#gathercreateshare: How Research Libraries Use Pinterest

This work investigates social curating activities on the website Pinterest and relates them to the librarian's traditional role of curating information. Pinterest is a social curation site that combines features of gathering, creating, and sharing with the information management characteristics of successful data curation. Libraries have begun to think about pushing services into social networking sites and adding social networking features to their own services. This study evaluates the webpages of Association of Research Libraries member libraries for presence and use of Pinterest, and suggests ways research and academic libraries can use Pinterest to support their patrons.     

Differential MicroRNA Expression Profile in Myxomatous Mitral Valve Prolapse and Fibroelastic Deficiency Valves

Myxomatous mitral valve prolapse (MMVP) and fibroelastic deficiency (FED) are two common variants of degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD), which is a leading cause of mitral regurgitation worldwide. While pathohistological studies have revealed differences in extracellular matrix content in MMVP and FED, the molecular mechanisms underlying these two disease entities remain to be elucidated. By using surgically removed valvular specimens from MMVP and FED patients that were categorized on the basis of echocardiographic, clinical and operative findings, a cluster of microRNAs that expressed differentially were identified. The expressions of has-miR-500, -3174, -17, -1193, -646, -1273e, -4298, -203, -505, and -939 showed significant differences between MMVP and FED after applying Bonferroni correction (p < 0.002174). The possible involvement of microRNAs in the pathogenesis of DMVD were further suggested by the presences of in silico predicted target sites on a number of genes reported to be involved in extracellular matrix homeostasis and marker genes for cellular composition of mitral valves, including decorin (DCN), aggrecan (ACAN), fibromodulin (FMOD), α actin 2 (ACTA2), extracellular matrix protein 2 (ECM2), desmin (DES), endothelial cell specific molecule 1 (ESM1), and platelet/ endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (PECAM1), as well as inverse correlations of selected microRNA and mRNA expression in MMVP and FED groups. Our results provide evidence that distinct molecular mechanisms underlie MMVP and FED. Moreover, the microRNAs identified may be targets for the future development of diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutics.     

Progress in fluorinated organically modified silicas

This perspective will highlight the significant advances in the field of fluorinated organically modified silicas occurring since 2014. After a brief introduction, an overview of the synthetic methods employed for obtaining these organic–inorganic hybrid materials with an emphasis on the lesser utilized and new synthetic methods will be given. Furthermore, novel applications beyond the more traditional non‐wetting coatings and surfaces will also be featured. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry     

Structural Characterization of an LPA1 Second Extracellular Loop Mimetic with a Self-Assembling Coiled-Coil Folding Constraint

G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) structures are of interest as a means to understand biological signal transduction and as tools for therapeutic discovery. The growing number of GPCR crystal structures demonstrates that the extracellular loops (EL) connecting the membrane-spanning helices show tremendous structural variability relative to the more structurally-conserved seven transmembrane α-helical domains. The EL of the LPA₁ receptor have not yet been conclusively resolved, and bear limited sequence identity to known structures. This study involved development of a peptide to characterize the intrinsic structure of the LPA₁ GPCR second EL. The loop was embedded between two helices that assemble into a coiled-coil, which served as a receptor-mimetic folding constraint (LPA₁-CC-EL2 peptide). The ensemble of structures from multi-dimensional NMR experiments demonstrated that a robust coiled-coil formed without noticeable deformation due to the EL2 sequence. In contrast, the EL2 sequence showed well-defined structure only near its C-terminal residues. The NMR ensemble was combined with a computational model of the LPA₁ receptor that had previously been validated. The resulting hybrid models were evaluated using docking. Nine different hybrid models interacted with LPA 18:1 as expected, based on prior mutagenesis studies, and one was additionally consistent with antagonist affinity trends.     

Tracing atmospheric nitrate deposition in a complex semiarid ecosystem using delta17O

The isotopic composition of nitrate collected from aerosols, fog, and precipitation was measured and found to have a large 17O anomaly with delta17O values ranging from 20 percent per thousand to 30% percent per thousand (delta17O = delta17O - 0.52(delta18O)). This 17O anomaly was used to trace atmospheric deposition of nitrate to a semiarid ecosystem in southern California. We demonstrate that the delta17O signal is a conserved tracer of atmospheric nitrate deposition and is a more robust indicator of N deposition relative to standard delta18O techniques. The data indicate that a substantial portion of nitrate found in the local soil, stream, and groundwater is of atmospheric origin and does not undergo biologic processing before being exported from the system.     

Towards Molecular Understanding of the Functional Role of UbiJ-UbiK2 Complex in Ubiquinone Biosynthesis by Multiscale Molecular Modelling Studies

Ubiquinone (UQ) is a polyisoprenoid lipid found in the membranes of bacteria and eukaryotes. UQ has important roles, notably in respiratory metabolisms which sustain cellular bioenergetics. Most steps of UQ biosynthesis take place in the cytosol of E. coli within a multiprotein complex called the Ubi metabolon, that contains five enzymes and two accessory proteins, UbiJ and UbiK. The SCP2 domain of UbiJ was proposed to bind the hydrophobic polyisoprenoid tail of UQ biosynthetic intermediates in the Ubi metabolon. How the newly synthesised UQ might be released in the membrane is currently unknown. In this paper, we focused on better understanding the role of the UbiJ-UbiK₂ heterotrimer forming part of the metabolon. Given the difficulties to gain functional insights using biophysical techniques, we applied a multiscale molecular modelling approach to study the UbiJ-UbiK₂ heterotrimer. Our data show that UbiJ-UbiK₂ interacts closely with the membrane and suggests possible pathways to enable the release of UQ into the membrane. This study highlights the UbiJ-UbiK₂ complex as the likely interface between the membrane and the enzymes of the Ubi metabolon and supports that the heterotrimer is key to the biosynthesis of UQ₈ and its release into the membrane of E. coli.     

"Perceived environmental predictors of physical activity over 6 months in adults: Activity Counseling Trial": Correction to Sallis et al. (2007).

Reports an error in "Perceived environmental predictors of physical activity over 6 months in adults: Activity Counseling Trial" by James F. Sallis, Abby C. King, John R. Sirard and Cheryl L. Albright (Health Psychology, 2007[Nov], Vol 26[6], 701-709). One result in Table 2 was misinterpreted in the text. It was reported that men who responded "yes" to frequently seeing people being active in their neighborhoods did about 75 minutes more physical activity per week (p2007-16656-008.) Purpose: In the present study, the authors extend previous cross-sectional findings by using a prospective design to determine whether physical and social environmental characteristics predict physical activity over 6 months. Design: Inactive adults were recruited to the Activity Counseling Trial, a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial of physical activity intervention in primary care. Participants were 387 women and 474 men aged 35-75 years in 3 regions; 1/3 were minorities; 56% had some college education. Baseline perceived environmental variables were used to predict physical activity at 6 months, adjusting for experimental condition and other potential moderators. Measures: The validated 7-day physical activity recall interview was used to estimate minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity. A standardized survey was used to measure social and physical environmental variables around the home and neighborhood. Results: Women reporting no unattended dogs and low crime in their neighborhoods and men reporting frequently seeing people being active in their neighborhoods did 50-75 more minutes of physical activity per week than did those with different environmental characteristics. Interactions of environmental variables with age group suggested that older adults may be more affected by environmental variables than are younger adults. Conclusions: Self-reported social and physical environmental variables were significantly related to moderate to vigorous physical activity among a diverse sample of adults living in 3 regions of the United States. These prospective findings strengthen the conclusion from previous cross-sectional studies that environmental variables are important correlates of physical activity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of an implicit mood prime on the accessibility of smoking expectancies in college women.

This study examined whether an implicit mood prime would differentially affect the accessibility of self-generated smoking expectancies in women. One hundred nine ever-smokers were randomly assigned to receive either a positive or negative musical mood induction or a no-music control condition. Participants self-generated smoking expectancies, and the 1st responses were categorized as positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, or negative consequence expectancies. Overall, participants generated mood-congruent smoking expectancies, suggesting that affect may act as a conditioned stimulus that elicits expectations of positive and negative reinforcement of smoking behavior. In addition, negative reinforcement expectancies were more frequently generated in current versus past smokers. Results are consistent with a situational-specificity hypothesis and memory-based models of affect and expectancies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)