SUMMARY Several systems-level datasets designed to dissect host-pathogen interactions during influenza A infection have been reported. However, apparent discordance among these data has hampered their full utility toward advancing mechanistic and therapeutic knowledge. To collectively reconcile these datasets, we performed a meta-analysis of data from eight published RNAi screens and integrated these data with three protein interaction datasets, including one generated within the context of this study. Further integration of these data with global virus-host interaction analyses revealed a functionally validated biochemical landscape of the influenza-host interface, which can be queried through a simplified and customizable web portal (http://www.metascape.org/IAV). Follow-up studies revealed that the putative ubiquitin ligase UBR4 associates with the viral M2 protein and promotes apical transport of viral proteins. Taken together, the integrative analysis of influenza OMICs datasets illuminates a viral-host network of high-confidence human proteins that are essential for influenza A virus replication.

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Graphene constitutes a two dimensional sp2 hybridized carbon material with outstanding electrical and mechanical properties. To date, novel methods for producing large quantities of graphene and its derivatives (doped or functionalized graphenes, nanoribbons and nanoplatelets) are emerging, and research dedicated to the fabrication of polymer nanocomposites using graphenes has started. In this Research News, we summarize the synthesis and properties of graphene and its derivatives, and provide an overview of the latest research dedicated to the fabrication of polymer composites for different applications, including mechanical, electrical, optical and thermal. Some of the recently fabricated composites exhibit outstanding properties, however, it is vital to understand the chemistry and physics of the interphases established between the polymer and the graphene surfaces. The challenges in the fabrication of super robust and highly conducting composites using graphenes are also discussed. It is believed that graphene‐based polymer composites will result in commercial products if their interphases and reactivity are carefully controlled.

Epoxy composites with different amounts of magnetite nanoparticles, carbon nanofibres (CNF) and magnetite decorated CNF were prepared and characterized. A simple method for the magnetite CNF decoration was developed by adsorbing preformed oleic acid capped magnetite nanoparticles over the CNF surface. A synergy between magnetite nano particles and CNF was found to have crucial effects in the electromagnetic shielding effi ciency of the prepared materials. This effect has been analysed by their electrical conductivity in terms of percolation theory and complex permittivity at high frequencies. Electromagnetic shielding mechanisms (reflection, absorption and transmission) were individually studied in the 1 18 GHz range. Results show that decoration of CNF with mag netite, notably increases permittivity and high frequency AC conductivity and enhances the electromagnetic shielding efficiency up to around 20 dB at high frequencies. It is pro posed that interfacial polarization adds an additional dissipation mechanism that may be responsible for the observed electromagnetic shielding enhancement. IntroductionAn electronic device is considered compatible with the envi ronment when its emissions do not affect other devices and is not affected itself by external emissions. Thus, any effort for minimizing interferences and protecting electronic de vices is of prime importance. Electromagnetic interferences (EMI) in many cases are minimized through the circuit design or using filters, while protection of devices is generally im proved with the use of metallic coatings [1 3], metal casings or polymer conductive composites [4 23]. The shielding mechanism in the two former cases is mainly related with radiation reflection processes while radiation absorption is the main mechanism in the latter. The choice of a material for shielding depends strongly on the final application: for example, low reflection losses and high absorption losses are required for military radar shielding materials whilst lightweight materials are a must for aerospace shielding applications; polymer matrix composites are thus promising materials that may fulfil a variety of requirements in all the above emerging fields. Three mechanisms for electromagnetic shielding are com monly accepted: reflection, absorption and multiple reflec tions [22]. In good conductors (i.e.: metals), the most important contribution is reflection, where losses are related with the ratio between conductivity and permeability (r/l). When considering composites, absorption, which depends on the product (rAEl) and on the thickness of the material, is * Corresponding author: Fax: +34 91 6249430. E mail address: jpozue@ing.uc3m.es (J. Pozuelo).1 the main mechanism. The third mechanism (multiple reflec tions) is related to the conductor skin thickness and for high frequencies, in the GHz range, is negligible [23]. For the pro tection of electronic devices towards external radiation, the most important mechanism should be reflection, so high con ductivity and low permeability is requir...

The transport of oxygen, water and naked ions of Na þ and Cl across two kind of hydrogels materials, made of a conventional hydrogel (Hy) based on hydroxyethyl methacrylate (pHEMA) and a silicone hydrogel (Si Hy) material containing siloxane moieties, was compared between Molecular Dynamics Simulations (MDS) and experimental measurements. Computer assisted simulations were carried out for wet hydrogels at 310 K and equilibrium water uptake in the range from 10% to 40%. Our results show that in Si Hy materials the aqueous hydrogel and hydrophobic siloxane phases are separated suggesting a co continuous structure, and oxygen moves predominantly through the free volume of the hydrophobic siloxane phase. The values of diffusion coefficient of O 2 , water and Na þ and Cl ions in Si Hy was about one order of magnitude higher than in conventional hydrogels when the water content was above 25 wt% up to a critical value of 35 wt% where a percolation phenomenon is observed. The value of the oxygen diffusion coefficient obtained by simulations are roughly similar to that experimentally found using potentiostatic techniques. Values found experimentally for Na þ diffusion coefficients are between three or five times lower than MDS. For Si Hy materials with 36 wt% of water the Naþ permeability, diffusion coefficient and salt partition coefficient (k m ¼P/D) are 6.770.2 Â 10 7 cm 2 /s, 1.870.5 Â 10 6 cm 2 /s and 0.4270.13, respectively. For Hy materials of 38.6 wt% the values found were 18.471.2 Â 10 7 cm 2 /s, 5.471.0 Â 10 6 cm 2 /s and 0.3470.09, respectively. The coordination number between the fixed groups ( SiO ) and water in HEMA and the particles (O 2 , C l and Na þ ) is slightly larger than unity. The present study might be applied in the modeling of the gas transport in hydrogels as well as in novel polymeric structures for novel polymeric structures for new biomedical and technological applications with the aim of predicting and tuning their physiological behavior.