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Both intra‐ and interspecific interactions play crucial roles in defining the structure of ecological communities. However, the specific behavioral processes underlying this structuring are often unclear and must be inferred from contemporary interactions. Rapid spread of nonnative species has resulted in increasingly homogenized communities, and this homogenization provides an excellent opportunity to study the behavioral processes that lead to stable communities of introduced species in novel habitats. Here, we compared the behavior of brown anoles (Anolis sagrei) and bark anoles (A. distichus) when faced with an incursion by an unknown brown anole to examine the intra‐ and interspecific interactions underlying the structuring of novel communities in South Florida, USA. We found that brown anoles were consistently more aggressive toward intruders than bark anoles, and this pattern was accentuated when they encountered intruders of the same sex. Conversely, bark anoles were likely to flee when they encountered intruder brown anoles. We also found that brown anoles were likely to attack intruders regardless of whether they engaged in aggressive behavioral displays while bark anoles were likely to flee regardless of whether the intruder engaged in behavioral displays. Our findings suggest that behavioral interactions could play a significant role in structuring the novel Anolis communities in South Florida and demonstrate the importance of aggressive interactions both within and between species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper continues the characterization of the lead isotopic fingerprint of ancient copper mines in the north-west of Spain. In this work, the lead isotopic compositions found in copper ores from the La Profunda mine are presented. Azurites and malachites sampled from this deposit were subjected to lead isotope analysis by multicollector ICP- MS. The results showed a clear radiogenic lead signature compatible with the presence of uranium-rich minerals (such as zeunerite) in the same mining complex. Moreover, a rare copper artefact, found in the galleries of the mine during its modern exploitation, was also analysed and showed that local mineral was used for its manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is focused on the El Milagro mine ( Asturias, Spain) and is part of a large-scale effort on the measurement of the lead isotopic composition of Spanish copper ores from prehistoric mines in the provinces of Asturias and León, from which no data were available until recently. Lead isotopic values are compared to the published lead data from the El Aramo mine in the same region. The results show that both mines have a very similar lead isotopic composition, apart from some highly radiogenic samples in the El Milagro mine, which are clearly different from those previously reported for the Iberian Peninsula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the first ever lead isotope ratio data for copper ore samples (malachite and azurite) from the Sierra El Aramo (Asturias, northwestern Spain). The aim of this study was to supplement information in the existing reference database on the lead isotopic composition of Spanish ores. The Sierra El Aramo is particularly important because, while no data for the Asturian ores have been published so far, this northern province of Spain has played a significant role in terms of copper exploitation and metallurgy since the Copper Age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The IgV mutational status of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is of prognostic value. Expression of ZAP-70 in B-CLL is a surrogate marker for IgV unmutated (UM). As determination of IgV mutational status involves a methodology currently unavailable for most clinical laboratories, it is important to have available a reliable technique for ZAP-70 estimation in B-CLL. Flow cytometry (FC) is a convenient technique for this purpose. However, there is still no adequate way for data analysis, which would prevent the assignment of false positive or negative expression. We have modified the currently most accepted technique, which uses the ratio of the mean fluorescent index (MFI) of B-CLL to T cells. The MFI for parallel antibody isotype staining is subtracted from the ZAP-70 MFI of both B-CLL and T cells. We validated this technique comparing the results obtained for ZAP-70 expression by FC with those obtained with quantitative PCR for the same patients. We applied the technique in a series of 53 patients. With this modification, a better correlation between ZAP-70 expression and IgV UM was obtained. Thus, the MFI ratio B-CLL/T cell corrected by isotype is a reliable analysis technique to estimate ZAP-70 expression in B-CLL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food poisoning due to staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) affects hundreds of thousands of people each year. Little is known about how SEs initiate immune responses and cause pathogenesis. Here, we demonstrate that cultured human intestinal myofibroblasts (IMFs) bind SEs in an MHC class II-dependent fashion. IMFs respond to SE exposure with increased secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α. A significant proliferative T cell response was observed when MHC class II-expressing IMFs were pulsed with SEA and cocultured with human CD4+ T cells. In conclusion, our findings support the hypothesis that IMFs may play an important role in pathology associated with staphlococcocal enterotoxigenic disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary A total of 59 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific against the bovine leukaemia virus (BLV) using different antigen preparations was produced. The five antigen preparations for immunizing BALB/c mice were: live cells (CEL), sonicated and ultracentrifuged cells (SOC), cell lysates (LYS), semi-purified BLV (PV), and formalin-treated cells (FOR) from two cell lines permanently infected with BLV (FLK-BLV and BLV-bat2). These viral component presentations were selected to obtain mAbs against specific BLV proteins: located on the cell surface (FOR and CEL), in free virus particles (PV) and intracellular viral proteins (SOC and LYS). Two antigen preparations (SOC and LYS) were lethal to the mice following the intravenous and intrasplenic routes. Six fusions were performed in this study that rendered specific antibodies against BLV. The highest number of hybridomas was produced with SOC; however, the majority of the hybridomas produced (> 90 %) were against cellular proteins. Even though immunization with PV gave the lowest number of hybridomas, the majority of them were specific against BLV. Based on the reactivity of the mAbs in Western blot (WB), we classified the mAbs into five groups, namely anti-gp51SU (39 mAbs), anti-gp30TM (six mAbs), anti-Pr72env (nine mAbs), anti-Pr66gag-pro (one mAb) and anti-Prgag (four mAbs). A very high percentage of the mAbs produced (48 of 59) reacted with gp51SU, suggesting that this is the most immunogenic and accessible BLV protein presented in the different antigen preparations. The majority of our mAbs recognized more than one band in WB, suggesting that, aside from reacting with mature proteins, the mAbs also recognized viral precursors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microbiological characteristics of otic exudates from 26 dogs with chronic otitis externa was studied with special reference to the implication of yeasts in the aetiology of the disease. A high frequency of yeasts and Staphylococcus aureus were isolated, alone or in association. In reference to the yeasts, there was a clear predominance of the genus Candida (48 % of the total yeasts). Malassezia ( Pytirosporum) represented only 3 % of the isolates. It can be concluded that yeasts have an important role in the pathogenicity of this disease. For the microbiological diagnosis of otitis externa, we recommend the simultaneous use of Columbia/5 % Sheep Blood Agar and Sabouraud-Dextrose without antibiotic addition, the use of 37 °C as the incubation temperature and direct microscopic observation of the sample before culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE) and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 by 40 coagulase negative staphylococci isolated from sheep, goat and cow mastitis was studied. Both ELISA double sandwich and Western blot were used to detect the production of these toxins. Only two strains of S.xylosus were enterotoxigenic, producing SEC. TSST-1 was seen to be produced by 5 strains of S. xylosus, 1 S. sciuri and 2 S. epidermidis. Results obtained by ELISA and by Western blot agreed in all cases except in one strain of S. epidermidis which was only positive using ELISA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stromal cells, such as myofibroblasts and fibroblasts, represent a significant fraction of MHC class II-positive cells in the normal human colonic lamina propria, suggesting they may play an important role in CD4+ T cell regulation in a tolerogenic environment. The aim of this study was to examine whether human colonic myofibroblasts (CMFs) phenotypically and functionally resemble conventional antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Our results support the hypothesis that intestinal myofibroblasts are a novel, nonprofessional APC phenotype important in modulating mucosal T cell responses. Given their strategic location, we propose that intestinal myofibroblasts play a critical role in mediating tolerance to luminal antigens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The molecular dimensions of 2-ethylsulfanyl-7-(4-methylphenyl)-4-phenylpyrazolo[1,5-a][1,3,5]triazine, C20H18N4S, (I), 7-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-ethylsulfanyl-4-phenylpyrazolo[1,5-a][1,3,5]triazine, C19H15ClN4S, (II), and 4,7-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(ethylsulfanyl)pyrazolo[1,5-a][1,3,5]triazine, C19H14Cl2N4S, (III), show evidence for some aromatic delocalization in the pyrazole rings. The conformations adopted by the ethylsulfanyl substituents are different in all three compounds. There are no hydrogen bonds in any of the crystal structures, but pairs of molecules in (II) and (III) are linked into centrosymmetric dimers by pi-stacking interactions.