bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic enhancement of palmitic acid accumulation in cotton seed oil through RNAi down‐regulation of ghKAS2 encoding β‐ketoacyl‐ACP synthase II (KASII)
Authors: Liu Qing , Wu Man , Zhang Baolong , Shrestha Pushkar , Petrie James , Green Allan G. , Singh Surinder P.
Published: July 2016

Palmitic acid (C16:0) already makes up approximately 25% of the total fatty acids in the conventional cotton seed oil. However, further enhancements in palmitic acid content at the expense of the predominant unsaturated fatty acids would provide increased oxidative stability of cotton seed oil and also impart the high melting point required for making margarine, shortening and confectionary products free of trans fatty acids. Seed‐specific RNAi‐mediated down‐regulation of β‐ketoacyl‐ACP synthase II (KASII) catalysing the elongation of palmitoyl‐ACP to stearoyl‐ACP has succeeded in dramatically increasing the C16 fatty acid content of cotton seed oil to well beyond its natural limits, reaching up to 65% of total fatty acids. The elevated C16 levels were comprised of predominantly palmitic acid (C16:0, 51%) and to a lesser extent palmitoleic acid (C16:1, 11%) and hexadecadienoic acid (C16:2, 3%), and were stably inherited. Despite of the dramatic alteration of fatty acid composition and a slight yet significant reduction in oil content in these high‐palmitic (HP) lines, seed germination remained unaffected. Regiochemical analysis of triacylglycerols (TAG) showed that the increased levels of palmitic acid mainly occurred at the outer positions, while C16:1 and C16:2 were predominantly found in the sn‐2 position in both TAG and phosphatidylcholine. Crossing the HP line with previously created high‐oleic (HO) and high‐stearic (HS) genotypes demonstrated that HP and HO traits could be achieved simultaneously; however, elevation of stearic acid was hindered in the presence of high level of palmitic acid.
Increased salt tolerance with overexpression of cation/proton antiporter 1 genes: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Ma Yuan‐Chun , Augé Robert M. , Dong Chao , Cheng Zong‐Ming (Max)
Published: July 2016

Cation/proton antiporter 1 (CPA1) genes encode cellular Na+/H+ exchanger proteins, which act to adjust ionic balance. Overexpression of CPA1s can improve plant performance under salt stress. However, the diversified roles of the CPA1 family and the various parameters used in evaluating transgenic plants over‐expressing CPA1s make it challenging to assess the complex functions of CPA1s and their physiological mechanisms in salt tolerance. Using meta‐analysis, we determined how overexpression of CPA1s has influenced several plant characteristics involved in response and resilience to NaCl stress. We also evaluated experimental variables that favour or reduce CPA1 effects in transgenic plants. Viewed across studies, overexpression of CPA1s has increased the magnitude of 10 of the 19 plant characteristics examined, by 25% or more. Among the ten moderating variables, several had substantial impacts on the extent of CPA1 influence: type of culture media, donor and recipient type and genus, and gene family. Genes from monocotyledonous plants stimulated root K+, root K+/Na+, total chlorophyll, total dry weight and root length much more than genes from dicotyledonous species. Genes transformed to or from Arabidopsis have led to smaller CPA1‐induced increases in plant characteristics than genes transferred to or from other genera. Heterogeneous expression of CPA1s led to greater increases in leaf chlorophyll and root length than homologous expression. These findings should help guide future investigations into the function of CPA1s in plant salt tolerance and the use of genetic engineering for breeding of resistance.
Successful orthotopic heart transplantation using a donor heart with ALCAPA
Authors: Simmonds J. D. , Mustafa M. , Fajardo Jaramillo D. P. , Bellsham‐Revell H. R. , Marek J. , Burch M. , Tsang V. T. , Muthialu N.
Published: July 2016

With the imbalance between donation rates and potential recipients growing, transplant programs are increasingly using non‐ideal organs from so‐called marginal donors. This is the first reported case of the intentional use of a donor heart with ALCAPA. The recipient was aged one yr with restrictive cardiomyopathy who had been supported with BiVAD for over six months. Function of the donor left ventricle was shown to be well preserved, with no obvious signs of ischemia, except for a fibrotic layer on the anterolateral papillary muscle of the mitral valve. To prevent coronary steal, the anomalous left coronary artery ostium from the MPA was oversewn prior to implantation. The transplanted heart spontaneously regained sinus rhythm immediately following cross‐clamp release and showed good contractility from the first postoperative echocardiogram. The patient continues to do well 18 months post‐transplant, with excellent function on echocardiography, and good flow on coronary angiography.
Operational Productivity, Corporate Social Performance, Financial Performance, and Risk in Manufacturing Firms
Authors: Jacobs Brian W. , Kraude Richard , Narayanan Sriram
Published: July 2016

We examine the relationship between Operational Productivity (OP), Corporate Social Performance (CSP), Financial Performance (FP), and risk. Our sample frame comprises 476 firms in nine US manufacturing industries during the period 1999–2009. We employ DEA‐based measures for OP and CSP, two operationalizations for FP to reflect current profitability and market value, and two operationalizations for risk to reflect bankruptcy risk and stock price volatility. We confirm that OP is essential for good financial performance and reduced risk (as expected), but the main effects of CSP are mixed. Importantly, we find that OP moderates the CSP–FP and CSP–risk relationships. Specifically, if OP is poor, CSP is of limited benefit to FP or risk. However, at or above a threshold level of OP, firms can use CSP to build upon it to yield further improvements in FP and reductions in risk. We discuss the implications of our findings for theory and practice.
(Don't) Mind the effort: Effects of contextual interference on ERP indicators of motor preparation
Authors: Frömer Romy , Stürmer Birgit , Sommer Werner
Published: July 2016

Motor learning is associated with a decrease in frontal control‐related brain activity and increase of central and parietal motor‐related activity. Contextual interference (CI), manipulated typically by blocked versus randomized training schedules, affects motor learning, resulting in inferior performance during training but in superior performance during retention and transfer. The CI effect is often explained by increased processing demands under high CI training. Consistently, in the motor preparation phase, the activity of control‐ and attention‐related brain areas is increased under high CI. Here, we investigated the effect of CI on learning‐related changes in ERPs during motor preparation. Participants learned throwing at virtual targets and were tested for retention in the target condition 1 week later. The frontal P3 component decreased with learning during the first session and across sessions. In addition, there was a trend for a stronger reduction of P3 during retention after high CI training. Both initial and late contingent negative variation (iCNV and lCNV) amplitudes decreased with learning and showed a significantly stronger reduction under high CI. We conclude that CI modulates the interplay of cognitive and motor processes in the preparatory phase of motor learning and that a stronger involvement of cognitive processes during high CI training accounts for differential effects of CI on ERP indicators of motor preparation during retention.
Polyploidy: a missing link in the conversation about seed transfer of a commonly seeded native grass in western North America
Authors: Gibson Alexis L. , Fishman Lila , Nelson Cara R.
Published: July 2016

The use of local, native plant materials is now common in restoration but testing for polyploidy in seed sources is not. Diversity in cytotypes across a landscape can pose special seed transfer challenges, because the methods used to determine genetically appropriate materials for seed transfer do not account for cytotypic variation. This lack of consideration may result in mixing cytotypes through revegetation, which could reduce long‐term population viability. We surveyed nine populations of a native bunchgrass, Pseudoroegneria spicata, in three EPA Level III Ecoregions in the western United States to determine the frequency of polyploidy, whether there are differences in traits (phenotype, fecundity, and mortality) among plants of different cytotypes, and whether cytotype frequency varies among ecoregions. We assessed trait variation over 2 years in a common garden and determined ploidy using flow cytometry. Polyploidy and mixed cytotype populations were common, and polyploids occurred in all ecoregions. Four of the nine populations were diploid. The other five had tetraploids present: three had only tetraploid individuals whereas two had mixed diploid/tetraploid cytotypes. There was significant variation in traits among cytotypes: plants from tetraploid populations were larger than diploid or mixed populations. The frequency and distribution of cytotypes make it likely that seed transfer in the study area will inadvertently mix diploid and polyploid cytotypes in this species. The increasing availability of flow cytometry may allow ploidy to be incorporated into native plant materials sourcing and seed transfer.
Understanding the Regulatory Roles of Natural Killer T Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis: T Helper Cell Differentiation Dependent or Independent?
Authors: Chen J. , Yang J. , Qiao Y. , Li X.
Published: July 2016

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common chronic systemic autoimmune disease. This disease is thought to be caused by pathogenic T cells. Th1, Th2, Th17 and Treg cells have been implicated in the pathogenesis of RA. These Th cells differentiate from CD4+ T cells primarily due to the effects of cytokines. Natural killer T (NKT) cells are a distinct subset of lymphocytes that can rapidly secrete massive amount of cytokines, including IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐12 and IFN‐γ. Numerous studies showed that NKT cells can influence the differentiation of CD4+ T cells via cytokines in vitro. These findings suggest that NKT cells play an important role in RA by polarizing Th1, Th2, Th17 and Treg cells. In view of the complexity of RA, we discussed whether NKT cells really influence the development of RA through regulating the differentiation of Th cells.
Damage Investigation in A319 Aluminium Alloy by X‐ray Tomography and Digital Volume Correlation during In Situ High‐Temperature Fatigue Tests
Authors: Dahdah N. , Limodin N. , El Bartali A. , Witz J. F. , Seghir R. , Charkaluk E. , Buffiere J. Y.
Published: July 2016

The aim of this work is to analyse the strain field heterogeneity in an aluminium alloy subjected to low‐cycle fatigue at high temperature. In the cylinder heads produced by a lost‐foam casting process, the microstructure of the studied alloy consists hard intermetallic phases and large gas and microshrinkage pores. In order to study the influence of this complex 3D microstructure on fatigue crack initiation and propagation at 250 °C, an experimental protocol using laboratory and synchrotron tomography, finite element simulation and a new digital volume correlation platform have been used. The results showed the role of pores in the crack nucleation and highlighted the importance of hard phases in the crack propagation, thanks to the resolution on the DVC measurement.
Regional surnames and genetic structure in Great Britain
Authors: Kandt Jens , Cheshire James A , Longley Paul A
Published: July 2016

Following the increasing availability of DNA‐sequenced data, the genetic structure of populations can now be inferred and studied in unprecedented detail. Across social science, this innovation is shaping new bio‐social research agendas, attracting substantial investment in the collection of genetic, biological and social data for large population samples. Yet genetic samples are special because the precise populations that they represent are uncertain and ill‐defined. Unlike most social surveys, a genetic sample's representativeness of the population cannot be established by conventional procedures of statistical inference, and the implications for population‐wide generalisations about bio‐social phenomena are little understood. In this paper, we seek to address these problems by linking surname data to a censored and geographically uneven sample of DNA scans, collected for the People of the British Isles study. Based on a combination of global and local spatial correspondence measures, we identify eight regions in Great Britain that are most likely to represent the geography of genetic structure of Great Britain's long‐settled population. We discuss the implications of this regionalisation for bio‐social investigations. We conclude that, as the often highly selective collection of DNA and biomarkers becomes a more common practice, geography is crucial to understanding variation in genetic information within diverse populations.
A sequence‐specific polymerase chain reaction method for HNA‐2 genotyping: homozygous c.843A>T mutation predicts the absence of CD177
Authors: Bayat Behnaz , Bein Gregor , Sachs Ulrich J.
Published: July 2016

BACKGROUND

Human neutrophil antigen‐2 is located on a glycosylphosphatidylinositol‐anchored receptor, CD177. Humans not expressing CD177 on their neutrophils may, under defined conditions, form isoantibodies. The genetic background for the absence of CD177 is not fully understood, and genetic screening of patients and donors is currently unavailable. A recent study has documented two mutations associated with CD177 absence: a nonsense polymorphism c.843A>T and a single‐base deletion c.1011delG.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

First, we aimed to demonstrate that these newly described mutations are indeed associated with the absence of CD177. DNA fragments from isoimmunized, CD177‐negative individuals were sequenced (n = 5). An additional five negative and 10 positive individuals were also analyzed. Second, we aimed to establish a sequence‐specific primer (SSP) polymerase chain reaction method for easy and rapid detection of these mutations.

RESULTS

None of 10 CD177‐positive individuals, but four of 10 CD177‐negative individuals were homozygous for the A>T mutation at Position c.843, including three of five isoimmunized individuals. This finding is supportive for the reported association. Surprisingly, and in contrast to the initial report, c.1011delG was not detected in our cohort. Furthermore, a two‐step SSP method for c.843A>G was successfully established.

CONCLUSION

c.843A>T, but not c.1011delG, is associated with the absence of CD177 in a significant number of individuals, including CD177‐isoimmunized women. The c.843A>T mutation is easily detectable by a newly established SSP, but screening for this mutation will only provide sufficient evidence for a final diagnosis in case of homozygosity for the c.843T allele.
Radiographic, Surgeon and Owner Assessment of the BioMedtrix TATE®Elbow Arthroplasty
Authors: De Sousa Ricardo J. R. , Parsons Kevin J. , Owen Martin R. , Grierson James , McKee W. Malcolm , Kulendra Elvin , Burton Neil J.
Published: July 2016

Objective

To report the long‐term radiographic and clinical outcome of the BioMedtrix TATE elbow arthroplasty system in dogs. Assessment was via radiographs, a surgeon‐based questionnaire, and owner assessment of outcome using the Liverpool osteoarthritis in dogs (LOAD) and canine brief pain inventory (CBPI) questionnaires.

Study design

Retrospective multicenter, case series.

Animals

Client‐owned dogs undergoing TATE elbow arthroplasty.

Methods

Questionnaires were distributed to surgeons in the United Kingdom performing TATE elbow arthroplasty and to the owners of the dogs operated on. Owners completed the LOAD and CBPI questionnaires. All completed questionnaires from surgeons and owners, and radiographs of the dogs were collated and analyzed.

Results

Surgeon questionnaires and radiographs were obtained for 33 elbows from 32 dogs, with owner questionnaires obtained for 19 dogs. Perioperative, short‐term, and mid‐term complication rates were 60%, 15%, and 15%, respectively. Radiographic assessment of component alignment showed 62% of cartridges were valgus or varus malaligned and 56% of cartridges were either translated medially or laterally relative to the long axis of the ulnar. There was no significant association between component alignment and final clinical outcome. Surgeon assessment reported 24% of dogs to have full, 52% acceptable, and 24% unacceptable outcome. Owner assessment showed significant decreases in pain severity and pain interference from preoperative to final status but no change in mobility scores.

Conclusions

A high complication rate and variability in component placement was recorded with TATE athroplasty. However, component malalignment did not negatively impact clinical outcome. Final clinical outcome was favorable for most cases with significant reductions in pain severity and interference scores despite no changes in mobility scores.
Effects of Silicon Content on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Cobalt-Based Tribaloy Alloys
Authors: Liu Rong , Yao Jianhua , Zhang Qunli , Yao Matthew X. , Collier Rachel
Published: July 2016

Cobalt-based Tribaloy alloys are strengthened mainly by a hard, intermetallic Laves phase consisting of Co3Mo2Si or/and CoMoSi; therefore, silicon content plays a large role in the microstructure and performance of these materials. In this research, the microstructures of two cobalt-based Tribaloy alloys that are largely different in Si content are studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with an EDAX energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD), fatigue strength under rotating-bending test, mechanical behavior under nanoindentation, and hardness at room and elevated temperatures using a microindentation tester. It is revealed that with higher silicon content (2.6 wt. %), T-400 has a hypereutectic microstructure with Laves phase as primary phase, whereas with lower silicon content (1.2 wt. %), T-401 has a hypoeutectic microstructure with solid solution as primary phase. T-400, containing lager volume fraction of Laves phase, exhibits better fatigue strength, in particular, at high stresses, while T-401, with less volume fraction of Laves phase, has improved ductility, exhibiting better resistance to fatigue at low stresses. The hardness of both alloys decreases with temperature, and T-401 shows higher reduction rate. T-400 is harder than T-401.
Exact H2 Optimal Tuning and Experimental Verification of Energy-Harvesting Series Electromagnetic Tuned-Mass Dampers
Authors: Liu Yilun , Lin Chi-Chang , Parker Jason , Zuo Lei
Published: July 2016

Energy-harvesting series electromagnetic-tuned mass dampers (EMTMDs) have been recently proposed for dual-functional energy harvesting and robust vibration control by integrating the tuned mass damper (TMD) and electromagnetic shunted resonant damping. In this paper, we derive ready-to-use analytical tuning laws for the energy-harvesting series EMTMD system when the primary structure is subjected to force or ground excitations. Both vibration mitigation and energy-harvesting performances are optimized using H2 criteria to minimize root-mean-square (RMS) values of the deformation of the primary structure or maximize the average harvestable power. These analytical tuning laws can easily guide the design of series EMTMDs under various external excitations. Later, extensive numerical analysis is presented to show the effectiveness of the series EMTMDs. The numerical analysis shows that the series EMTMD more effectively mitigates the vibration of the primary structure nearly across the whole frequency spectrum, compared to that of classic TMDs. Simultaneously, the series EMTMD can better harvest energy due to its broader bandwidth effect. Beyond simulations, this paper also experimentally verifies the effectiveness of the series EMTMDs in both vibration mitigation and energy harvesting.
The Effect of Product Representation in Visual Conjoint Analysis
Authors: Sylcott Brian , Orsborn Seth , Cagan Jonathan
Published: July 2016

When most designers set out to develop a new product, they solicit feedback from potential consumers. These data are incorporated into the design process in an effort to more effectively meet customer requirements. Often these data are used to construct a model of consumer preference capable of evaluating candidate designs. Although the mechanics of these models have been extensively studied, there are still some open questions, particularly with respect to models of aesthetic preference. When constructing preference models, simplistic product representations are often favored over high fidelity product models in order to save time and expense. This work investigates how choice of product representation can affect model performance in visual conjoint analysis. Preference models for a single product, a table knife, are derived using three different representation schemes: simple sketches, solid models, and three dimensional (3D)-printed models. Each of these representations is used in a separate conjoint analysis survey. The results from this study show that the choice model based on 3D-printed photopolymer prototypes underperformed. Additionally, consumer responses were inconsistent and potentially contradictory between different representations. Consequently, when using conjoint analysis for product innovation, obtaining a true understanding of consumer preference requires selecting representations based on how accurately they convey the product details in question.
An Exploratory Study of the Discovery and Selection of Design Methods in Practice
Authors: Gericke Kilian , Kramer Julia , Roschuni Celeste
Published: July 2016

This work seeks to understand how design practitioners discover, select, and adapt design methods and methodologies. Design methods and methodologies are mainly used for educational purposes and are not formally transferred into design practice and industry. This prevents design practitioners from accessing the rich body of research and knowledge posed by academia. Various web platforms and textbooks allow users to discover or search for design methods, but little support is provided to assess whether or not a method is appropriate for the context or the task at hand. In this exploratory study, interviews were conducted with practicing engineers and designers. Interview responses were coded and analyzed in an effort to understand the patterns in searching, selecting, assessing, and exchanging experiences with peers in professional practice. This analysis showed that interviewees would like to search for design methods based on their desired outcomes. Additionally, interviewees considered their personal contacts to be the most valuable source of new methods. These insights show that web-based communities of practice may be a potential link between academia and industry, but existing web repositories and communities require further development in order to better meet the needs of the design practitioner community.
Influence of Volumetric Capacity on Energy Consumption in Oil-Lubricated Compressed Air Systems
Authors: Olszewski Pawel , Borgnakke Claus
Published: July 2016

The aim of this research is to estimate the influence of compressed air volumetric capacity on the energy consumption in systems equipped with oil-lubricated screw compressors. A mathematical model of oil-lubricated screw compressors has been proposed. The model is verified by comparing with real measurements, and overall uncertainty analysis is estimated. An in-house developed numerical code (c++) is used to calculate the energy consumption in 252,000 combinations. The final result can be used to estimate the energy efficiency of existing air systems and to assess potential energy savings due to changes in the operation of the system and its control strategy.
Effects of duty-cycled passive acoustic recordings on detecting the presence of beaked whales in the northwest Atlantic
Authors: Stanistreet Joy E. , Nowacek Douglas P. , Read Andrew J. , Baumann-Pickering Simone , Moors-Murphy Hilary B. , Van Parijs Sofie M.
Published: July 2016

This study investigated the effects of using duty-cycled passive acoustic recordings to monitor the daily presence of beaked whale species at three locations in the northwest Atlantic. Continuous acoustic records were subsampled to simulate duty cycles of 50%, 25%, and 10% and cycle period durations from 10 to 60 min. Short, frequent listening periods were most effective for assessing the daily presence of beaked whales. Furthermore, subsampling at low duty cycles led to consistently greater underestimation of Mesoplodon species than either Cuvier's beaked whales or northern bottlenose whales, leading to a potential bias in estimation of relative species occurrence.
Titanic balloon sets record and tantalizes scientists
Authors: Monahan Patrick
Published: July 2016

Curtailed flight highlights remaining challenges of “superpressure” balloon technology.
Climate-driven regime shift of a temperate marine ecosystem
Authors: Wernberg Thomas , Bennett Scott , Babcock Russell C. , de Bettignies Thibaut , Cure Katherine , Depczynski Martial , Dufois Francois , Fromont Jane , Fulton Christopher J. , Hovey Renae K. , Harvey Euan S. , Holmes Thomas H. , Kendrick Gary A. , Radford Ben , Santana-Garcon Julia , Saunders Benjamin J. , Smale Dan A. , Thomsen Mads S. , Tuckett Chenae A. , Tuya Fernando , Vanderklift Mathew A. , Wilson Shaun
Published: July 2016

No turning back?

Ecosystems over time have endured much disturbance, yet they tend to remain intact, a characteristic we call resilience. Though many systems have been lost and destroyed, for systems that remain physically intact, there is debate as to whether changing temperatures will result in shifts or collapses. Wernburg
et al.
show that extreme warming of a temperate kelp forest off Australia resulted not only in its collapse, but also in a shift in community composition that brought about an increase in herbivorous tropical fishes that prevent the reestablishment of kelp. Thus, many systems may not be resilient to the rapid climate change that we face.

Science
, this issue p.
169
Tail use improves performance on soft substrates in models of early vertebrate land locomotors
Authors: McInroe Benjamin , Astley Henry C. , Gong Chaohui , Kawano Sandy M. , Schiebel Perrin E. , Rieser Jennifer M. , Choset Howie , Blob Richard W. , Goldman Daniel I.
Published: July 2016

Animal and robot experiments explore the use of a tail in aiding terrestrial locomotion.
S-Acylation of the cellulose synthase complex is essential for its plasma membrane localization
Authors: Kumar Manoj , Wightman Raymond , Atanassov Ivan , Gupta Anjali , Hurst Charlotte H. , Hemsley Piers A. , Turner Simon
Published: July 2016

Location, location, S-acylation

Cellulose synthase is a large, multisubunit machine that “swims” along the plant cell membrane as it spins out cellulose fibers. Kumar
et al.
show that the cellulose synthase complex is heavily modified through S-acylation. Subsets of the acylation sites were required for the complex to integrate into the plasma membrane. A single functional complex could bear as many as 100 modification sites, potentially changing its biophysical characteristics and helping it to associate with the membrane.

Science
, this issue p.
166
Phototactic guidance of a tissue-engineered soft-robotic ray
Authors: Park Sung-Jin , Gazzola Mattia , Park Kyung Soo , Park Shirley , Di Santo Valentina , Blevins Erin L. , Lind Johan U. , Campbell Patrick H. , Dauth Stephanie , Capulli Andrew K. , Pasqualini Francesco S. , Ahn Seungkuk , Cho Alexander , Yuan Hongyan , Maoz Ben M. , Vijaykumar Ragu , Choi Jeong-Woo , Deisseroth Karl , Lauder George V. , Mahadevan L. , Parker Kevin Kit
Published: July 2016

Swim into the light

A bio-inspired swimming robot that mimics a ray fish can be guided by light. Park
et al.
built a 1/10th-scale version of a ray fish with a microfabricated gold skeleton and a rubber body powered by rat heart muscle cells. The cardiomyocytes were genetically engineered to respond to light cues, so that the undulatory movements propelling the robot through water would follow a light source.

Science
, this issue p.
158
A metal-organic framework–based splitter for separating propylene from propane
Authors: Cadiau A. , Adil K. , Bhatt P. M. , Belmabkhout Y. , Eddaoudi M.
Published: July 2016

Separating one organic from another

Separating closely related organic molecules is a challenge (see the Perspective by Lin).The separation of acetylene from ethylene is needed in high-purity polymer production. Cui et al. developed a copper-based metal-organic framework with hexafluorosilicate and organic linkers designed to have a high affinity for acetylene. These materials, which capture four acetylene molecules in each pore, successfully separated acetylene from mixtures with ethylene. Propane and propylene are both important feedstock chemicals. Their physical and chemical similarity, however, requires energy-intense processes to separate them. Cadiau et al. designed a fluorinated porous metal-organic framework material that selectively adsorbed propylene, with the complete exclusion of propane.

Science
, this issue pp.
141
and
137
; see also p.
121
Network analytics in the age of big data
Authors: Pržulj Nataša , Malod-Dognin Noël
Published: July 2016

How can we holistically mine big data?
Antimicrobial Stewardship in the Microbiology Laboratory: Impact of Selective Susceptibility Reporting on Ciprofloxacin Utilization and Susceptibility of Gram-Negative Isolates to Ciprofloxacin in a Hospital Setting
Authors: Langford B. J. , Seah J. , Chan A. , Downing M. , Johnstone J. , Matukas L. M.
Published: July 2016

The objective of this study was to determine the impact of selective susceptibility reporting on ciprofloxacin utilization and Gram-negative susceptibility to ciprofloxacin in a hospital setting. Historically at our institution, the microbiology laboratory practice was to report ciprofloxacin susceptibility for all
Enterobacteriaceae
regardless of susceptibility to other agents. A selective reporting policy was implemented which involved the suppression of ciprofloxacin susceptibility to
Enterobacteriaceae
when there was lack of resistance to the antibiotics on the Gram-negative panel. Ciprofloxacin utilization (measured in defined daily doses [DDD] per 1,000 patient days) was collected before and after the intervention and compared to moxifloxacin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, nitrofurantoin, and amoxicillin-clavulanate. Monthly susceptibility of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and
Escherichia coli
to ciprofloxacin was tabulated. An interrupted time series analysis using segmented regression was performed. The mean monthly ciprofloxacin utilization decreased from 87 (95% CI, 83.7 to 91.2) to 39 (95% CI, 35.0 to 44.0) DDD per 1,000 patient days before and after the implementation of selective reporting, respectively. There was an immediate and sustained reduction in ciprofloxacin usage at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postintervention (
P
< 0.001). A compensatory increase in amoxicillin-clavulanate use was noted starting at 6 months postintervention and persisted for the study period (
P
< 0.027). Susceptibility of
E. coli
, but not that of
P. aeruginosa
, to ciprofloxacin was higher than predicted starting 12 months after the intervention (
P
< 0.05). In conclusion, selective reporting of ciprofloxacin susceptibly may be a useful intervention to reduce targeted antimicrobial utilization and improve Gram-negative susceptibility to ciprofloxacin. This approach should be considered as part of a broader multimodal antimicrobial stewardship program.
Comprehensive Characterization of HIV-1 Molecular Epidemiology and Demographic History in the Brazilian Region Most Heavily Affected by AIDS
Authors: Gräf Tiago , Machado Fritsch Hegger , de Medeiros Rúbia Marília , Maletich Junqueira Dennis , Esteves de Matos Almeida Sabrina , Pinto Aguinaldo Roberto
Published: July 2016

The high incidence of AIDS cases and the dominance of HIV-1 subtype C infections are two features that distinguish the HIV-1 epidemic in the two southernmost Brazilian states (Rio Grande do Sul [RS] and Santa Catarina [SC]) from the epidemic in other parts of the country. Nevertheless, previous studies on HIV molecular epidemiology were conducted mainly in capital cities, and a more comprehensive understanding of factors driving this unique epidemic in Brazil is necessary. Blood samples were collected from individuals in 13 municipalities in the Brazilian southern region. HIV-1
env
and
pol
genes were submitted to phylogenetic analyses for assignment of subtype, and viral population phylodynamics were reconstructed by applying Skygrid and logistic coalescent models in a Bayesian analysis. A high prevalence of subtype C was observed in all sampled locations; however, an increased frequency of recombinant strains was found in RS, with evidence for new circulating forms (CRFs). In the SC state, subtype B and C epidemics were associated with distinct exposure groups. Although logistic models estimated similar growth rates for HIV-1 subtype C (HIV-1C) and HIV-1B, a Skygrid plot reveals that the former epidemic has been expanding for a longer time. Our results highlight a consistent expansion of HIV-1C in south Brazil, and we also discuss how heterosexual and men who have sex with men (MSM) transmission chains might have impacted the current prevalence of HIV-1 subtypes in this region.

IMPORTANCE
The AIDS epidemic in south Brazil is expanding rapidly, but the circumstances driving this condition are not well known. A high prevalence of HIV-1 subtype C was reported in the capital cities of this region, in contrast to the subtype B dominance in the rest of the country. This study sought to comparatively investigate the HIV-1 subtype B and C epidemics by sampling individuals from several cities in the two states with the highest AIDS incidences in Brazil. Our analyses showed distinct epidemic growth curves for the two epidemics, and we also found evidence suggesting that separate transmission chains may be impacting the viral phylodynamics and the emergence of new recombinant forms.
The Interferon-Stimulated GeneIfitm3Restricts West Nile Virus Infection and Pathogenesis
Authors: Gorman Matthew J. , Poddar Subhajit , Farzan Michael , Diamond Michael S.
Published: July 2016

The interferon-induced transmembrane protein (IFITM) family of proteins inhibit infection of several different enveloped viruses in cell culture by virtue of their ability to restrict entry and fusion from late endosomes. As few studies have evaluated the importance ofIfitm3 in vivoin restricting viral pathogenesis, we investigated its significance as an antiviral gene against West Nile virus (WNV), an encephalitic flavivirus, in cells and mice.Ifitm3−/−mice were more vulnerable to lethal WNV infection, and this was associated with greater virus accumulation in peripheral organs and central nervous system tissues. As no difference in viral burden in the brain or spinal cord was observed after direct intracranial inoculation, Ifitm3 likely functions as an antiviral protein in nonneuronal cells. Consistent with this,Ifitm3−/−fibroblasts but not dendritic cells resulted in higher yields of WNV in multistep growth analyses. Moreover, transcomplementation experiments showed that Ifitm3 inhibited WNV infection independently of Ifitm1, Ifitm2, Ifitm5, and Ifitm6. Beyond a direct effect on viral infection in cells, analysis of the immune response in WNV-infectedIfitm3−/−mice showed decreases in the total number of B cells, CD4+T cells, and antigen-specific CD8+T cells. Finally, bone marrow chimera experiments demonstrated that Ifitm3 functioned in both radioresistant and radiosensitive cells, as higher levels of WNV were observed in the brain only when Ifitm3 was absent from both compartments. Our analyses suggest that Ifitm3 restricts WNV pathogenesis likely through multiple mechanisms, including the direct control of infection in subsets of cells.

IMPORTANCEAs part of the mammalian host response to viral infections, hundreds of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) are induced. The inhibitory activity of individual ISGs varies depending on the specific cell type and viral pathogen. Among ISGs, the genes encoding interferon-induced transmembrane protein (IFITM) have been reported to inhibit multiple families of viruses in cell culture. However, few reports have evaluated the impact ofIFITMgenes on viral pathogenesisin vivo. In this study, we characterized the antiviral activity of Ifitm3 against West Nile virus (WNV), an encephalitic flavivirus, using mice with a targeted gene deletion ofIfitm3. Based on extensive virological and immunological analyses, we determined that Ifitm3 protects mice from WNV-induced mortality by restricting virus accumulation in peripheral organs and, subsequently, in central nervous system tissues. Our data suggest that Ifitm3 restricts WNV pathogenesis by multiple mechanisms and functions in part by controlling infection in different cell types.
CD25+FoxP3+Memory CD4 T Cells Are Frequent Targets of HIV InfectionIn Vivo
Authors: Chachage Mkunde , Pollakis Georgios , Kuffour Edmund Osei , Haase Kerstin , Bauer Asli , Nadai Yuka , Podola Lilli , Clowes Petra , Schiemann Matthias , Henkel Lynette , Hoffmann Dieter , Joseph Sarah , Bhuju Sabin , Maboko Leonard , Sarfo Fred Stephen , Eberhardt Kirsten , Hoelscher Michael , Feldt Torsten , Saathoff Elmar , Geldmacher Christof
Published: July 2016

Interleukin 2 (IL-2) signaling through the IL-2 receptor alpha chain (CD25) facilitates HIV replicationin vitroand facilitates homeostatic proliferation of CD25+FoxP3+CD4+T cells. CD25+FoxP3+CD4+T cells may therefore constitute a suitable subset for HIV infection and plasma virion production. CD25+FoxP3+CD4+T cell frequencies, absolute numbers, and the expression of CCR5 and cell cycle marker Ki67 were studied in peripheral blood from HIV+and HIV−study volunteers. Different memory CD4+T cell subsets were then sorted for quantification of cell-associated HIV DNA and phylogenetic analyses of the highly variable EnvV1V3 region in comparison to plasma-derived virus sequences. In HIV+subjects, 51% (median) of CD25+FoxP3+CD4+T cells expressed the HIV coreceptor CCR5. Very high frequencies of Ki67+cells were detected in CD25+FoxP3+memory CD4+T cells (median, 27.6%) in comparison to CD25−FoxP3−memory CD4+T cells (median, 4.1%;P< 0.0001). HIV DNA content was 15-fold higher in CD25+FoxP3+memory CD4+T cells than in CD25−FoxP3−T cells (P= 0.003). EnvV1V3 sequences derived from CD25+FoxP3+memory CD4+T cells did not preferentially cluster with plasma-derived sequences. Quasi-identical cell-plasma sequence pairs were rare, and their proportion decreased with the estimated HIV infection duration. These data suggest that specific cellular characteristics of CD25+FoxP3+memory CD4+T cells might facilitate efficient HIV infectionin vivoand passage of HIV DNA to cell progeny in the absence of active viral replication. The contribution of this cell population to plasma virion production remains unclear.

IMPORTANCEDespite recent advances in the understanding of AIDS virus pathogenesis, which cell subsets support HIV infection and replicationin vivois incompletely understood.In vitro, the IL-2 signaling pathway and IL-2-dependent cell cycle induction are essential for HIV infection of stimulated T cells. CD25+FoxP3+memory CD4 T cells, often referred to as regulatory CD4 T cells, depend on IL-2 signaling for homeostatic proliferationin vivo. Our results show that CD25+FoxP3+memory CD4+T cells often express the HIV coreceptor CCR5, are significantly more proliferative, and contain more HIV DNA than CD25−FoxP3−memory CD4 T cell subsets. The specific cellular characteristics of CD25+FoxP3+memory CD4+T cells probably facilitate efficient HIV infectionin vivoand passage of HIV DNA to cell progeny in the absence of active viral replication. However, the contribution of this cell subset to plasma viremia remains unclear.
Endogenous Gibbon Ape Leukemia Virus Identified in a Rodent (Melomys burtoni subsp.) from Wallacea (Indonesia)
Authors: Alfano Niccolò , Michaux Johan , Morand Serge , Aplin Ken , Tsangaras Kyriakos , Löber Ulrike , Fabre Pierre-Henri , Fitriana Yuli , Semiadi Gono , Ishida Yasuko , Helgen Kristofer M. , Roca Alfred L. , Eiden Maribeth V. , Greenwood Alex D.
Published: July 2016

Gibbon ape leukemia virus (GALV) and koala retrovirus (KoRV) most likely originated from a cross-species transmission of an ancestral retrovirus into koalas and gibbons via one or more intermediate as-yet-unknown hosts. A virus highly similar to GALV has been identified in an Australian native rodent (
Melomys burtoni
) after extensive screening of Australian wildlife. GALV-like viruses have also been discovered in several Southeast Asian species, although screening has not been extensive and viruses discovered to date are only distantly related to GALV. We therefore screened 26 Southeast Asian rodent species for KoRV- and GALV-like sequences, using hybridization capture and high-throughput sequencing, in the attempt to identify potential GALV and KoRV hosts. Only the individuals belonging to a newly discovered subspecies of
Melomys
burtoni
from Indonesia were positive, yielding an endogenous provirus very closely related to a strain of GALV. The sequence of the critical receptor domain for GALV infection in the Indonesian
M. burtoni
subsp. was consistent with the susceptibility of the species to GALV infection. The second record of a GALV in
M. burtoni
provides further evidence that
M. burtoni
, and potentially other lineages within the widespread subfamily
Murinae
, may play a role in the spread of GALV-like viruses. The discovery of a GALV in the most western part of the Australo-Papuan distribution of
M. burtoni
, specifically in a transitional zone between Asia and Australia (Wallacea), may be relevant to the cross-species transmission to gibbons in Southeast Asia and broadens the known distribution of GALVs in wild rodents.

IMPORTANCE
Gibbon ape leukemia virus (GALV) and the koala retrovirus (KoRV) are very closely related, yet their hosts neither are closely related nor overlap geographically. Direct cross-species infection between koalas and gibbons is unlikely. Therefore, GALV and KoRV may have arisen via a cross-species transfer from an intermediate host whose range overlaps those of both gibbons and koalas. Using hybridization capture and high-throughput sequencing, we have screened a wide range of rodent candidate hosts from Southeast Asia for KoRV- and GALV-like sequences. Only a
Melomys
burtoni
subspecies from Wallacea (Indonesia) was positive for GALV. We report the genome sequence of this newly identified GALV, the critical domain for infection of its potential cellular receptor, and its phylogenetic relationships with the other previously characterized GALVs. We hypothesize that
Melomys
burtoni
, and potentially related lineages with an Australo-Papuan distribution, may have played a key role in cross-species transmission to other taxa.
Roles of the Rabies Virus Phosphoprotein Isoforms in Pathogenesis
Authors: Okada Kazuma , Ito Naoto , Yamaoka Satoko , Masatani Tatsunori , Ebihara Hideki , Goto Hideo , Nakagawa Kento , Mitake Hiromichi , Okadera Kota , Sugiyama Makoto
Published: July 2016

Rabies virus (RABV) P gene mRNA encodes five in-frame start codons, resulting in expression of full-length P protein (P1) and N-terminally truncated P proteins (tPs), designated P2, P3, P4, and P5. Despite the fact that some tPs are known as interferon (IFN) antagonists, the importance of tPs in the pathogenesis of RABV is still unclear. In this study, to examine whether tPs contribute to pathogenesis, we exploited a reverse genetics approach to generate CE(NiP)ΔP2-5, a mutant of pathogenic CE(NiP) in which the P gene was mutated by replacing all of the start codons (AUG) for tPs with AUA. We confirmed that while CE(NiP) expresses detectable levels of P2 and P3, CE(NiP)ΔP2-5 has an impaired ability to express these tPs. After intramuscular inoculation, CE(NiP)ΔP2-5 caused significantly lower morbidity and mortality rates in mice than did CE(NiP), indicating that tPs play a critical role in RABV neuroinvasiveness. Further examinations revealed that this less neuroinvasive phenotype of CE(NiP)ΔP2-5 correlates with its impaired ability to replicate in muscle cells, indicative of the importance of tPs in viral replication in muscle cells. We also demonstrated that CE(NiP)ΔP2-5 infection induced a higher level of
Ifn-β
gene expression in muscle cells than did CE(NiP) infection, consistent with the results of an IFN-β promoter reporter assay suggesting that all tPs function to antagonize IFN induction in muscle cells. Taken together, our findings strongly suggest that tPs promote viral replication in muscle cells through their IFN antagonist activities and thereby support infection of peripheral nerves.

IMPORTANCE
Despite the fact that previous studies have demonstrated that P2 and P3 of RABV have IFN antagonist activities, the actual importance of tPs in pathogenesis has remained unclear. Here, we provide the first evidence that tPs contribute to the pathogenesis of RABV, especially its neuroinvasiveness. Our results also show the mechanism underlying the neuroinvasiveness driven by tPs, highlighting the importance of their IFN antagonist activities, which support viral replication in muscle cells.