A VSA search for the extended Sunyaev-Zel'dovich Effect in the Corona Borealis Supercluster

We present interferometric imaging at 33 GHz of the Corona Borealis supercluster, using the extended configuration of the Very Small Array. A total area of 24 deg^2 has been imaged, with an angular resolution of 11 arcmin and a sensitivity of 12 mJy/beam. The aim of these observations is to search for Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) detections from known clusters of galaxies in this supercluster and for a possible extended SZ decrement due to diffuse warm/hot gas in the intercluster medium. We measure negative flux values in the positions of the ten richest clusters in the region. Collectively, this implies a 3.0-sigma detection of the SZ effect. In the clusters A2061 and A2065 we find decrements of approximately 2-sigma. Our main result is the detection of two strong and resolved negative features at -70+-12 mJy/beam (-157+-27 microK) and -103+-10 mJy/beam (-230+-23 microK), respectively, located in a region with no known clusters, near the centre of the supercluster. We discuss their possible origins in terms of primordial CMB anisotropies and/or SZ signals related to either unknown clusters or to a diffuse extended warm/hot gas distribution. Our analyses have revealed that a primordial CMB fluctuation is a plausible explanation for the weaker feature (probability of 37.82%). For the stronger one, neither primordial CMB (probability of 0.33%) nor SZ can account alone for its size and total intensity. The most reasonable explanation, then, is a combination of both primordial CMB and SZ signal. Finally, we explore what characteristics would be required for a filamentary structure consisting of warm/hot diffuse gas in order to produce a significant contribution to such a spot taking into account the constraints set by X-ray data.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures. Accepted in MNRA

Cryptic Population Dynamics: Rapid Evolution Masks Trophic Interactions

Trophic relationships, such as those between predator and prey or between pathogen and host, are key interactions linking species in ecological food webs. The structure of these links and their strengths have major consequences for the dynamics and stability of food webs. The existence and strength of particular trophic links has often been assessed using observational data on changes in species abundance through time. Here we show that very strong links can be completely missed by these kinds of analyses when changes in population abundance are accompanied by contemporaneous rapid evolution in the prey or host species. Experimental observations, in rotifer-alga and phage-bacteria chemostats, show that the predator or pathogen can exhibit large-amplitude cycles while the abundance of the prey or host remains essentially constant. We know that the species are tightly linked in these experimental microcosms, but without this knowledge, we would infer from observed patterns in abundance that the species are weakly or not at all linked. Mathematical modeling shows that this kind of cryptic dynamics occurs when there is rapid prey or host evolution for traits conferring defense against attack, and the cost of defense (in terms of tradeoffs with other fitness components) is low. Several predictions of the theory that we developed to explain the rotifer-alga experiments are confirmed in the phage-bacteria experiments, where bacterial evolution could be tracked. Modeling suggests that rapid evolution may also confound experimental approaches to measuring interaction strength, but it identifies certain experimental designs as being more robust against potential confounding by rapid evolution

Cryptic Population Dynamics: Rapid Evolution Masks Trophic Interactions

Trophic relationships, such as those between predator and prey or between pathogen and host, are key interactions linking species in ecological food webs. The structure of these links and their strengths have major consequences for the dynamics and stability of food webs. The existence and strength of particular trophic links has often been assessed using observational data on changes in species abundance through time. Here we show that very strong links can be completely missed by these kinds of analyses when changes in population abundance are accompanied by contemporaneous rapid evolution in the prey or host species. Experimental observations, in rotifer-alga and phage-bacteria chemostats, show that the predator or pathogen can exhibit large-amplitude cycles while the abundance of the prey or host remains essentially constant. We know that the species are tightly linked in these experimental microcosms, but without this knowledge, we would infer from observed patterns in abundance that the species are weakly or not at all linked. Mathematical modeling shows that this kind of cryptic dynamics occurs when there is rapid prey or host evolution for traits conferring defense against attack, and the cost of defense (in terms of tradeoffs with other fitness components) is low. Several predictions of the theory that we developed to explain the rotifer-alga experiments are confirmed in the phage-bacteria experiments, where bacterial evolution could be tracked. Modeling suggests that rapid evolution may also confound experimental approaches to measuring interaction strength, but it identifies certain experimental designs as being more robust against potential confounding by rapid evolution

Inhibition of Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase by a New Class of Allosteric Effectors

A highly constrained pseudo-tetrapeptide (OC252-324) further defines a new allosteric binding site located near the center of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase. In a crystal structure, pairs of inhibitory molecules bind to opposite faces of the enzyme tetramer. Each ligand molecule is in contact with three of four subunits of the tetramer, hydrogen bonding with the side chain of Asp187 and the backbone carbonyl of residue 71, and electrostatically interacting with the backbone carbonyl of residue 51. The ligated complex adopts a quaternary structure between the canonical R- and T-states of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, and yet a dynamic loop essential for catalysis (residues 52-72) is in a conformation identical to that of the T-state enzyme. Inhibition by the pseudo-tetrapeptide is cooperative (Hill coefficient of 2), synergistic with both AMP and fructose 2,6-bisphosphate, noncompetitive with respect to Mg2+, and uncompetitive with respect to fructose 1,6-bisphosphate. The ligand dramatically lowers the concentration at which substrate inhibition dominates the kinetics of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase. Elevated substrate concentrations employed in kinetic screens may have facilitated the discovery of this uncompetitive inhibitor. Moreover, the inhibitor could mimic an unknown natural effector of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, as it interacts strongly with a conserved residue of undetermined functional significance

The Ursinus Weekly, February 11, 1952

Lorelei set for Feb. 29th; Leigh\u27s Orchestra to play • 70 students on coveted B-list; 58 ineligible • Soph class to aid former member • Art instructions now offered by teacher • Curtain Club groups to stage two shows • Second marriage seminar planned Wednesday • May Day petitions due today • Pianist, violinist to play here in Bomberger concert • Weekly staff changes made • Lantern deadline set • Anne Hughes to speak at freshmen Color Day • 26 enroll as new students this semester • Barn dance set by Y Friday night • Dr. Yost makes TV debut in literature program • Tom Phillips elected new Ruby co-business manager • Communist poser to speak on experiences at Forum • Editorials: This was no flop; Elizabeth must provide symbol of solidarity for English people • Dr. Paisley named Layman of the Year • English university has 88 clubs; Atmosphere is international • Engagements • Chess Club JVs lose • Pfahler honored • Saporoschenko takes teaching assistantship at Washington University • Former Ursinus student is now busy recruiting for WAC in Norristown • Leap Year tactics are disclosed; Sirens have a heyday - males beware • Curtis and 724 lead league • Jayvees trounced by Lehigh Quintet, 78-43 • Robert Swett is honored by Philadelphia scribes • Haverford matmen beat Ursinus, 18-16 • Swarthmore defeats Junior varsity squad • Engineers win over Grizzlies • Garnet basketball team downed by Bruins, 69-61 • Snell\u27s Belles win basketball opener • Junior varsity girls basketball squad beats Swarthmore team • Pre-medders hear arthritis lecture • WSGA discusses plans for future events on calendar • Military chemistry subject of talk to students • WAA card party tonighthttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1533/thumbnail.jp

The Ursinus Weekly, October 8, 1951

Enrollment drops back; Freshman class contributes 163 students to 692 total • 2 more test for Selective Service set • Thespians invite new talent; Fall comedy selected • Martha Daniels, Jane Gulick elected new WSGA president, vice-president • Mrs. Pancoast is alumni secretary • Dates listed for graduate exams • Ruby editors choose department heads • Cup-o-coffee? Late breakfasts resume • WSGA discusses new business at meeting • Bio assistant named • Dr. Yost to present first English reading • Pair sentenced for violations • Lantern deadline set for Oct. 31; Associates sought • Editorials: To the Class of \u2755; World situation viewed • Y holds reception • Pre-med speakers • Engagement announced • Customs continue • Inge Rudloff arrives as reverse CARE package • Memories flee as students register • Same old story: Senior sage offers helpful advice to new and humble freshmen; (Many thanks, noble forefathers!) • Dragons defeat Ursinus in last twenty seconds • Don Kellett, famed grid star, led the Ursinus football eleven in 1938 • Marg Hooper leads 1951 hockey squad; Bakermen practice for soccer opener • Grizzlies gain first win by downing Fords, 20-7 • Jane Platt chosen phys-ed instructor • Graduate promotedhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1522/thumbnail.jp

The Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth: A Pragmatic Guide to Assessing Empirical Evaluations

An unsound claim can misdirect a field, encouraging the pursuit of unworthy ideas and the abandonment of promising ideas. An inadequate description of a claim can make it difficult to reason about the claim, for example to determine whether the claim is sound. Many practitioners will acknowledge the threat of un- sound claims or inadequate descriptions of claims to their field. We believe that this situation is exacerbated and even encouraged by the lack of a systematic approach to exploring, exposing, and addressing the source of unsound claims and poor exposition. This paper proposes a framework that identifies three sins of reasoning that lead to unsound claims and two sins of exposition that lead to poorly described claims. Sins of exposition obfuscate the objective of determining whether or not a claim is sound, while sins of reasoning lead directly to unsound claims. Our framework provides practitioners with a principled way of critiquing the integrity of their own work and the work of others. We hope that this will help individuals conduct better science and encourage a cultural shift in our research community to identify and promulgate sound claims

The Trail, 1964-11-19

https://soundideas.pugetsound.edu/thetrail_all/1900/thumbnail.jp

Disparities in COVID-19 related outcomes in the United States by race and ethnicity pre-vaccination era: an umbrella review of meta-analyses

BackgroundMeta-analyses have investigated associations between race and ethnicity and COVID-19 outcomes. However, there is uncertainty about these associations’ existence, magnitude, and level of evidence. We, therefore, aimed to synthesize, quantify, and grade the strength of evidence of race and ethnicity and COVID-19 outcomes in the US.MethodsIn this umbrella review, we searched four databases (Pubmed, Embase, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Epistemonikos) from database inception to April 2022. The methodological quality of each meta-analysis was assessed using the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews, version 2 (AMSTAR-2). The strength of evidence of the associations between race and ethnicity with outcomes was ranked according to established criteria as convincing, highly suggestive, suggestive, weak, or non-significant. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO, CRD42022336805.ResultsOf 880 records screened, we selected seven meta-analyses for evidence synthesis, with 42 associations examined. Overall, 10 of 42 associations were statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05). Two associations were highly suggestive, two were suggestive, and two were weak, whereas the remaining 32 associations were non-significant. The risk of COVID-19 infection was higher in Black individuals compared to White individuals (risk ratio, 2.08, 95% Confidence Interval (CI), 1.60–2.71), which was supported by highly suggestive evidence; with the conservative estimates from the sensitivity analyses, this association remained suggestive. Among those infected with COVID-19, Hispanic individuals had a higher risk of COVID-19 hospitalization than non-Hispanic White individuals (odds ratio, 2.08, 95% CI, 1.60–2.70) with highly suggestive evidence which remained after sensitivity analyses.ConclusionIndividuals of Black and Hispanic groups had a higher risk of COVID-19 infection and hospitalization compared to their White counterparts. These associations of race and ethnicity and COVID-19 outcomes existed more obviously in the pre-hospitalization stage. More consideration should be given in this stage for addressing health inequity

The Ursinus Weekly, February 18, 1952

1952 Selective Service test set for April • Violinist, pianist schedule program Thursday night • Tryouts held for Meistersingers; Cast is chosen • Egyptian to speak here Wednesday • Communist youth festival described by U.S. delegate • Elections Wednesday as four vie for May Queen • Anne Hughes tells of her college life • Spring play selected by Curtain Club • Drs. Garrett, Miller to address first professors\u27 panel • Mr. Dolman to read Twain at English lit meeting • Sophomores plan eventful weekend for March 7-8 • Summer term students asked to select courses • Tea planned • Editorials: Where there\u27s life; W. Europe forms new army • Whistler Donahue tells of day\u27s activities in Morocco • Operation Lorelei gets underway February 29 • Washington bust given to college by Mr. Lachman • Library is not only for bookworms • Ursinus girls basketball squad overpowers Albright team, 51-23 • Spencer scores 22 as Belles triumph • Off-campus teams lead League II • University of Delaware registers an 81-55 league win over Bears • Girls win in opening meet • Frosh outstanding in winter sports • Grizzlies weak in offense as Dragons win, 82-56 • Grapplers beaten by Delaware team • New accessions to Library include many best-sellers • Teaching is profession, FTA speaker asserts • English Club reads Hamlet • Chess team loses • Couples enjoy Western dance • Chemist addresses Beardwood Society • IRC discusses conferences • MSGA discusses Student Union, parking rules • Students attend NATO conference • WAA card party benefits fundhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1534/thumbnail.jp