Variability in herbivore-induced defence signalling across different maize genotypes impacts significantly on natural enemy foraging behaviour.

'Smart' plants that release volatile defence compounds in response to pest damage, and which recruit beneficial natural enemies, offer an opportunity for exploiting biological control in future crop protection strategies. Using six maize genotypes, Zapalote Chico (?landrace?), Mirt2A, Sintético Spodoptera (SS), L3, and two commercial hybrids BRS 4103 and BRS 1040, the aim of this work was to evaluate maize responses to larval damage from the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda, a major maize pest in Brazil, and the ability of the egg parasitoid Telenomus remus to respond to HIPVs induced by S. frugiperda damage. Y-tube olfactometer bioassays with T. remus showed preferential responses to the S. frugiperda-induced volatiles of SS and BRS 4103 compared to constitutive volatiles of the same genotypes, but to none of the other genotypes tested. Chemical analysis of maize volatile extracts showed that SS produced more volatile compounds in response to S. frugiperda damage, followed by BRS 4103. In addition, higher levels of mono, homo-, or sesquiterpenes, together with green leaf volatiles (GLVs) were the most attractive blend for T. remus; however, there was no attraction when only GLVs were produced in higher levels. In summary, these results show that volatile defence signalling produced by maize plants due to S. frugiperda damage varies significantly depending on maize genotype and this variability influences T. remus foraging behaviour

Contesting language policy for asylum seekers in the Northern periphery: The story of Tailor F

This article is about navigating asylum, employment and language policy in a new country as an asylum seeker. Through the story of one individual, we show that profound inequalities are exacerbated when forced migrants are limited in their choice of language they might study or use. The individual is Tailor F, an Iraqi man seeking asylum, and the country is Finland, officially bilingual, with a majority language (Finnish) and a minority language (Swedish). Finland’s official bilingualism does not extend evenly to language education provided for asylum seekers, who are taught Finnish regardless of the region where they are placed. Upon arrival, Tailor F was housed in a reception centre for asylum seekers located in a Swedish-dominant rural area of the country. Through our linguistic ethnography we examine how he navigates multilingually in his early settlement, his current work and his online life. We relate his story to explicit and implicit official bilingualism in Finland and discuss his lived experiences in relation to the contexts of asylum policy and employment. Tailor F’s story shows how, through his practices, he has contested implicit language policy for asylum seekers in order to gain membership of the local Swedish-dominant community, achieve a sense of belonging, and potentially realise his aspirations for the future

Genomic copy number variation in Mus musculus.

BACKGROUND: Copy number variation is an important dimension of genetic diversity and has implications in development and disease. As an important model organism, the mouse is a prime candidate for copy number variant (CNV) characterization, but this has yet to be completed for a large sample size. Here we report CNV analysis of publicly available, high-density microarray data files for 351 mouse tail samples, including 290 mice that had not been characterized for CNVs previously. RESULTS: We found 9634 putative autosomal CNVs across the samples affecting 6.87% of the mouse reference genome. We find significant differences in the degree of CNV uniqueness (single sample occurrence) and the nature of CNV-gene overlap between wild-caught mice and classical laboratory strains. CNV-gene overlap was associated with lipid metabolism, pheromone response and olfaction compared to immunity, carbohydrate metabolism and amino-acid metabolism for wild-caught mice and classical laboratory strains, respectively. Using two subspecies of wild-caught Mus musculus, we identified putative CNVs unique to those subspecies and show this diversity is better captured by wild-derived laboratory strains than by the classical laboratory strains. A total of 9 genic copy number variable regions (CNVRs) were selected for experimental confirmation by droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). CONCLUSION: The analysis we present is a comprehensive, genome-wide analysis of CNVs in Mus musculus, which increases the number of known variants in the species and will accelerate the identification of novel variants in future studies

Ancestral range reconstruction of remote oceanic island species of Plantago (Plantaginaceae) reveals differing scales and modes of dispersal

Aim: The aim of this study was to resolve the phylogenetic placement of island taxa, reconstruct ancestral origins and resolve competing hypotheses of dispersal patterns and biogeographical histories for oceanic island endemic taxa within subgenus Plantago (Plantaginaceae). Location: Juan Fernández Islands, the Auckland Islands, Lord Howe Island, New Amsterdam Island, New Zealand, Tasmania, Falkland Islands, Rapa Iti and the Hawaiian Islands. Taxon: Island endemics within Plantago (Plantaginaceae), a globally distributed taxonomic group comprising approximately 250 species. Methods: We use Bayesian phylogenetic and divergence time analyses and historical biogeographical analysis of molecular sequence data to infer the ancestral origins of the oceanic island species in Plantago. Results: Taxa within subgenus Plantago form clades based on geographic proximities and challenge previous phylogenetic relationships and classification based on morphology. We infer that biogeographic histories of oceanic island taxa from multiple islands were shaped by dispersal at different scales and possibly by different types of birds. The highly remote Hawaiian Islands and Rapa Iti were colonized from North American taxa in a pattern corresponding to known migration routes of large marine birds, rather than from New Zealand as previously hypothesized. The island endemics of Juan Fernández, the Falkland Islands, Lord Howe, Auckland Islands and New Zealand are found to have sources in the nearest continental areas. The analyses confirm recent speciation within subgenus Plantago - which is particularly heightened in island lineages in Hawaii and Rapa Iti - but show slightly older divergence times than previous molecular dating studies. Main conclusions: Using molecular data to infer ancestral ranges for plants with uncertain taxonomic relationships can greatly improve our understanding of biogeographical histories and help elucidate origins, dispersal modes and routes in widespread lineages with complex distribution patterns such as Plantago. We improve understanding of important floristic exchange areas between continents and islands as a result of long-distance dispersal. We infer that a combination of both stepping stone dispersal and extreme long-distance dispersal can shape insular floras, and that multiple floristic areas can be the sources of closely related island taxa. However, despite the successful dispersal of Plantago, radiation in island archipelagos is generally limited suggesting specific traits may limit diversification.status: publishe

Valine in diets for juvenile Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): growth performance, chemical composition, blood parameters and skeletal muscle development

Valine belongs to the group of branched-chain amino acids, has an important structural role and is primarily deposited as body protein. The present study evaluated the effects of valine in diets of juvenile Nile tilapia. A total of 216 juveniles with weight of 21.40 ± 0.42 g and length of 10.07 ± 1.00 cm were distributed into 18 aquarium in a completely randomized design with six treatments and three replicates. Six diets containing 24.30% digestible protein, 3,100 kcal/kg digestible energy, and increasing valine levels (0.54; 0.63; 0.72; 0.81; 0.90; 0.99%) were prepared. The following factors were evaluated: performance, chemical composition, blood hematological and biochemical, and skeletal muscle development. Differences were observed in productive performance between treatments for weight gain, daily weight gain and apparent feed conversion, where inclusion levels from 0.81% to 0.99% provide better performances. According to the equation of quadratic regression, the inclusion of 0.86% of valine provided greater weight gain. Regarding the hematological and biochemical parameters, there were differences among the treatments for hemoglobin, triglycerides, and cholesterol. Not difference was observed for the chemical composition and muscle fiber growth. It is recommended the inclusion of 0.86% of valine in the diet of juveniles of Nile tilapia because it provides greater weight gain

United States Geological Survey Reports

From abstract: A mineral resource survey of the Ruby Mountains Wilderness Study Area (MT-076-001) was made in 1984- 85. Thirty-two million tons of subeconomic mineral resources that average 21 percent iron occur in the Kelly iron deposit and constitute an identified resource adjacent to the southeasternmost edge of the study area. Moderate and high mineral resource potential for talc deposits occur within a large body of Archean (see geologic time chart in appendix) marble in the central part of the study area (fig. 1). The study area has a low mineral resource potential for uranium and for oil and gas sources. No phosphate deposits exist in the study area