Plasticity of topologically close-packed phases in the Fe-Ta(-Al) system

Understanding the structure-property relationships of materials plays a significant role in the development of materials for technical applications. Due to the many possible combinations of two or more elements, intermetallic phases can be very interesting for these developments. High strength up to high temperatures makes intermetallics promising materials for high-temperature applications. However, their complex structure, resulting in a pronounced brittleness, has so far limited their applicability. We focus on the understanding of plastic deformation in topologically close-packed (TCP) phases, which form one of the largest groups of intermetallics. To do this, we use nanomechanical tests that allow us to study plasticity even in the most brittle materials. Here, we consider the Fe-Ta(-Al) system that contains two closely related TCP phases, a C14 Laves phase and a µ-phase. The building block-like structure of these phases enables a systematic investigation as well as a transfer of the findings to other complex crystals. The mechanical properties of the two TCP phases in the Fe-Ta(-Al) system, investigated by state-of-the-art micromechanical testing, are introduced in this work. The influence of the crystal structure and chemical composition on the mechanical properties and the deformation mechanisms of the TCP phases are discussed

Anti-phospholipid human monoclonal antibodies inhibit CCR5-tropic HIV-1 and induce β-chemokines

Traditional antibody-mediated neutralization of HIV-1 infection is thought to result from the binding of antibodies to virions, thus preventing virus entry. However, antibodies that broadly neutralize HIV-1 are rare and are not induced by current vaccines. We report that four human anti-phospholipid monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) (PGN632, P1, IS4, and CL1) inhibit HIV-1 CCR5-tropic (R5) primary isolate infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with 80% inhibitory concentrations of <0.02 to ∼10 µg/ml. Anti-phospholipid mAbs inhibited PBMC HIV-1 infection in vitro by mechanisms involving binding to monocytes and triggering the release of MIP-1α and MIP-1β. The release of these β-chemokines explains both the specificity for R5 HIV-1 and the activity of these mAbs in PBMC cultures containing both primary lymphocytes and monocytes

ATLANTIC EPIPHYTES: a data set of vascular and non-vascular epiphyte plants and lichens from the Atlantic Forest

Epiphytes are hyper-diverse and one of the frequently undervalued life forms in plant surveys and biodiversity inventories. Epiphytes of the Atlantic Forest, one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world, have high endemism and radiated recently in the Pliocene. We aimed to (1) compile an extensive Atlantic Forest data set on vascular, non-vascular plants (including hemiepiphytes), and lichen epiphyte species occurrence and abundance; (2) describe the epiphyte distribution in the Atlantic Forest, in order to indicate future sampling efforts. Our work presents the first epiphyte data set with information on abundance and occurrence of epiphyte phorophyte species. All data compiled here come from three main sources provided by the authors: published sources (comprising peer-reviewed articles, books, and theses), unpublished data, and herbarium data. We compiled a data set composed of 2,095 species, from 89,270 holo/hemiepiphyte records, in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, recorded from 1824 to early 2018. Most of the records were from qualitative data (occurrence only, 88%), well distributed throughout the Atlantic Forest. For quantitative records, the most common sampling method was individual trees (71%), followed by plot sampling (19%), and transect sampling (10%). Angiosperms (81%) were the most frequently registered group, and Bromeliaceae and Orchidaceae were the families with the greatest number of records (27,272 and 21,945, respectively). Ferns and Lycophytes presented fewer records than Angiosperms, and Polypodiaceae were the most recorded family, and more concentrated in the Southern and Southeastern regions. Data on non-vascular plants and lichens were scarce, with a few disjunct records concentrated in the Northeastern region of the Atlantic Forest. For all non-vascular plant records, Lejeuneaceae, a family of liverworts, was the most recorded family. We hope that our effort to organize scattered epiphyte data help advance the knowledge of epiphyte ecology, as well as our understanding of macroecological and biogeographical patterns in the Atlantic Forest. No copyright restrictions are associated with the data set. Please cite this Ecology Data Paper if the data are used in publication and teaching events. © 2019 The Authors. Ecology © 2019 The Ecological Society of Americ

Low Current Electrical Enhancement of a Dental Unit Waterline Cleaner - Effect on Planktonic Bacteria and Bacterial Biofilm in Simulated Dental Unit Waterline

Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to study the effect of application of low electric current in combination with dilute chlorine dioxide in removal of planktonic bacterial counts and bacterial biofilm from a simulated dental unit waterline (DUWL). Our hypothesis was that bioelectric effect would greatly enhance the efficacy of antimicrobials in removal of bacteria from DUWL. This study was to assess the effect on biofilms of naturally occurring multiple species from actual DUWL. Materials and Methods: A model DUWL was set-up to simulate a dental unit. Test and control tubings were connected to a peristaltic pump and then to a 10L reservoir. A current was applied along the length of the test DUWL. The 10L carboy was filled with softwater (Arrowhead) and DUWL microorganisms recovered from the planktonic 3-way air-water syringe (AWS) flow of 5 contaminated DUWLs were inoculated to create a biofilm on the inner wall of the tubings. Every Monday and Thursday, samples were collected from the effluent at the ends of the test and control waterlines and plated. One sample from each waterline was collected and plated in triplicates. Low current (10 mA) was applied to the test tubing in both experiments. During the second experiment dilute chlorine dioxide was added to the water. At the end of each experiment, the waterlines were disassembled and tubing sections were assessed for counts of viable bacteria. Results: In experiment 1 we compared the effect of electric current to no current. After current was applied to the test tubing, the only time the counts from the effluent of the test sample (2.8x105 CFU/ml) were significantly different (lower) than the control sample (4.1x105 CFU/ml) was at day 38. Samples of biofilm bacteria after 28 days of current were collected from the barb-end and mid-section of the test and control tubing. The bacterial counts from the barb-end of the test tubing (9.9x103±2.2x103 CFU/cm²) were significantly lower (P=0.009) than those from the barb-end of the control tubing (3.2x104±7.9x103 CFU/cm2. The bacterial counts from the mid-section of the test tubing (3.0x104±2.6x103 CFU/cm²) were also statistically lower (P=0.004) than the bacterial counts from the mid-section of the control tubing (1.8x105±4.4x104 CFU/cm2). In experiment 2 we compared the effect of current in the presence of ClO2 to current alone. Effluent samples collected from the test tubing fluctuated from 101 to 103 CFU/ml. Effluent samples from the control tubing fluctuated from 10² to 104 CFU/ml. The differences were statistically significant at days 32, 40, 53, and 56. Samples of biofilm bacteria after 28 days of current were collected from the barb-end and mid-section of the test and control tubings. The bacterial counts from the barb-end of the test tubing (0) were significantly less (P=0.004) than those at the barb-end of the control tubing (1.0x104±3.1x103 CFU/cm2). Similarly, the bacterial counts from the mid-section of the test tubing (0) were significantly less (P=0.003) than those from the mid-section of the control tubing (8.8x103±2.2x103 CFU/cm2) Conclusion: The combination of dilute chlorine dioxide and low current was effective in eradicating bacterial biofilm from a simulated DUWL. Current alone was not effective in eradicating bacterial biofilm from a simulated DUWL

Reconciling well-being and resilience for sustainable development

Securing well-being and building resilience in response to shocks are often viewed as key goals of sustainable development. Here, we present an overview of the latest published evidence, as well as the consensus of a diverse group of scientists and practitioners drawn from a structured analytical review and deliberative workshop process. We argue that resilience and well-being are related in complex ways, but in their applications in practice they are often assumed to be synergistic. Although theoretically compatible, evidence we present here shows that they may in fact work against each other. This has important implications for policy