the emara-like viruses is the symptomatic agents of the ringspot disease. (124) Apparent metabolizable energy content of Macadamia nut cake for broiler chickens. Sudhir Yadav*, Julio F. Berrocoso, and Rajesh Jha. Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences. Market availability and competition among food, feed, and fuel has lead to soar in prices of conventional feedstuffs like corn, wheat and soybean. Thus, it is necessary to explore and evaluate alternative feedstuffs for sustainable animal production. Macadamia nut cake (MNC) is coproduct of oil processing industry but its nutritional value to broiler chicken is not explored. The objective of this study was to determine the apparent metabolizable energy (AME) of MNC for broiler chicken. A total of 160 d-old broiler chickens were used to conduct two energy balance experiment using corn-soybean meal based control diet. Feed intake, body weight, energy intake, energy excretion, nitrogen (N) intake and N excretion were determined to calculate AMEn. In experiment 1, two dietary treatments (control, 0% MNC and test diet, 6% MNC inclusion) were fed from 4 to 11 d of age. AMEn of MNC was determined by subtracting AMEn of control diet from AMEn of test diet. In experiment 2 (from 17 to 24 d of age), four diets (control diet, 0% MNC; 3% MNC; 6% MNC; and 9% MNC) were fed with 91, 94, 97, and 100% of ad libitum intake so the differences in AMEn consumption were assumed to be only due to MNC. AMEn intake was regressed against feed intake with the slope estimating AMEn of MNC. Regression equation used was Y = 3,249.5x – 156.69 (P<0.0001; SE of the slope = 200; r2 = 0.85). The determined AMEn of MNC was 3,492 and 3,249 kcal/kg in experiment 1 and 2, respectively. This result indicates that AMEn of MNC is comparable to conventional energy feedstuffs, thus can be incorporated in broiler chicken’s diets.

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(125) Potassium Availability from Three Invasive Algae Species in a Pak Choi Model Crop. Chandrappa Gangaiah*, T.J.K.Radovich, Hue Nguyen, and Amjad Ahmad. Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences. The application of locally available invasive algae biomass as a fertilizer for crop production in Hawaii is being investigated as a substitute for imported chemical fertilizers. Three greenhouse (GH) trials were conducted at the University of Hawaii at Manoa Magoon facilities, to study the effect of using invasive algae as source of potassium (K+) on growth, yield, and nutrient content in pak choi (Brassica rapa, Chinensis Group). In the 1st GH trial, 3 algae species (Gracilaria salicornia (GS), Kappaphycus alvarezii (KA), Eucheuma denticulatum (ED) were evaluated for effects on yield and K+ nutrition of pak choi plants with 5 rates of (K+). The seeds were directly sown into 0.004 m3 size pots and grown in peat moss based media. In the 2nd GH trial, pak choi was grown in peat media at 5 rates of K+ provided through ED and potassium nitrate (KNO3) and was evaluated for yield and K+ nutrition. In the 3rd GH trial, 5 rates of K+ were provided through KA, KNO3 and potassium chloride (KCl) and were compared for yield and mineral nutrition of pak choi plants grown in peat moss media. Results from the 1st GH trial showed no significant differences among the 3 species in yield or tissue K+ content. But the rates were significant with plant yield (P < 0.05) and tissue K+ concentrations (P < 0.001) increasing with application rate. The maximum yield and tissue K+ was observed when K+ was provided at the rate of 252 kg*ha-1. Similarly, in 2nd & 3rd GH trials there were no significant differences observed between synthetic fertilizers and algae for yield but the rates were significant for yields and tissue K+ concentrations. It was concluded across the 3 trials that the invasive algae were comparable to commercial potassium fertilizers in their effect on pak choi yield and K+ content. (126) Evaluating freshwater ecosystem services models for use in Hawai‘i. Hla Htun*, Kirsten L. L. Oleson, and Oceana Francis. Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management and Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Water is critical for supporting life, and fundamental for provisioning, regulating, and cultural ecosystem services that support human wellbeing. However, freshwater resources are projected to become scarcer in Hawaiʻi due to a growing population, a changing climate, and altered land use and land cover. Therefore, to meet future needs, we need to manage freshwater resources more effectively using an ecosystem services-based approach. Freshwater ecosystem service modeling approach is useful in identifying appropriate hydrological models to estimate hydrologic attributes (i.e., quantity, quality, location, and timing), which underpin multiple freshwater ecosystem services. Some examples of freshwater ecosystem services include water filtration, groundwater recharge, flood control, habitat maintenance, and cultural values. However, due to Hawaiʻi’s unique hydrogeological conditions, many hydrological models cannot accurately quantify hydrologic processes, for example evapotranspiration, thus cannot estimate attributes and evaluate freshwater ecosystem services. Therefore, we are selecting a suite of models (potentially) applicable to Hawaiʻi, developing a set of criteria to select candidate models, and evaluating model performance for quantifying watershed-scale freshwater ecosystem services. Finally, freshwater ecosystem service modeling can enable water resources managers to explore the impacts and trade-offs inherent to managing small yet diverse watersheds in Hawaiʻi.

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(127) Resistance to Fusarium oxysporum in mechanically stressed Acacia koa seedlings. Kazue Ishihara*, Eric Lee, and Dulal Borthakur. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. Acacia koa (koa) is a leguminous timber wood tree endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. Koa forests have been suffering from a devastating wilt disease caused by the fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. koae (Foxy). Based on previous research results, it is hypothesized that mechanically stressed koa plants will have increased disease resistance. The specific objectives of this research were: (i) to identify genes induced by mechanical stress in koa and (ii) to determine the level of expression of the identified genes in stressed koa seedlings infected with Foxy. Mechanical stress exerted manually by bending the seedlings resulted in a thigmomorphogenic phenotype after 4-5 weeks. To identify stress-inducible genes, microarray and NanoString analyses were conducted for comparison of gene expression in the stressed and unstressed koa seedlings. The stress-inducible genes were further analyzed through qRT-PCR to determine if they were also upregulated by Foxy infection. To determine survival rates against Foxy, 90-day inoculation trials were performed on the stressed and unstressed seedlings. The stressed plants showed higher levels of expression of genes for both phenylpropanoid and disease resistant pathways. Inoculation by Foxy further enhanced expression levels of disease resistance genes in the stressed plants. The stressed seedlings were more resistant to Foxy than unstressed seedlings with the survival rates of 40.3% and 17.0%, respectively. The results indicate that many disease resistance genes can be identified simply by providing mechanical stress to the plants. This research is supported by the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Program and a Monsanto Graduate Fellowship. (128) Algal biofilm bioreactor for wastewater treatment and biofuel production. Jung Shick Kwon* and Eun Sung Kan. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. Algal species have been gaining growing interest as a feedstock for production of various biofuels/bioproducts and wastewater treatment. However, in order to develop a commercial process, medium cost and algal harvest cost constitute roughly 40% and 30% of total production cost of biodiesel production. This project aims to develop a novel biochar-supported algal biofilm reactor integrated with wastewater treatment to overcome these issues. The effects of various material supports and bacterial community on algal biofilm formation were investigated. The algal wastewater treatment efficiency, particularly removal of nitrogen and phosphate, was monitored. The major components in the algal biofilm will be analyzed by a gas chromatography to see potential production of biodiesel, bioethanol and animal feed. Future works include design, modeling and optimization of the algal biofilm reactor to achieve high efficiency of wastewater treatment and bioproduct generation.

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(129) A novel mechanism of action of a corn silk flavone for Alzheimer’s drug discovery. Zhibin Liang* and Qing X. Li. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. The direct cost of AD patients in the U.S. was approximately $315 billion in 2015. The four AD drugs available on the market only relieve temporary symptoms. None can prevent, cure or even slow AD. There is an urgent need for new drugs for AD treatment. Hyperphosphorylation of tau proteins in neurons plays a pivotal role in AD pathology. Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) is a key enzyme catalyzing hyperphosphorylation of tau. GSK3β is a therapeutic target of AD. We have discovered that chemical extracts of corn silks (Zea mays) inhibit GSK3β. We isolated and identified a flavone, isoorientin, as the active molecule. Enzyme kinetic studies and molecular modeling demonstrated that isoorientin specifically inhibits GSK3β at its substrate binding site, rather than ATP binding site (inhibitory constant, 125 µM). Cellular studies further demonstrated that isoorientin effectively attenuates GSK3β-mediated tau hyperphosphorylation and is neuroprotective against amyloid-induced neurotoxicity in human SH-SY5Y cells (half maximal effective concentration, 47 µM). Isoorientin is a potential nutraceutical against AD and a promising lead candidate with a novel mechanism of action for the development of AD pharmaceuticals. (130) Functional characterization of a cytoplasmic effector gene highly conserved in plant pathogenic oomycetes. Natasha Navet*, Dandan Shao, and Miaoying Tian. Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences. Oomycetes are eukaryotic microorganisms that cause devastating diseases in numerous plants and animals. One of the plant pathogenic oomycetes that severely threaten agricultural production is Phytophthora palmivora. Plant pathogenic oomycetes secrete a diverse array of cytoplasmic effectors that suppress plant innate immunity, accounting for plant diseases. The most common cytoplasmic effectors are defined by an N-terminal signal peptide involved in secretion out of the pathogen, followed by an RxLR motif that mediates host cell entry. Using comparative genomic approaches we identified an RxLR that is highly conserved and broadly present in all plant pathogenic oomycetes with genomic sequence information available and designated this as Oomycete RxLR Conserved Effector 1 (ORCE1). ORCE1 homologs exhibit remarkable degree of amino acid sequence conservation and is under purifying selection, suggest that they play fundamental role in parasitizing their host plants. Functional validation of the signal peptide of Phytophthora palmivora ORCE1 using yeast invertase secretion assay revealed that ORCE1 likely represent a bona fide effector. To determine the role of ORCE1 in pathogen virulence, RNAi and overexpression lines have been generated in Phytophthora palmivora and are currently under test for the alteration of pathogenicity. The study is attempting to dissect the molecular mechanisms that enable oomycete pathogens to successfully infect plants. The completion of this study will significantly impact understanding of plant-microbe interactions and the derived knowledge is expected to help devise plant disease management strategies.

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(131) In ovo inoculation of raffinose improves hatchability, gut mucosal health and immune response in broiler chickens. A. K. Singh, J. D. Berrocoso, R. Kida, Y. S. Kim and R. Jha. Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences. The effects of in ovo inoculation of raffinose (RFO) as a prebiotic on hatchability rate, growth performance, viscera and muscles weight, ileum mucosal histology and immune related gene expression were examined in Cobb 500 broilers. In total, 168 fertile eggs were assigned on d 12 of incubation to one of four treatments: a control with no inoculation and 3 others with 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 mg of RFO (in 0.2 ml commercial diluents) inoculation into air sac, respectively. Following hatch, birds were grown on standard diet and management. Feed intake and body weight were recorded weekly and birds were euthanized on d 21 post-hatch for sample collection. In addition to the viscera and muscle measurement, the ileal samples were collected for histological study and total RNA extraction for evaluation of immune response via RT-qPCR. The RFO linearly (P<0.05) increased the hatchability rate and relative weight of gizzard examined at d 21 post-hatch in dose dependent manner while relative weight of other viscera, muscles and the body weight remained unaffected (P>0.05). Increasing dose of RFO linearly increased (P<0.01) villus height on hatch day and on d 21. On d 21 the villus height: crypt depth ratio was also increased linearly (P<0.01) with increasing dose of RFO but crypt depth was not different (P>0.05). Also, increasing dose of RFO was coupled with detection of elevated level of CD3 (a T-cell marker) and chB6 (a B-cell maker) genes expression. It is concluded that despite no significant effect on body weight or dressing yield of chicken, RFO has a potential to boost hatchability rate and improve gut health by vitalizing ileal mucosa and immune response of broiler chicken. (132) An analysis of marine protected area governance along the Andaman Coast in Southern Thailand. Jutha Supholdhavanij* and Kirsten L.L. Oleson. Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management.Ongoing damage of coral reefs and coastal habitats from the growth of tourism along the Andaman coast in southern Thailand indicates an ineffectiveness of the marine protected area (MPA) governance by their government. High competition in the uses of marine resources and coastal areas by tourism entrepreneurs lacks concerns in the regulation. At the same time, strict enforcement in the reserves is also disabled. The resolution of this crisis requires an analysis of MPA governance considering various incentives including economy, interpretation, knowledge, legalization, and participation. This research aims to formulate and guide effective governance approaches of MPAs along the west coast in southern Thailand for sustainable tourism development. In an analysis of MPA governance, data will be collected by using social surveys and interviews with policy makers, MPA managers, personnel, etc. of each reserve to analyze their governance structures. The research will assist in enhancement of MPA implementation and analyze MPAs as an effective tool in marine and coastal management in Thailand.

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(133) Entomopathogenic Nematodes of Hawaii: Cryptic Species and Potential for Biological Control. J. Bisel*, R. Myers, Z. Cheng, and B. Sipes. Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences and U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, USDA. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) parasitize insects utilizing mutualistic bacteria to infect and kill the insect host, allowing the nematode to feed and reproduce within the insect cadaver. For this reason, EPNs are highly sought after for their biological control potential. The two most common EPN genera are Steinernema and Heterorhabditis. Both genera occur in Hawaii. Heterorhabditis is frequently found in coastal regions, whereas Steinernema is uncommon and found more inland. A survey for EPNs was conducted on Oahu and Hawaii Island targeting EPNs. Using a modified baiting method, morbid Tenebrio molitor (mealworm) larvae were recovered from 93% of the 107 samples collected, nematodes were observed in 16% of the samples. Isolates containing nematodes were passed through two subsequent inoculations in order to confirm the nematodes' entomopathogenic nature. Morbid larvae were recovered from 90% of the 47 positive samples, with 70% containing nematodes in the second inoculation. The final inoculation yielded 100% morbid larvae with 79% containing nematodes. PCR analysis and sequencing was conducted on the third generation of nematodes, targeting of the ITS region. Sequencing analysis yielded three species of the insect-associated nematode Oscheius: O. tipulae, O. myriophilis and Oscheius sp. Oscheius was recovered from 20% and 36% of locations on Hawaii Island and Oahu Island respectively. Oscheius tipulae, Oscheius sp., and O. myriophilis occurred at 68%, 17% and 9% of positive locations respectively. Based on the results from this survey, Oscheius should be considered an insect-associated or entomopathogenic nematode. (134) Characterization of the Expression of Protein Disulfide Isomerase-M Subfamily Members, PDI9 and PDI10, during Development of Arabidopsis Plants. Cheyenne Barela* and David Christopher. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) catalyzes the folding of newly synthesized proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum. This study focused on the non-classical PDI9 and PDI10 of the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. These proteins are distinct from the classical PDIs in that their catalytic domains are closely spaced and not separated by thioredoxin-like fold domains. A previous study using the PDI9 and PDI10 promoters fused to the β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene revealed that the genes are expressed in the anthers of flowers, suggesting they play an important role in the development of the male gametophyte. The presence of GUS enzyme activity is not a direct observation of PDI mRNA and protein. Therefore, the goal of this investigation was to verify the expression and tissue localization of these PDIs at the mRNA and protein levels. To determine and analyze the protein and mRNA levels of PDI9 and PDI10 in diverse Arabidopsis plant tissues, Western blot and RT-PCR and qPCR analyses were used. Preliminary Western blot analysis with a PDI9-antiserum indicated a high level of PDI9 protein in the flower and root tissues compared to the leaf, stem and silique tissues. A second trial is underway as are experiments to examine mRNA levels in the same tissues to clarify existing data. Identification of PDI9 in reproductive tissues is important in determining its function and the protein substrates it folds, and will lead to a better understanding of the floral development in plants.