In this conceptual replication of Sparks and Dale ([2023]. The prediction from MLAT to L2 achievement is largely due to MLAT asessment of underlying L1 abilities. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 1–25) utilizing a dataset previously reported by Sparks et al. ([2009]. Long-term relationships among early L1 skills, L2 aptitude, L2 affect, and later L2 proficiency. Applied Psycholinguistics, 30, 725–755.), L1 achievement scores over 1st–5th grades and L2 aptitude scores from the Modern Language Aptitude Test (MLAT) in 9th grade were examined as predictors of L2 achievement for U.S. secondary students completing L2 courses in 9th and 10th grades. The study’s focus was on the uniqueness and efficiency of MLAT with respect to measuring L1 achievement in predicting L2 achievement. All L1 measures and MLAT predicted L2 literacy and language, and L1 measures predicted MLAT scores. Word decoding was the strongest overall L1 predictor, though there was variation across the L2 measures. The unique contribution of MLAT was modest, as the majority of total prediction (77–86%) was due to L1 measures. The efficiency of MLAT in capturing predictive variance from L1 abilities was moderately high (median ∼73%) but variable across the L1 and L2 measures. Findings are generally consistent with those of Sparks and Dale (2023) showing that prediction from MLAT to L2 is largely due to MLAT’s assessment of L1 abilities, even though a substantial amount of L2 prediction-relevant L1 variance is missed by MLAT.

Despite the widespread use and effectiveness of the Modern Language Aptitude Test (MLAT) composite score in predicting individual differences in L2 achievement and proficiency, there has been little examination of MLAT subtests, although they have potential for illuminating components of L2 aptitude and the mechanism of prediction. Here we use regression commonality analysis to decompose the predictive variance from the MLAT into unique components for each subtest alone and for each possible combination of subtests (duos, trios, etc.) that may have shared variance. The results, from a longitudinal study of 307 U.S. secondary students during 2 years of Spanish learning, provide strong evidence for the role of literacy-related skills in all subtests and in predicting all L2 outcomes. These and other results support a view of L1 literacy and language skills leading to metalinguistic development, which in turn leads to stronger L2 aptitude and achievement.

Widespread use of the Modern Language Aptitude Test (MLAT) in L2 studies of individual differences implicitly assumes that L2 aptitude is a distinct cognitive facet. There is considerable evidence for prediction from L1 abilities to L2 learning. In this longitudinal study, L1-MLAT-L2 relations were examined in 307 US secondary students based on six L1 and six L2 measures of language and literacy, and the MLAT. Mediation and regression analyses revealed that each L1 measure individually predicted all L2 scores and MLAT; the L1 measures collectively substantially predicted MLAT scores; MLAT is a significant but moderate mediator of prediction from L1 to L2 scores; and prediction from MLAT to L2 scores is significantly and substantially due to variance in L1 abilities captured by MLAT. Overall, prediction from MLAT is due primarily to its functioning as a measure of L1 abilities, although substantial L1 variance which predicts L2 scores is not captured by the MLAT.

Few studies on herbicide resistance report data to establish unambiguously the correlation between genotype and phenotype. Here we report on the importance of the EPSPS prolyl106 point mutation to serine (P106S) in conferring resistance to glyphosate in a goosegrass population from Davao, Mindanao Island, the Philippines (Davao). Initial rate-response studies showed clear survivors within the Davao population at glyphosate rates that completely controlled the standard sensitive goosegrass population (STD1). Assessment of potential resistance mechanisms identified the presence of P106S mutant individuals in the Davao population. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of specific alleles (PASA) analysis established that the mixed-resistant Davao population was comprised of 39.1% homozygous proline wild-type (PP106), 3.3% heterozygous serine mutant (PS106), and 57.6% homozygous serine mutant (SS106) genotypes. Further rate-response studies on plants with a predetermined genotype estimated the Davao SS106 individuals to be approximately 2-fold more resistant to glyphosate compared to Davao PP106 individuals. Extensive analysis at different goosegrass growth stages and glyphosate rates established strong correlation (P < 0.001) between presence of P106S in EPSPS and the resistant phenotype. Importantly, no differences in the pattern of absorbed or translocated 14C–glyphosate were observed between PP106 and SS106 Davao genotypes or Davao and STD1 individuals, suggesting that glyphosate resistance in the Davao population was attributable to an altered target site mechanism. This study demonstrates that whilst P106S in EPSPS confers a moderate resistance level to glyphosate, the mechanism is sufficient to endow glyphosate failure at the recommended field rates.

Acetolactate Synthase- (ALS) inhibiting herbicides are important components for the control of ryegrass species infesting cereal-cropping systems worldwide. Although resistance to ALS herbicides in ryegrasses has evolved more than 25 yr ago, few studies have been dedicated to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved. To this end, we have investigated the molecular basis of chlorsulfuron, sulfometuron-methyl, and imazapyr resistance in AUS5 and AUS23, two ryegrass populations from Australia. Comparison between whole-plant herbicide assays and DNA sequencing results showed that resistance to the nonmetabolizable herbicide sulfometuron-methyl was associated with four different proline mutations at ALS codon position 197 (P197) in AUS23. In addition to three P197 amino acid changes impacting on the efficacies of the two sulfonylurea herbicides, the tryptophan to leucine target-site mutation at ALS codon position 574 (W574L) was present in AUS5, conferring resistance to both sulfometuron-methyl and imazapyr. The samples were also characterized by non target-site-based resistance impacting on the metabolizable herbicide chlorsulfuron only. Interestingly, compound mutant heterozygotes threonine/serine at ALS position 197, and plants with double mutations at positions 197 and 574 were detected, thus reflecting the ability of this outcrossing species to accumulate mutant alleles. Whole-plant dose-response assays conducted on predetermined wild-type and mutant genotypes originating from the same populations allowed for a more precise estimation of the dominant and very high levels of resistance associated with the proline to serine target-site mutation at ALS codon position 197 (P197S) and W574L mutations. The two highly efficient polymerase chain reaction- (PCR) based derived cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (dCAPS) markers developed here will allow for quick confirmation of 197 and 574 ALS target-site resistance in ryegrass species field samples and also contribute to identify populations characterized by other likely resistance mechanisms in this important weed species.

The implementation of a successful glyphosate resistance management strategy requires a simple and cost-effective method for detecting resistance in key weeds. To date, however, glyphosate resistance is still routinely confirmed via laborious and time consuming whole-plant pot assays using seeds collected at the end of the growing season. Here, we describe a simple, early-season bioassay for detecting evolved glyphosate resistance in grass and broadleaf weeds. It involves transplanting suspected glyphosate resistant seedlings alongside known sensitive and resistant standards into agar containing informative rates of herbicide and recording percentage survival 14 d after plating. The method was validated using sensitive and resistant populations of Lolium, Eleusine, Conyza, and Amaranthus species encompassing the main glyphosate resistance mechanisms, namely, impaired translocation, EPSPS gene duplication, and mutations. The whole plant pot and agar-based seedling tests generated comparable resistance indices in dose-response assays and percentage survival at discriminating glyphosate rates. The method was applied successfully to detect resistance in a rigid ryegrass population collected from a French vineyard well before glyphosate was applied in the field for the current season. Additionally, the test was shown to be highly transferable to several other grass and broadleaf weeds that have evolved resistance to glyphosate. One major attribute of the method is that it is capable of detecting resistance regardless of the mechanism involved. In addition to being very simple, quick and, cost-effective, it allows determination of glyphosate resistance in weeds prior to field application. It thus offers the opportunity for an informed choice of herbicides for effective weed control.

Studies on the role of diet in the development of chronic diseases often rely on self-report surveys of dietary intake. Unfortunately, many validity studies have demonstrated that self-reported dietary intake is subject to systematic under-reporting, although the vast majority of such studies have been conducted in industrialised countries. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether or not systematic reporting error exists among the individuals of African ancestry (n 324) in five countries distributed across the Human Development Index (HDI) scale, a UN statistic devised to rank countries on non-income factors plus economic indicators. Using two 24 h dietary recalls to assess energy intake and the doubly labelled water method to assess total energy expenditure, we calculated the difference between these two values ((self-report − expenditure/expenditure) × 100) to identify under-reporting of habitual energy intake in selected communities in Ghana, South Africa, Seychelles, Jamaica and the USA. Under-reporting of habitual energy intake was observed in all the five countries. The South African cohort exhibited the highest mean under-reporting ( − 52·1 % of energy) compared with the cohorts of Ghana ( − 22·5 %), Jamaica ( − 17·9 %), Seychelles ( − 25·0 %) and the USA ( − 18·5 %). BMI was the most consistent predictor of under-reporting compared with other predictors. In conclusion, there is substantial under-reporting of dietary energy intake in populations across the whole range of the HDI, and this systematic reporting error increases according to the BMI of an individual.

Although medieval pilgrimage has been the subject of extensive historical research, the economic and financial dimension has been somewhat neglected. This paper is an attempt to provide a synthesis of published and unpublished work on pilgrimage, focusing on the business management and promotional aspects of pilgrimage shrines. From the literature reviewed, it is clear that many ‘modern’ business practices were being widely used by pilgrimage centers throughout Europe in the middle ages. Examples can be found of active brand management and promotional techniques adopted by shrines operating within a highly competitive market for pilgrimage services.