豇豆属近缘野生种Vigna minima资源收集与表型性状初步研究

Vigna minima是豇豆属中的野生种,国内研究报道较少。本研究对搜集到的V.minima野生资源的地理分布、原生境主要性状、遗传多样性及其与野生小豆、栽培小豆性状间的差异进行了分析。结果表明:(1)搜集到的45份V.minima野生资源来源于辽宁、天津、河北、山东和北京等省、直辖市,资源在粒色、子粒大小、植株形态等方面变异丰富。(2)与栽培小豆相比,V.minima株型大,上胚轴短,叶片小,荚果细短,炸荚性强,荚色深,子粒小,粒色多样。植株和子粒性状与野生小豆相近,但种脐突出明显,且种脐长。(3)V.minima与栽培小豆间亲缘关系较远,而与野生小豆间亲缘关系较近。(4)不同地域间V.minima遗传多样性丰富,同一地域内不同材料间也存在遗传差异。     

Reported electronic cigarette use among adolescents in the Niagara region of Ontario

Background:Use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) among adolescents has not been fully described, in particular their motivations for using them and factors associated with use. We sought to evaluate the frequency, motivations and associated factors for e-cigarette use among adolescents in Ontario.Methods:We conducted a cross-sectional study in the Niagara region of Ontario, Canada, involving universal screening of students enrolled in grade 9 in co-operation with the Heart Niagara Inc. Healthy Heart Schools’ Program (for the 2013–2014 school year). We used a questionnaire to assess cigarette, e-cigarette and other tobacco use, and self-rated health and stress. We assessed household income using 2011 Canadian census data by matching postal codes to census code.Results:Of 3312 respondents, 2367 answered at least 1 question in the smoking section of the questionnaire (1274 of the 2367 respondents [53.8%] were male, with a mean [SD] age of 14.6 [0.5] yr) and 2292 answered the question about use of e-cigarettes. Most respondents to the questions about use of e-cigarettes (n = 1599, 69.8%) had heard of e-cigarettes, and 380 (23.8%) of these respondents had learned about them from a store sign or display. Use of e-cigarettes was reported by 238 (10.4%) students. Most of the respondents who reported using e-cigarettes (171, 71.9%) tried them because it was “cool/fun/new,” whereas 14 (5.8%) reported using them for smoking reduction or cessation. Male sex, recent cigarette or other tobacco use, family members who smoke and friends who smoke were strongly associated with reported e-cigarette use. Reported use of e-cigarettes was associated with self-identified fair/poor health rating (odds ratio [OR] 1.9 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2–3.0), p < 0.001), high stress level (OR 1.7 (95% CI 1.1–2.7), p < 0.001) and lower mean (33.4 [8.4] × $1000 v. 36.1 [10.7] × $1000, p = 0.001) and median [interquartile range] (26.2 [5.6] × $1000 v. 28.1 [5.7] × $1000) household incomes.Interpretation:Use of e-cigarettes is common among adolescents in the Niagara region and is associated with sociodemographic features. Engaging in seemingly exciting new behaviours appears to be a key motivating factor rather than smoking cessation.Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are novel devices that are designed to mimic the physical and tactile experience of conventional cigarettes while producing a smoke-free vapour. They have quickly gained popularity despite limited evidence regarding the health risks associated with their use and a lack of regulation.¹ In addition, existing literature about e-cigarettes suggests that they may not be effective for achieving smoking reduction or cessation, a use for which they are often marketed.^1–3 Given their physical similarities to conventional cigarettes, there are concerns that the increasing use of e-cigarettes may result in the “renormalization” of cigarette smoking.^4,5 Previous studies have suggested that use of e-cigarettes among adolescents and young adults may be associated with use of and exposure to tobacco.^1,6,7Rates of the use of e-cigarettes at least once among high school students in the United States have increased annually.^6,8 Among adolescents in Canada, use of e-cigarettes is now more common than cigarette use.⁹ However, questions still remain regarding the motivations and factors associated with e-cigarette use among adolescents. Therefore, we sought to evaluate the frequency, motivations and associated factors for use of e-cigarettes by students in grade 9 who were undergoing universal school-based screening for cardiovascular risk factors in the Niagara region in Ontario.     

A hidden aggregation‐prone structure in the heart of hypoxia inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase

Prolyl hydroxylase domain‐containing protein 2 (PHD2), as one of the most important regulators of angiogenesis and metastasis of cancer cells, is a promising target for cancer therapy drug design. Progressive studies imply that abnormality in PHD2 function may be due to misfolding. Therefore, study of the PHD2 unfolding pathway paves the way for a better understanding of the influence of PHD2 mutations and cancer cell metabolites on the protein folding pathway. We study the unfolding of the PHD2 catalytic domain using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), fluorescence spectroscopy, and discrete molecular dynamics simulations (DMD). Using computational and experimental techniques, we find that PHD2 undergoes four transitions along the thermal unfolding pathway. To illustrate PHD2 unfolding events in atomic detail, we utilize DMD simulations. Analysis of computational results indicates an intermediate species in the PHD2 unfolding pathway that may enhance aggregation propensity, explaining mutation‐independent PHD2 malfunction. Proteins 2016; 84:611–623. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.