Inherited biotic protection in a Neotropical pioneer plant

Chelonanthus alatus is a bat-pollinated, pioneer Gentianaceae that clusters in patches where still-standing, dried-out stems are interspersed among live individuals. Flowers bear circum-floral nectaries (CFNs) that are attractive to ants, and seed dispersal is both barochorous and anemochorous. Although, in this study, live individuals never sheltered ant colonies, dried-out hollow stems - that can remain standing for 2 years - did. Workers from species nesting in dried-out stems as well as from ground-nesting species exploited the CFNs of live C. alatus individuals in the same patches during the daytime, but were absent at night (when bat pollination occurs) on 60.5% of the plants. By visiting the CFNs, the ants indirectly protect the flowers - but not the plant foliage - from herbivorous insects. We show that this protection is provided mostly by species nesting in dried-out stems, predominantly Pseudomyrmex gracilis. That dried-out stems remain standing for years and are regularly replaced results in an opportunistic, but stable association where colonies are sheltered by one generation of dead C. alatus while the live individuals nearby, belonging to the next generation, provide them with nectar; in turn, the ants protect their flowers from herbivores. We suggest that the investment in wood by C. alatus individuals permitting stillstanding, dried-out stems to shelter ant colonies constitutes an extended phenotype because foraging workers protect the flowers of live individuals in the same patch. Also, through this process these dried-out stems indirectly favor the reproduction (and so the fitness) of the next generation including both their own offspring and that of their siblings, alladding up to a potential case of inclusive fitness in plants

A Pilot Search for Population III Supernova Candidates in the Spitzer/IRAC Dark Field

We have undertaken a systematic search for candidate supernovae from high-redshift Population III stars in a field that has been observed with repeated imaging on a cadence of 2-3 weeks over a 2.2 year baseline, the Spitzer/IRAC Dark Field. The individual epochs reach a typical 5-sigma depth of 1 uJy in IRAC Channel 1 (3.6 um). Requiring a minimum of four epochs coverage, the total effective area searched is 214 sq arcminutes. The unprecedented depth and multi-epochal nature of these data make it ideal for a first foray to detect transient objects which may be candidate luminous Pair Instability Supernovae from the primordial-metallicity first stars. The search was conducted over a broad range of timescales, allowing for different durations of the putative candidates' light curve plateau phases. All candidates were vetted by inspection of the Spitzer imaging data, as well as deep HST/ACS F814W imaging available over the full field. While many resolved-source objects were found with Spitzer variability, no transient objects could plausibly be identified as high-redshift supernovae candidates. The resulting 95% confidence level upper limit is 23/sq deg/yr, for sources with plateau timescales under 400/(1+z) days and brightnesses above ~1 uJy.Comment: ApJL, in pres

Temporal Trends in the Secondary Metabolite Production of the Sponge Aplysina aerophoba

Temporal changes in the production of secondary metabolites are far from being fully understood. Our study quantified, over a two-year period, the concentrations of brominated alkaloids in the ectosome and the choanosome of Aplysina aerophoba, and examined the temporal patterns of these natural products. Based on standard curves, we quantified the concentrations of aerophobin-2, aplysinamisin-1, and isofistularin-3: three of the four major peaks obtained through chemical profiling with high-performance liquid chromatography. Our results showed a striking variation in compound abundance between the outer and inner layers of the sponge. The ectosome showed high concentrations of bromocompounds during the summer months, while the choanosome followed no pattern. Additionally, we found that, from the outer layer of the sponge, aerophobin-2 and isofistularin-3 were significantly correlated with water temperature. The present study is one of the first to document quantitative seasonal variations in individual compounds over multiple years. Further studies will clarify the role of environmental, biological, and physiological factors in determining the seasonal patterns in the concentration of brominated alkaloids

Ethnic Disparities in Early-Onset Gastric Cancer: a Population-Based Study in Texas and California

BACKGROUND: Incidence rates of gastric cancer are increasing in young adults (age \u3c50 \u3eyears), particularly among Hispanic persons. We estimated incidence rates of early-onset gastric cancer (EOGC) among Hispanic and non-Hispanic White persons by census tract poverty level and county-level metro/nonmetro residence. METHODS: We used population-based data from the California and Texas Cancer Registries from 1995 to 2016 to estimate age-adjusted incidence rates of EOGC among Hispanic and non-Hispanic White persons by year, sex, tumor stage, census tract poverty level, metro versus nonmetro county, and state. We used logistic regression models to identify factors associated with distant stage diagnosis. RESULTS: Of 3,047 persons diagnosed with EOGC, 73.2% were Hispanic White. Incidence rates were 1.29 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.24-1.35] and 0.31 (95% CI, 0.29-0.33) per 100,000 Hispanic White and non-Hispanic White persons, respectively, with consistently higher incidence rates among Hispanic persons at all levels of poverty. There were no statistically significant associations between ethnicity and distant stage diagnosis in adjusted analysis. CONCLUSIONS: There are ethnic disparities in EOGC incidence rates that persist across poverty levels. IMPACT: EOGC incidence rates vary by ethnicity and poverty; these factors should be considered when assessing disease risk and targeting prevention efforts

The Ursinus Weekly, May 7, 1951

Bill LeKernec to edit next year\u27s Lantern • Sororities elect new officers, plan events • Varsity banquet tonight • W. A. A. holds election • Y members plan 1951-52 activities at camp retreat • Campus ready for May Day; Pageant, play to be big events • Professors tackle broad questions in first panel • YM-YW name cabinet, heads of commission • Graduation announcements available to seniors • Students cast primary votes for officers • Election of Curtain Club officers listed • Chi Alpha to elect • Editorials: System a success • Making of foreign policy • Letters to the editor • Three officials embroiled • Ursinus mentioned in Gramercy Ghost • May Day histories reveal variety of festivities • Weekly scribe sheds light on life of famous Ursinus College athlete • Local lassies win 4-1 over Rosemont • Interfraternity track meet to begin this Wednesday • Temple women defeat local tennis squad on May 2 • Cindermen win as Eshbach, Scheirer and Loomis are double winners • Bears capitalize on four hits to beat Garnet • Moravian, Elizabethtown suffer as netmen extend streak to four • Ursinus enters three in intercollege tennis • Bearettes shut-out Albright squad • Lincoln nine halts rally to defeat Grizzlies, 6 to 3 • Curtis clinches first place slots in both leagues • Women\u27s softball team defeats Drexel, Temple • Forum speaker tells of Turkey\u27s position • Dr. Rice invited to Washington for Atlantic Union Conference • Ann Knaur elected President of French Club • Rec center party planned • Women day students hold senior dinner • Supper tickets on sale • Chess Club ends successful season • Shaw named prexyhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1568/thumbnail.jp

Bird records for the Saddle Bag Mountain area of Lincoln and Tillamook Counties

The results of 703 observations are given; most of these were made in the 1930's by James Macnab, Jane Claire Dirks-Edmunds, Dorothy McKey-Fender, and others. These results are the most comprehensive throughout the year for any site above 1,000 ft in Lincoln County and hint that bird communities at sites above 1,400 ft are less diverse than sites nearer sea level. However, many more systematic observations throughout the year are needed to elucidate the significance of elevation on bird diversity. Two marshes on Saddle Bag Mountain are the only locations where Common Snipe appear to nest in Lincoln County

The Ursinus Weekly, April 23, 1951

Students elect Hartzel, Hall, Ely, Landis: Women\u27s government, YM-YWCA, WAA choose new organization heads • Drs. Armstrong, Mattern, Baker to be speakers • Pa. Dutch film scheduled for benefit show • Nancy Bare and Jackie Keller to share big Arsenic role • Six juniors receive Cub and Key memberships for outstanding work • Lantern deadline set for Friday • Barbara Crawford crowned queen of Junior Prom; 4 attendants named • Editorials: Nominations open; Voting results analyzed • French situation reversed • Truman vs MacArthur • Letters to the editor • Weekly back issues yield untold wealth of pertinent advertisements • Recordak machine aids in library efficiency • Posting of exams recalls looming fate of students • Baseball field dedicated in honor of Dr. John Price • Girls\u27 tennis team downs Swarthmore for second victory • Curtis takes lead in intramural loop • Netmen lose opener to Haverford; Girls triumph over Chestnut Hill, 4-1 • Bears defeat Pharmacy to gain initial triumph, 14-5 • Bears defeat Haverford for second victory, 7-5 • Tennis team wins first court game • Cumpstone breaks own javelin mark as Grizzlies lose • Curtain Club levies charge for using stage materials • Freshmen, Sophs announce picnic at Island Grove • Blood donors must register, get permission if under-age • Dr. Phillips reads unknown Kipling short story to group • Curtain Club to elect • Varsity Club show ready for production Friday night • Red Cross to sponsor water safety instructor\u27s course • Seniors plan picnic • French Club gives recital featuring pianists, vocalists • Newman Club film slated • Nels Fellman elected head of Delta Pi Sigma frathttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1566/thumbnail.jp