The boys are bad: Older male ants single out younger rivals for death squad

Friday, June 15, 2012

Male Cardiocondyla obscurior ants are diphenic (either winged or wingless). New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Ecology demonstrates that the dominant wingless (ergatoid) male is able to identify potential rivals before they emerge from their pupae. Constant patrolling of the nest ensures that this male is able to bite or chemically tag rivals as soon as they emerge from their pupae. Chemically tagged ants are quickly destroyed by workers.

When ants emerge from their pupae (eclosion) they are vulnerable to attack because their exoskeleton has not yet hardened to protect them and their mandibles are also too weak to bite an attacker. Researchers from University of Regensburg and IST Austria investigated the behaviour of male ergatoid C. obscurior ants in response to newly pupated males and females as well as their interaction with developing pupae.

It would be advantageous for newly emerged males to hide from attackers. However, while winged males use chemical female mimicry to avoid being detected, young ergatoid males are easily detected and attacked by older males. If the fight occurs during the first day after eclosion the older male will always win but once the younger male's exoskeleton hardens his chances of surviving rises to 14%. Nearly 50% of fights between older and two-day old males results in the death of both combatants.

In addition to biting the males also smeared each other with secretions from their anuses which encouraged worker aggression. The older males were more likely to chemically tag two-day olds than younger rivals (presumably recognising that they needed help to win the fight) however since both males end up being tagged they both suffer worker attacks. The winners of these fights smear more and are attacked less by workers. So although this tactic overall may provide an 'edge' it is a risky strategy.

Dr Sylvia Cremer, from IST Austria, who led this project commented, "Older ergatoid male ants are able to distinguish pupae containing females by their chemical scent from those containing males. Pupae containing males are often bitten while those containing females (or winged males disguised as females) elicit a mating response. However the chances of mistakenly killing a female or worker possibly prevents older males from attempting to completely destroy all rival males before they emerge from their pupae."

C. obscurior ants produce sexual females and ergatoid males throughout the year. In terms of colony survival this ensures that if the old dominant male dies there is a new male ready to replace him. The cost of producing a constant supply of ergatoid males is low compared to the cost of producing unfertilised females, and any killed males are recycled as food for the larvae.

###

1. The dynamics of male-male competition in Cardiocondyla obscurior ants
Sylvia Cremer, Masaki Suefuji, Alexandra Schrempf and Juergen Heinze
BMC Ecology (in press)

BioMed Central: http://www.biomedcentral.com

Thanks to BioMed Central for this article.

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Obama, world want bold signs from Europe at G-20

FILE - In this June 15, 2012 file photo, President Barack Obama speaks in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington. With global anxiety rising, President Barack Obama is searching for bolder, swifter signals from Europe that it will contain its fiscal mess and keep it from torpedoing the U.S. economy and his re-election chances along with it. Yet as he prepares to plunge into summit talks with the other world leaders, Obama is down to the power of persuasion and little else. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari, File)

FILE - In this June 15, 2012 file photo, President Barack Obama speaks in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington. With global anxiety rising, President Barack Obama is searching for bolder, swifter signals from Europe that it will contain its fiscal mess and keep it from torpedoing the U.S. economy and his re-election chances along with it. Yet as he prepares to plunge into summit talks with the other world leaders, Obama is down to the power of persuasion and little else. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari, File)

FILE - In this July 7, 2009 file photo, President Barack Obama shakes hands with then-Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Moscow. With global anxiety rising, President Barack Obama is searching for bolder, swifter signals from Europe that it will contain its fiscal mess and keep it from torpedoing the U.S. economy and his re-election chances along with it. Yet as he prepares to plunge into summit talks with the other world leaders, Obama is down to the power of persuasion and little else. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari, File)

Greek men check lists with polling stations one day before general elections, in central Athens, on Saturday, June 16, 2012. Greeks cast their ballots this Sunday for the second time in six weeks, after May 6 elections left no party with enough seats in Parliament to form a government and coalition talks collapsed.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel gesticulates during her speech at the regional conference of her conservative party, in Darmstadt, central Germany, Saturday, June 16, 2012. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Saturday she hopes Greeks will elect a new government that stands by the country's promises to international creditors, insisting that Europeans have to stop making commitments which they then ignore. Greeks vote Sunday for the second time in six weeks amid fears the country could be forced out of the euro if they reject strict austerity measures and structural reforms demanded in return for rescue loans by other European countries and the International Monetary Fund. Germany, Europe's biggest economy, has been a key advocate of that approach. (AP Photo/Mario Vedder)

Maria, 61, a street vendor of corn-on-the-cob (surname not given) pushes her cart in front of election posters of radical left party (SYRIZA) one day before general elections in Athens, Saturday, June 16, 2012. Greeks vote for the second time in six weeks Sunday amid fears that the country could be forced out of the euro if they reject the strict austerity measures taken in return for billions of euros in rescue loans from other European countries and the International Monetary Fund. (AP Photo/Kostas Tsironis)

(AP) ? With global anxiety rising, President Barack Obama is searching for bolder, swifter signals from Europe that it will contain its financial mess and keep it from torpedoing the U.S. economy and his re-election chances along with it.

Yet as he prepares for summit talks beginning Monday in Mexico with the other world leaders, Obama is down to the power of persuasion and little else.

A looming, perilous Greek election and Europe's internal politics are controlling the debate.

Given the teetering global economy and the breadth of leaders about to gather in the coastal resort of Los Cabos, the Group of 20 summit meeting carries the weight of expectations it is not likely to meet. Most of its members are not part of Europe and they have no power to drive how the continent manages its crisis, although do they come looking for signs of progress and urgency.

That clearly is the case for Obama, locked in a tight election that may be decided singlehandedly by whether U.S. job growth sinks or climbs over the next five months.

While economic challenge will dominate the summit, the agenda runs deeper.

In talks on the sidelines, Obama will confront the bloodshed in Syria and the nuclear threat in Iran. He will meet with Vladimir Putin, who has returned to the presidency of Russia. Their talks will be scrutinized, given tense U.S.-Russian political relations and deep divisions over Syria.

Obama was to head to Mexico on Sunday night after a weekend with his family in their hometown of Chicago. The summit runs Monday and Tuesday.

Europe's entangled financial crisis, from debt woes in Greece to banking trouble in Spain and high unemployment all around, has become the single biggest threat to the U.S. economic recovery. The signs of worry are clear at the White House and in the words of Obama, who can draw a straight line from the fate of Europe's economic strength to his chances of a second term.

Obama is prodding European leaders to give world markets some confidence, and fast.

"Obviously, this matters to us because Europe is our largest economic trading partner," Obama said. "If there's less demand for our products in places like Paris or Madrid, it could mean less business for manufacturers in places like Pittsburgh or Milwaukee. The good news is there is a path out of this challenge. These decisions are fundamentally in the hands of Europe's leaders."

He wants to emerge from Mexico with signs that the European players at the table, led by Germany, are moving on their own agenda. That means pursuing a banking union to match the monetary union linking the eurozone, taking steps to keep borrowing costs down in the weakest nations and injecting life into economies with growth plans involving public money.

Or in short, as Treasury Undersecretary Lael Brainard put it, the focus in Mexico will be "ensuring our European partners are escalating their response" to stabilizing a dicey situation.

"The stakes are high for all of us," she said.

The agenda threatens to be upended by the outcome of Sunday's election in Greece.

In choosing a new government for their debt-drowning nation, Greek voters are deciding whether to stick with the deeply unpopular austerity terms of an international bailout package or reject them. If they do the latter, that could lead Greece to default and get booted out of the eurozone, which could cause panic and destabilize the world's financial system.

Here, too, Obama has tried to hold sway from abroad.

"It is in everybody's interest for Greece to remain in the eurozone while respecting its commitment to reform," he said. "We recognize the sacrifices that the Greek people have made. ... But the Greek people also need to recognize that their hardships will likely be worse if they choose to exit from the eurozone."

Of the G-20 collection of emerging and economic giants, only Germany, Italy and France are in the 17-nation eurozone at the center of the crisis. European leaders point to a different summit of their own, to be held in Brussels at the end of June, as the more appropriate time to watch for action on a crisis response plan.

Given that dynamic, Obama officials have worked to keep expectations in check.

"Los Cabos will not be the final word on the eurozone," said Mike Froman, deputy national security adviser for international economic affairs.

Even beyond Europe, from Asia to the Americas, the economy is softening and fears are soaring.

The G-20 is meant to serve as the premier voice of economic coordination, representing not just traditional powers but emerging economies. Its members are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union.

Obama's advisers do see the G-20 as a chance for the European nations to add some definition to their plans and show how they will put aside sovereign concerns to avoid calamity.

That pressure can help, said Matthew Goodman, who formerly oversaw the G-20 planning for Obama as director of international economics on the National Security Council staff.

"If you have to go into a meeting with peers and explain yourself, it gives the Europeans some ammunition when they have to try to sell these changes domestically," said Goodman, a specialist in political economy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "They can say, 'This is what the world expects.'"

___

Online:

G-20: http://www.g20.org

___

Follow Ben Feller on Twitter at http://twitter.com/BenFellerDC

Associated Press

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'Diablo III' tops list of video game sales in May

(AP) ? U.S. retail sales of video-game hardware, software and accessories fell for a sixth consecutive month in May.

According to market tracker NPD Group, sales fell 28 percent from a year earlier to $517 million. The study tracks sales of new physical products ? about 50 percent to 60 percent of the total spending. Excluded are sales of used games and rentals as well as digital and social-network spending.

Sales of console and portable software ? the video games themselves ? fell 32 percent from a year earlier to $255 million, while sales of hardware fell 39 percent to $139 million. That was offset partly by a 7 percent increase in sales of accessories, to $122 million.

NPD also listed the top-selling games in May and said it was the first time since July 2010 that a PC-only game was a top seller for the month.

The top 10 are:

1. "Diablo III" for PCs, Activision Blizzard Inc.

2. "Max Payne 3" for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PCs, Take-Two Interactive Software Inc.

3. "Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier" for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Ubisoft Group.

4. "Prototype 2" for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Activision Blizzard Inc.

5. "NBA 2K12" for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2, PCs, Take-Two Interactive Software Inc.

6. "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3" for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, PCs, Activision Blizzard Inc.

7. "Sniper Elite V2" for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, 505 Games

8. "Battlefield 3" for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PCs, Electronic Arts Inc.

9. "Dragon's Dogma" for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Capcom USA

10. "Just Dance 3" for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, Ubisoft Group.

Microsoft Corp. makes the Xbox 360, Sony Corp. makes the PlayStation devices and Nintendo Co. makes the Wii.

Associated Press

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Secret drone wars not part of leak probes: sources

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95% Yellow Submarine

I don't mean to sound trite, but they should just rename this film "Drug Trip: The Movie" and be done with it. Seriously.Ok then, with that out of the way, I must say, this is a bit of a hard film to really rate or review. Obviously I'm gonna have to do just that, but it is a bit difficult for me.This fantasy centered around The Beatles going out to stop a bunch of creatures caleld Blue Meanies who have taken over a place called Pepperland combines the terrific music of The Beatles with really cool and unique art disrection and visual styles to create a film that is really just an otherworldlt experience. Just so you know, I didn't see this high, but I did have a couple of drinks. I really cn't say what would be the best way to experience this film. I leave that up to you.There's a story, but it's pretty much just a thin clothesline to hang some great tunes and trippy visuals on. This will probably not appeal to some people, but, I at least got something out of it, even if I don't truly know how I feel about this film-hence why my rating is mainly a formaility.I do think this should be seen though, because it is entertaining, and there's some wild stuff going on, even if it does get a bit too self indulgant with the psychedelia. At least there's the music and some subtle, dry humor to make the film more than just trippiness.

April 16, 2007

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Coke to enter Myanmar for first time in 60 years

FILE- In this April 20, 2009, file photo, a customer walks by cases of Coca-Cola at JJ&F Market in Palo Alto, Calif. Coca-Cola, the world's biggest soft drink maker said Thursday, June 14, 2012, it will start doing business in Myanmar as soon as the U.S. government issues a license allowing American companies to make such investments, the first time in 60 years. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, file)

FILE- In this April 20, 2009, file photo, a customer walks by cases of Coca-Cola at JJ&F Market in Palo Alto, Calif. Coca-Cola, the world's biggest soft drink maker said Thursday, June 14, 2012, it will start doing business in Myanmar as soon as the U.S. government issues a license allowing American companies to make such investments, the first time in 60 years. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, file)

NEW YORK (AP) ? The Coca-Cola Co. plans to start selling its drinks in Myanmar for the first time in 60 years, following the U.S. government's decision to suspend investment sanctions on the country for its democratic reforms.

Myanmar is one of three countries where Coca-Cola doesn't do business. The other two are Cuba and North Korea.

The world's biggest soft drink maker said Thursday it will start doing business in the country as soon as the U.S. government issues a license allowing American companies to make such investments.

The U.S. announced last month that it was suspending restrictions on American investments in the Southeast Asian country, which is still easing toward democracy. Until last year, Myanmar had been led by an oppressive military junta.

Coca-Cola said its products will initially be imported from neighboring countries as it establishes local operations in Myanmar; the company notes that it is has a history of being the among the first to enter or re-enter markets.

In 1949, for instance, Coca-Cola and other foreign companies were expelled from China by the communist government. After full diplomatic relations were established with the country in 1979, Coca-Cola had 20,000 cases of its flagship drink trained into the country from Hong Kong, which was still a British territory at the time.

The Atlanta-based company also noted that Cuba was one of the first countries where it did business, opening operations in the nation in 1906. But after the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro's government began seizing private assets and the company liquidated and exited the country in 1960. The company has never operated in North Korea.

Any Coca-Cola products in those countries are obtained through independent third parties.

As part of its push in Myanmar, Coca-Cola said it is donating $3 million to support job creation for women in the country. The company will work with PACT, a non-governmental group that supports economic and health initiatives in developing nations.

Coca-Cola first entered Myanmar in 1927.

Associated Press

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Medicine Ball Shoulder Press | Shuichi Take Fitness: Miami's #1 ...

MEDICINE BALL SHOULDER PRESS

Because you don?t have the bench to provide back support, the standing shoulder press is requires more core work. To compensate for lack of support you want to have your feet split apart, one forward and one back, with most of your weight on the front foot. As you perform the exercise make sure you have a slight lean forward to support your lower back and prevent hyper extension and keep your back straight and chest up.

Holding the medicine ball at your chest, push it up and over your head until your arms are fully extended. Once you have reached the top of the range of motion, slowly lower the medicine ball back down to your chest.

Be sure to keep your head back, chest up and back straight as you perform this exercise.

EXERCISE BREAKDOWN
Upper Body | Intermediate | Deltiods (Shoulders) | Equipment: Medicine Ball

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Health and Fitness Blog.

?By: John Welson
People throughout the world in developed, Western nations experience panic attacks and obviously are curious of the causes. Panic attacks are a tricky thing to have to endure, and sometimes establish, for a number of reasons. It is a largely convoluted medical burden relating the individual's psychological state in addition to physical condition. There is a good deal of resemblance and cross-influence happening within the mind and body. Those circumstances only tend to make everything more complicated to handle from several viewpoints. You should always consult your physician if you feel for from any end that you are being faced with panic attacks on a regular basis. Furthermore, be sure to find out whether or not there could be an element that generates your attacks. This article will investigate the triggers of panic attacks and make available some valuable material. In addition, even in the event you have tried out evista side effects continue reading.

The general consensus among researches is that panic attacks sometimes run in families. But that doesn't mean they only run in families. But there is no genetic evidence to support this. Some studies reveal that they could be the result of nutritional deficiencies such as lack of zinc or magnesium. Of course other studies have proven these results to be questionable. We're quite sure there will be further studies performed along these lines. Once these are concluded, the nutritional aspect of panic attacks can be properly addressed. For now, it's probably wise to focus on other panic attack risk factors.

Panic attacks are often a symptom though, of a different underlying condition. Medications or drugs can actually be the cause of these conditions or events. Amphetamine and cocaine overdoses have been know to cause panic attacks, for example. For some people prescription drugs have been the cause of these attacks. However, these drugs will list panic attacks as their possible side-effects. So be sure to ask your doctor about side-effects of any medication they prescribe. This should be a topic that comes up for any new prescription. Ask your doctor about side-effects of any medications you are currently taking, to determine if they could be the cause of your attacks.

Existing psychological and physical ailments can comprise panic attacks as a sign of the most important medical ailment. Anxiety disorders of specific kinds are recognized as being able to generate panic attacks. Bear in mind the syndrome of panic attacks are certainly very wide and include syndromes throughout the body.

Another area that afflicts millions of people is that of phobias. There are very specific types of phobias as well as the more generalized type such as social phobia. Other disorders include the common obsessive-compulsive, separation anxiety, and PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder. The causes of panic attacks are far too numerous to discuss in any one article. If you do suffer from this condition, then your doctor most likely has discussed the issue at length. However, if you believe that you have had a panic attack, or have had multiple episodes, then you should follow two courses of action. Make an appointment to see your doctor for a complete evaluation. Second, learn as much as you can about panic attacks and panic disorders. The latter is the condition in which a person continues to have panic attacks. This condition can be managed with the help of your doctor, and that is very best approach to maintaining a normal daily routine.

Health Article Source: www.healthandwellnesscentral.com Rachael Morrison has constantly was in the basic research and also examining the results of products for example ultram in longer amounts of time, in addition the group used to get beefeater gin and assess it in a science laboratory.

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