DNA mismatch repair system expression in salivary gland tumors: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: The DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system serves as a sophisticated guardian of the precise functioning of the human genome. Dysregulation within this system is linked to the oncogenesis process. Reduced expression of MMR system proteins identified in salivary gland tumors (SGTs) suggests an increased risk of tumoral occurrence. This study aims to analyze the expression of MMR proteins in SGTs and discuss the relevance of this association to the development of these neoplasms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023465590). A comprehensive search of the PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and ProQuest (non-peer reviewed platform) was performed to answer the question "Do DNA MMR system proteins exhibit expression in SGTs?". The methodological quality of the selected studies was assessed using the JBI's Critical Appraisal Tool. RESULTS: A total of 142 patients with benign SGTs and 84 with malignant SGTs were included in this review. The literature analysis showed a notable reduction in the expression of DNA MMR system proteins (hHMS2, hMLH1, hMSH3 and hMSH6) in the percentage of marked cells. CONCLUSIONS: The reduction in the expression of the DNA MMR system proteins suggests an interesting correlation with the development of malignant and benign SGTs. Nevertheless, further investigations are warranted to better clarify the precision of measuring biomarker protein expression.

Key benefits of dexamethasone and antibody treatment in COVID-19 hamster models revealed by single-cell transcriptomics.

For coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), effective and well-understood treatment options are still scarce. Since vaccine efficacy is challenged by novel variants, short-lasting immunity, and vaccine hesitancy, understanding and optimizing therapeutic options remains essential. We aimed at better understanding the effects of two standard-of-care drugs, dexamethasone and anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies, on infection and host responses. By using two COVID-19 hamster models, pulmonary immune responses were analyzed to characterize effects of single or combinatorial treatments. Pulmonary viral burden was reduced by anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody treatment and unaltered or increased by dexamethasone alone. Dexamethasone exhibited strong anti-inflammatory effects and prevented fulminant disease in a severe disease model. Combination therapy showed additive benefits with both anti-viral and anti-inflammatory potency. Bulk and single-cell transcriptomic analyses confirmed dampened inflammatory cell recruitment into lungs upon dexamethasone treatment and identified a specifically responsive subpopulation of neutrophils, thereby indicating a potential mechanism of action. Our analyses confirm the anti-inflammatory properties of dexamethasone and suggest possible mechanisms, validate anti-viral effects of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody treatment, and reveal synergistic effects of a combination therapy, thus informing more effective COVID-19 therapies.

Effect of Different Wheat-Based Diets and Corn Meal Addition on Development Parameters of Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller, 1879) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).

The expansion of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), including biological control, has had several positive consequences for the agricultural environment and participants in the production chain. To enable successful operation and applications of biological control, production of insects used for rearing natural enemies (parasitoids and predators) must be optimized to reduce time and costs and improve production both qualitatively and quantitatively. The present study evaluated the effect of wheat varieties, the main component of artificial diets for Ephestia kuehniella, on the reproductive performance and biological parameters of this flour moth, which is used for mass production of Trichogramma spp. (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) and other parasitoids and predators. Four varieties of wheat were compared: BRS 327, BRS Marcante, BRS Parrudo, and KBR, with and without the addition of corn E. kuehniella reared on 97% BRS 327 wheat flour + 3% nutritional yeast had the best biological parameters and substitution of corn for about half of the wheat increased the number of eggs per female.

Odderon Exchange from Elastic Scattering Differences between pp and pp[over ¯] Data at 1.96 TeV and from pp Forward Scattering Measurements.

We describe an analysis comparing the pp[over ¯] elastic cross section as measured by the D0 Collaboration at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV to that in pp collisions as measured by the TOTEM Collaboration at 2.76, 7, 8, and 13 TeV using a model-independent approach. The TOTEM cross sections, extrapolated to a center-of-mass energy of sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV, are compared with the D0 measurement in the region of the diffractive minimum and the second maximum of the pp cross section. The two data sets disagree at the 3.4σ level and thus provide evidence for the t-channel exchange of a colorless, C-odd gluonic compound, also known as the odderon. We combine these results with a TOTEM analysis of the same C-odd exchange based on the total cross section and the ratio of the real to imaginary parts of the forward elastic strong interaction scattering amplitude in pp scattering for which the significance is between 3.4σ and 4.6σ. The combined significance is larger than 5σ and is interpreted as the first observation of the exchange of a colorless, C-odd gluonic compound.

Progression of fatigue in Parkinson's disease - a 9-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although highly disabling, the pathogenesis and evolution of fatigue in Parkinson's disease (PD) is largely unknown, and no sufficiently documented treatment currently exists. The aim of the present study was to investigate the evolution of fatigue during the first 9 years after diagnosis. METHODS: This study is part of the Norwegian ParkWest collaboration, a prospective population-based longitudinal cohort study. The present study comprised 191 newly diagnosed patients and 170 control participants. Fatigue was assessed by the Fatigue Severity Scale, with examinations at baseline and then every other year up to 9 years of follow-up. Linear mixed models were applied to investigate possible variables associated with fatigue. RESULTS: It was found that there was a statistically significant increase in the proportion of PD patients with fatigue during the first 9 years after diagnosis. A large proportion of patients had a significant increase or decrease in fatigue score between consecutive visits. In addition, the relative risk of persistent fatigue and ever having fatigue was higher than for controls. There were statistically significant longitudinal associations between higher levels of fatigue and female gender, comorbidity at baseline, depressive symptoms, dependency in activities of daily living and better cognitive functioning. Lower levels of fatigue were associated with the use of dopamine agonists. CONCLUSION: Fatigue is a common, severely limiting symptom in PD. This study demonstrates associations with other factors that could yield a better understanding of the symptom and thus possible treatment strategies, although further investigations are necessary to establish causal relationships.

The value of cerebrospinal fluid α-synuclein and the tau/α-synuclein ratio for diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders with Lewy pathology.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are three of the most common neurodegenerative disorders. Up to 20% of these patients have the wrong diagnosis, due to overlapping symptoms and shared pathologies. A cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker panel for AD is making its way into the clinic, but an equivalent panel for PD and DLB and for improved differential diagnoses is still lacking. Using well-defined, community-based cohorts and validated analytical methods, the diagnostic value of CSF total-α-synuclein (t-α-syn) alone and in combination with total tau (t-tau) in newly diagnosed patients with PD, DLB and AD was determined. METHODS: Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of t-α-syn were assessed using our validated in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 78 PD patients, 20 AD patients, 19 DLB patients and 32 controls. t-tau was measured using a commercial assay. Diagnostic performance was assessed by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. RESULTS: Compared to controls (mean 517 pg/ml), significantly lower levels of CSF t-α-syn in patients with PD (434 pg/ml, 16% reduction, P = 0.036), DLB (398 pg/ml, 23% reduction, P = 0.009) and AD (383 pg/ml, 26% reduction, P = 0.014) were found. t-α-syn levels did not differ significantly between PD, DLB and AD. The t-tau/t-α-syn ratio showed an improved performance compared to the single markers. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to compare patients with PD, DLB and AD at the time of diagnosis. It was found that t-α-syn can contribute as a teammate with tau in a CSF biomarker panel for PD and DLB, and strengthen the existing biomarker panel for AD.

MTT versus other cell viability assays to evaluate the biocompatibility of root canal filling materials: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: This systematic review aimed to compare the cytotoxicity of root canal filling materials (RCFMs) assessed using tetrazolium salt-based tests (TSBT), including the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, with those obtained using other cell viability assays. METHODS: A search was performed on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and OpenGrey up to March 2019, followed by a manual search. According to the Participants, Exposure, Comparator and Outcomes (PECO) criteria, in vitro studies that evaluated the cytotoxic effect of RCFMss on animal and/or human cells through TSBT and at least one other viability assay were compared. The methodological quality of selected papers was assessed using ToxRTool® and SciRAP® . Data were analysed using Wilcoxon's signed-rank test for paired samples and linear weighting kappa. RESULTS: A total of 230 non-duplicated records were identified. After applying the eligibility criteria, 55 studies were selected for methodological evaluation, seven were selected by manual searching, 22 were excluded for methodological reasons, and 40 were included. A total of 410 comparisons were performed between TSBT and distinct cell viability tests (DCVT). MTT had moderate concordance with DCVT using human cells (n = 138 samples) (P = 0.507; k = 0.4225) and animal cells (n = 122 samples) (P = 0.124; k = 0.5775). XTT had good concordance using human (n = 110 samples) (P = 0.507; k = 0.6336) and animal cells (n = 12 samples) (P = 0.564; k = 0.6604). MTT, XTT, WST and MTS assays showed moderate concordance with DCVT (n = 410 samples) (P = 0.375; k = 0.5138) and complete agreement in 226 samples. DISCUSSION: The included studies had methodological heterogeneity that was minimized by the systematic review methodology. CONCLUSIONS: MTT and XTT do not cause over- or underestimation of cell viability during cytotoxicity screening of root canal filling materials, implying that these assays can be considered reliable for this purpose. Nonetheless, the development of protocols for the cytotoxic screening of these materials on 3D tissue-like cultures aiming to improve their predictability in the clinical scenario is suggested.

Photoageing-related skin changes in different age groups: a clinical evaluation by biophysical and imaging techniques.

OBJECTIVES: In view of the lack of studies about the morphological and structural changes caused by solar radiation in young people, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the photoageing-related changes in the skin of different age groups by biophysical and imaging techniques. METHODS: Forty-four healthy female subjects were divided into two age groups: Group 1 (G1): 18-35 years old and Group 2 (G2): 40-60 years old. The skin of malar region of the face was evaluated in terms of mechanical properties, disorder in the pigmentation pattern, morphological and structural changes using the Cutometer® , Colorimeter® , Visioface® and Dermascan C® devices and reflectance confocal microscopy (Vivascope® ). RESULTS: The results showed that the main changes in the skin of G1 were related to the pigmentation pattern, the papilla format and depletion of thin collagen fibres. These alterations were also observed in the skin of G2, but with more pronounced effects. CONCLUSION: The knowledge about the skin changes caused by photoageing obtained in this study is very important for the development of dermocosmetic products for more effective treatments particularly focused on this type of skin. Finally, objective characterization of photoageing showed the importance of photoprotective habits since the first years of life in order to retard the appearance of skin changes caused by solar radiation.

OBJECTIFS: Compte tenu du manque d'études sur les modifications structurelles et morphologiques causées par le rayonnement solaire chez les jeunes gens, le but de la présente étude était d'évaluer les changements liés au photovieillissement de la peau de différents groupes d'âges grâce des techniques de biophysique et d'imagerie. MÉTHODES: Quarante-quatre sujets féminins en bonne santé ont été divisés en deux groupes d'âges : Groupe 1 (G1) : 18-35 ans et Groupe 2 (G2) : 40-60 ans. La peau des régions malaires du visage a été évaluée en termes de propriétés mécaniques, troubles du schéma de pigmentation, et changements morphologiques et structurels à l'aide des dispositifs Cutometer®, Colorimeter®, Visioface® et Dermascan C® et de la microscopie confocale par réflectance (Vivascope®). RÉSULTATS: Les résultats ont montré que les principaux changements au niveau de la peau du G1 étaient liés au schéma de pigmentation, au format papillaire et à la déplétion de fines fibres de collagène. Ces altérations ont également été observées au niveau de la peau du G2, mais avec des effets plus prononcés. CONCLUSION: Les connaissances sur les modifications cutanées causées par le photovieillissement acquises grâce à cette étude sont très importantes pour le développement de produits dermo-cosmétiques pour des traitements plus efficaces axés plus particulièrement sur ce type de peau. Et enfin, la caractérisation objective du photovieillissement a montré l'importance des habitudes photoprotectrices depuis les premières années de vie afin de retarder l'apparition de modifications cutanées causées par le rayonnement solaire.

Inflammation and fatigue in early, untreated Parkinson's Disease.

OBJECTIVES: Parkinson's disease (PD)-related fatigue is a significant clinical problem, and the pathological processes that cause fatigue remain unknown. The aim of the present study was to explore the possible association of peripheral inflammation markers and fatigue in PD. MATERIALS & METHODS: We included 47 drug naïve, newly diagnosed PD patients with low (≤3.0) or high (>5.5) fatigue levels as evaluated by the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). Strict diagnostic criteria were applied for inclusion. Patients with possible confounding causes for fatigue were excluded. Serum concentrations of a panel of inflammatory markers (IL-8, TNF-α, MCP1, MIP-1ß, IL-6, IL-6R, p-selectin, E-selectin-1, ICAM, VCAM-1, CCL5, IL1-Ra, and TNFR1) were measured using ELISA technology in PD patients with and without fatigue to assess the potential relationships of fatigue in newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve patients. RESULTS: Fatigued PD patients had significantly higher levels of the IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL1-Ra) (1790 pg/mL (SD1007) vs 1262 pg/mL (SD379)) and of the adhesion molecule VCAM 1 (1071 ng/mL (SD276) vs 895 ng/mL (SD229)) than non-fatigued patients. A binary logistic regression model, including high or low FSS score as the dependent variable and UPDRS motor score, MADRS, MMSE, ESS, and IL1-Ra/VCAM-1 as independent variables, showed a significant effect both for IL1-Ra and VCAM-1. CONCLUSIONS: Higher serum levels of the inflammatory molecules IL1-Ra and VCAM-1 were associated with higher fatigue levels in patients with newly diagnosed, drug-naïve PD. These findings highlight an altered immune response as a potential contributor to PD-related fatigue, from the earliest clinical stages of the disease.

Thermal conductivity determination of erbium-doped crystals measured by spatially resolved confocal luminescence.

Thermal conductivity of Er3+-doped yttrium aluminum perovskite has been obtained by the use of laser induced temperature distribution and time-independent heat propagation equations. By using the spatially resolved microluminescence technique, the fluorescence spectra on the sample surface were mapped during the laser focused heating process, and the local temperature was measured at different spots on the sample surface with micrometric resolution. Significant information about the temperature profile was obtained following the maximum temperature of the laser spot and the behavior of the heat diffusion on the surface of the irradiation side. These data were finally used to feed the heat propagation equations from where the thermal conductivity was evaluated.

Ectopic pregnancies: a retrospective cohort analysis in a tertiary reference center in the Northeast Region of Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with ectopic pregnancy admitted to a tertiary center in the Northeast Region of Brazil and the aspects related to the treatment and outcomes in these women. DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study of 101 patients diagnosed with ectopic pregnancy between February 2016 and February 2017. SETTING: Assis Chateaubriand Maternity School, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil Methods: The data collected included demographic characteristics, gynecological-obstetric history, symptoms at admission, complementary examinations [chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) blood test, transvaginal ultrasound, and hemoglobin level], and treatment given. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 28 ± 6.6 years (14-48 years). Abdominal pain (96%) and vaginal bleeding (82.4%) were the most prevalent symptoms. No risk factors were identified in most of the patients (53.5%), whereas the most frequently identified risk factor (16.9%) was a history of previous ectopic pregnancy. At admission, 63.4% of patients presented ruptured ectopic pregnancy and 5.9% had hemodynamic instability. Among the patients with ruptured ectopic pregnancy, 61% had already sought care at another center. With regard to the therapeutic options, 78.2% underwent surgery (27.2%, laparoscopy), 16.8% used methotrexate (MTX), and 5% underwent expectant management. Among those who received MTX, 41.2% needed subsequent surgery because of elevated blood β-hCG level (57.1%) and clinical signs of ruptured ectopic pregnancy (42.9%). CONCLUSION: The patients were admitted at an advanced stage of ectopic pregnancy, which made a more conservative and less costly treatment difficult. However, the outcomes were clinically satisfactory, with low complication rates and no maternal deaths. Keywords ectopic pregnancy, methotrexate, epidemiology, laparoscopy, laparotomy.

Solitary lung cavities: CT findings in malignant and non-malignant disease.

AIM: To assess the computed tomography (CT) findings of solitary cavitary lesions which could potentially aid in differentiating malignant from non-malignant lung disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of patients diagnosed with a solitary lung cavity at two university hospitals, who underwent multidetector CT examinations of the chest between 2012 and 2014, was performed. Lesions were evaluated for maximum diameter, maximum wall thickness, and associated findings. Statistical analyses were then conducted and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was calculated to select the most accurate cut-off value for malignant and non-malignant lesions. RESULTS: CT and clinical records from 96 patients were reviewed. The most frequent aetiologies of non-malignant and malignant lung cavities were mycobacterial infection sequelae (50%, 33/66) and primary lung carcinoma (94%, 28/30), respectively. Significant differences (p<0.05) were found between malignant and non-malignant cases when comparing the averages of maximum wall thickness (15.2 and 7.8 mm, respectively) and maximum diameter of lesions (51 and 35 mm, respectively). The presence of either perilesional consolidation or centrilobular nodules favoured the diagnosis of non-malignant conditions (p<0.05). Maximum wall thicknesses thresholds of ≤7 or ≥24 mm were the most accurate in suggesting non-malignant and malignant aetiologies, respectively. CONCLUSION: Malignant and non-malignant solitary lung cavities differ significantly at CT. Non-malignant lesions tend to exhibit thinner walls, but more perilesional consolidation and centrilobular nodules than malignant lesions. The results reveal that maximum wall thicknesses of ≤7 and ≥24 mm are indicative of non-malignant and malignant disease, respectively.

Orally administered phenylbutazone causes oxidative stress in the equine gastric mucosa.

Phenylbutazone (PBZ) is widely used in equine medicine, and its side effects on the gastrointestinal tract are well known. The inhibition of prostaglandins and the oxidative stress induced by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are described as mechanisms of gastric mucosal injury in humans. In horses, only the secondary effect of changes in cyclooxygenases is related to gastric mucosal injury. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of PBZ on certain antioxidative/oxidative parameters of the gastric mucosa. The concentrations of antioxidants and oxidants (superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT; nitric oxide, NO; total glutathione, GSH; myeloperoxidase, MPO; and malondialdehyde, MDA), PGE2 levels, and the ulcerative lesions score were assessed. The results demonstrated decreased levels of antioxidant variables, increased levels of oxidant variables, and alterations in the prostaglandin E2 (PGE2 ), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and glutathione (GSH) levels. In conclusion, PBZ induces oxidative stress in the gastric glandular mucosa of horses by changing the antioxidant-oxidant balance of this surface, which might be regarded as another mechanism of injury in the horse stomach.

Oral L-arginine modulates blood lactate and interleukin-6 after exercise in HIV-infected men.

The acute administration of L-arginine (L-arg), a nitric oxide (NO) precursor, reduces lactate (LAC) concentration after exercise in healthy individuals. Lower concentration of L-arg may enhance the action of some inflammatory cytokines in HIV-1 infected patients. We tested the hypothesis that acute L-arg administration may reduce post-exercise blood LAC and inflammatory cytokines levels in HIV-infected patients. 10 HIV-infected men performed 2 maximal incremental cardiopulmonary exercise tests, separated by one week. 30 min before each test, patients received oral placebo or 20 g of L-arg, in random order. Blood LAC, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were measured before and up to 60 min after exercise. L-arg administration had no significant effect on exercise performance. Compared to placebo, L-arg administration reduced maximal post-exercise blood LAC from 8.7±0.6 to 6.9±0.4 mmol.L-1 (p<0.05). L-arg administration had no significant effect on TNF-alpha or IL-10 concentrations, but increased post-exercise IL-6 (placebo=19±3pg.mL-1; L-arg=63±8 pg.mL-1; p<0.05). In HIV-1 infected men, acute administration of L-arg reduces post-exercise blood LAC and increases IL-6 levels, suggesting the activation of the L-arg-NO pathway, with possible anti-inflammatory consequences.

Biology of the Huanglongbing vector Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae) on different host plants.

Although many studies have been conducted on the development and reproductive potential of Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, 1908 (Hemiptera: Liviidae) in different host species, few have evaluated these parameters on different varieties of the same host species. This study evaluated the influence of five commercial varieties of citrus (Citrus spp. L.)--Hamlin, Natal, Pêra, Ponkan, and Valencia-and orange jasmine [Murraya exotica (L.) Jack] on the development of D. citri. Survival rates for the egg stage were highest on orange jasmine (85.7%) and on Valencia (83.3%). The lowest viability of the nymphal stage was also observed on Hamlin, averaging 57.4%. Values for total viability ranged from 65.9 to 32.6%, and were highest on Valencia. The longest egg-adult development time was on Natal, with a mean of 18.4 d; the shortest total development time was on orange jasmine, with a mean of 17.3 d. Based on the fertility life table, the net reproductive rate (Ro) of D. citri was 2.5 times higher when reared on Valencia than on Hamlin. The other parameters (duration of each generation [T], finite rate of increase [lambda], and innate capacity to increase in number [r(m)]) also demonstrated that Valencia is best suited to this insect. The results obtained for the biological parameters and the fertility life table indicate that Valencia and orange jasmine were the most suitable hosts, whereas Hamlin was least suitable for the development of D. citri. These results provide information for the installation of new citrus groves, especially in the choice of varieties to be planted and the location of different varieties within the groves, with a view toward the management of Huanglongbing or HLB.

Construction and characterization of a BAC library from the Coffea arabica genotype Timor Hybrid CIFC 832/2.

Most of the world's coffee production originates from Coffea arabica, an allotetraploid species with low genetic diversity and for which few genomic resources are available. Genomic libraries with large DNA fragment inserts are useful tools for the study of plant genomes, including the production of physical maps, integration studies of physical and genetic maps, genome structure analysis and gene isolation by positional cloning. Here, we report the construction and characterization of a Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) library from C. arabica Timor Hybrid CIFC 832/2, a parental genotype for several modern coffee cultivars. The BAC library consists of 56,832 clones with an average insert size of 118 kb, which represents a dihaploid genome coverage of five to sixfold. The content of organellar DNA was estimated at 1.04 and 0.5 % for chloroplast and mitochondrial DNA, respectively. The BAC library was screened for the NADPH-dependent mannose-6-phosphate reductase gene (CaM6PR) with markers positioned on four linkage groups of a partial C. arabica genetic map. A mixed approach using PCR and membrane hybridization of BAC pools allowed for the discovery of nine BAC clones with the CaM6PR gene and 53 BAC clones that were anchored to the genetic map with simple sequence repeat markers. This library will be a useful tool for future studies on comparative genomics and the identification of genes and regulatory elements controlling major traits in this economically important crop species.

Diet and feeding selectivity of a benthivorous fish in streams: responses to the effects of urbanization.

This study evaluated the diet and feeding selectivity of the catfish Imparfinis mirini in streams with different degrees of urbanization and the effect of rainfall on the availability of prey. The diet was based especially on Chironomidae and Trichoptera. Significant spatial differences in diet were found between the streams; the diet of the fish was similar in the rural and peri-urban streams, and differed from that in the urban stream. Seasonality was an unimportant factor affecting the species' diet, which did not differ significantly between the rainy and dry periods in any of the streams. Fish from the urban stream fed more according to what was available in the environment, while fish from the peri-urban and rural streams showed higher degrees of selectivity. The results indicate that environmental conditions influenced the diet and prey selection of this species in response to the differences in diversity and abundance of the food organisms. They indicate that trophic studies of benthivorous fishes, such as I. mirini, may represent an alternative way to assess human effects on streams.

Droplet finite-size scaling of the majority-vote model on scale-free networks.

We discuss the majority vote model coupled with scale-free networks and investigate its critical behavior. Previous studies point to a nonuniversal behavior of the majority vote model, where the critical exponents depend on the connectivity. At the same time, the effective dimension D_{eff} is unity for a degree distribution exponent 5/2<γ<7/2. We introduce a finite-size theory of the majority vote model for uncorrelated networks and present generalized scaling relations with good agreement with Monte Carlo simulation results. Our finite-size approach has two sources of size dependence: an external field representing the influence of the mass media on consensus formation and the scale-free network cutoff. The critical exponents are nonuniversal, dependent on the degree distribution exponent, precisely when 5/2<γ<7/2. For γ≥7/2, the model is in the same universality class as the majority vote model on Erdos-Rényi random graphs. However, for γ=7/2, the critical behavior includes additional logarithmic corrections.

Measurements of WW and WZ production in W + jets final states in pp collisions.

We study WW and WZ production with ℓνqq (ℓ=e,µ) final states using data collected by the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider corresponding to 4.3 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity from pp collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV. Assuming the ratio between the production cross sections σ(WW) and σ(WZ) as predicted by the standard model, we measure the total WV (V=W,Z) cross section to be σ(WV)=19.6(-3.0)(+3.2) pb and reject the background-only hypothesis at a level of 7.9 standard deviations. We also use b-jet discrimination to separate the WZ component from the dominant WW component. Simultaneously fitting WW and WZ contributions, we measure σ(WW)=15.9(-3.2)(+3.7) pb and σ(WZ)=3.3(-3.3)(+4.1) pb, which is consistent with the standard model predictions.

Search for charged massive long-lived particles.

We report on a search for charged massive long-lived particles (CMLLPs), based on 5.2 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron pp collider. We search for events in which one or more particles are reconstructed as muons but have speed and ionization energy loss (dE/dx) inconsistent with muons produced in beam collisions. CMLLPs are predicted in several theories of physics beyond the standard model. We exclude pair-produced long-lived gauginolike charginos below 267 GeV and Higgsino-like charginos below 217 GeV at 95% C.L., as well as long-lived scalar top quarks with mass below 285 GeV.