Chaminade University of Honolulu

About: Chaminade University of Honolulu is a education organization based out in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Experiential learning. The organization has 164 authors who have published 223 publications receiving 5381 citations.

Phoretic Mites and Carcasses: Acari Transported by Organisms Associated with Animal and Human Decomposition

Abstract: Ephemeral and fluctuant, the fauna associated with a corpse provides a rich diversity of species. Several groups of arthropods are known to visit a carcass of a vertebrate at its various stages of decay; however, forensic investigations have so far been primarily limited to insects, focussing mainly on flies (Diptera) and beetles (Coleoptera) as often the largest and most persistent representatives. These insects might fly, walk or occasionally swim to reach the corpse and sooner or later abandon it in a similar way. Most will build transitional food webs that will lead to a faunal succession of species that will reflect the degree of decay under given environmental conditions.

Forensic acarology: an introduction

Abstract: Mites can be found in all imaginable terrestrial habitats, in freshwater, and in salt water. Mites can be found in our houses and furnishings, on our clothes, and even in the pores of our skin—almost every single person carries mites. Most of the time, we are unaware of them because they are small and easily overlooked, and—most of the time—they do not cause trouble. In fact, they may even proof useful, for instance in forensics. The first arthropod scavengers colonising a dead body will be flies with phoretic mites. The flies will complete their life cycle in and around the corpse, while the mites may feed on the immature stages of the flies. The mites will reproduce much faster than their carriers, offering themselves as valuable timeline markers. There are environments where insects are absent or rare or the environmental conditions impede their access to the corpse. Here, mites that are already present and mites that arrive walking, through air currents or material transfer become important. At the end of the ninetieth century, the work of Jean Pierre Megnin became the starting point of forensic acarology. Megnin documented his observations in ‘La Faune des Cadavres’ [The Fauna of Carcasses]. He was the first to list eight distinct waves of arthropods colonising human carcasses. The first wave included flies and mites, the sixth wave was composed of mites exclusively. The scope of forensic acarology goes further than mites as indicators of time of death. Mites are micro-habitat specific and might provide evidential data on movement or relocation of bodies, or locating a suspect at the scene of a crime. Because of their high diversity, wide occurrence, and abundance, mites may be of great value in the analysis of trace evidence.

The Effect of Project-Based Learning on Student Performance: An Action Research Study

Abstract: This study analyzed the effectiveness of an alternate pedagogical approach in the form of standards-focused project-based learning (PBL) teaching model in psychology classes. Both the control and experimental groups initially adopted a negative attitude when presented with an alternate method of learning. They viewed the group project as an unnecessary task although the literature contradicts their initial perception. Data analyzed found that the experimental group that engaged the project and took responsibility for the learning of their peers scored significantly higher on the multiple-choice exam when compared to the control group. No significance was found in the second experimental group where majority of the students did their part, but did not report feeling a sense of responsibility for the learning of their peers. Key indicators for higher academic performance were: 1) high self-efficacy; 2) high level of perceived control; and 3) growth mindset.

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligand effects in RBL2H3 cells.

Abstract: The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) mediates toxic effects of dioxin and xenobiotic metabolism. AHR has an emerging role in the immune system, but its physiological ligands and functional role in immunocytes remain poorly understood. Mast cells are immunocytes that are central to inflammatory responses and release a spectrum of pro-inflammatory mediators including histamine, mast cell proteases, and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 upon stimulation. The aim was to investigate the AHR in model mast cells and examine how both putative and known AHR ligands, e.g., kynurenine, kynurenic acid (KA), Resveratrol, indolmycin, and violacein, affect mast cell activation and signaling. These ligands were tested on calcium signaling, degranulation, and gene expression. The data show that AHR is present in three model mast cell lines, and that various known and putative AHR ligands regulate gene expression of Cyp1a1, a gene down-stream of AHR. Furthermore, it was found that calcium influxes and mast cell secret...