Hemorrhagic transformation in patients with large-artery atherosclerotic stroke is associated with the gut microbiota and lipopolysaccharide

Hemorrhagic transformation is a major complication of large-artery atheroscle rotic stroke(a major ischemic stro ke subtype)that wo rsens outcomes and increases mortality.Disruption of the gut microbiota is an important feature of stroke,and some specific bacteria and bacterial metabolites may contribute to hemorrhagic transformation pathogenesis.We aimed to investigate the relationship between the gut microbiota and hemorrhagic transformation in largearte ry atheroscle rotic stro ke.An observational retrospective study was conducted.From May 2020 to September 2021,blood and fecal samples were obtained upon admission from 32 patients with first-ever acute ischemic stroke and not undergoing intravenous thrombolysis or endovascular thrombectomy,as well as 16 healthy controls.Patients with stro ke who developed hemorrhagic transfo rmation(n=15)were compared to those who did not develop hemorrhagic transformation(n=17)and with healthy controls.The gut microbiota was assessed through 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid sequencing.We also examined key components of the lipopolysaccharide pathway:lipopolysaccharide,lipopolysaccharide-binding protein,and soluble CD14.We observed that bacterial diversity was decreased in both the hemorrhagic transformation and non-hemorrhagic transfo rmation group compared with the healthy controls.The patients with ischemic stro ke who developed hemorrhagic transfo rmation exhibited altered gut micro biota composition,in particular an increase in the relative abundance and dive rsity of members belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family.Plasma lipopolysaccharide and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein levels were higher in the hemorrhagic transformation group compared with the non-hemorrhagic transfo rmation group.lipopolysaccharide,lipopolysaccharide-binding protein,and soluble CD14 concentrations were associated with increased abundance of Enterobacte riaceae.Next,the role of the gut microbiota in hemorrhagic transformation was evaluated using an experimental stroke rat model.In this model,transplantation of the gut microbiota from hemorrhagic transformation rats into the recipient rats triggered higher plasma levels of lipopolysaccharide,lipopolysaccharide-binding protein,and soluble CD14.Ta ken togethe r,our findings demonstrate a noticeable change in the gut microbiota and lipopolysaccharide-related inflammatory response in stroke patients with hemorrhagic transformation.This suggests that maintaining a balanced gut microbiota may be an important factor in preventing hemorrhagic transfo rmation after stro ke.

Preparation of MXene-based hybrids and their application in neuromorphic devices

The traditional von Neumann computing architecture has relatively-low information processing speed and high power consumption,making it difficult to meet the computing needs of artificial intelligence(AI).Neuromorphic computing systems,with massively parallel computing capability and low power consumption,have been considered as an ideal option for data storage and AI computing in the future.Memristor,as the fourth basic electronic component besides resistance,capacitance and inductance,is one of the most competitive candidates for neuromorphic computing systems benefiting from the simple structure,continuously adjustable conductivity state,ultra-low power consumption,high switching speed and compatibility with existing CMOS technology.The memristors with applying MXene-based hybrids have attracted significant attention in recent years.Here,we introduce the latest progress in the synthesis of MXene-based hybrids and summarize their potential applications in memristor devices and neuromorphological intelligence.We explore the development trend of memristors constructed by combining MXenes with other functional materials and emphatically discuss the potential mechanism of MXenes-based memristor devices.Finally,the future prospects and directions of MXene-based memristors are briefly described.

Early adenocarcinoma mixed with a neuroendocrine carcinoma component arising in the gastroesophageal junction: A case report

BACKGROUND Early adenocarcinoma mixed with a neuroendocrine carcinoma(NEC)component arising in the gastroesophageal junctional(GEJ)region is rare and even rarer in young patients.Here,we report such a case in a 29-year-old Chinese man.CASE SUMMARY This patient presented to our hospital with a 3-mo history of dysphagia and regurgitation.Upper endoscopy revealed an elevated nodule in the distal esophagus 1.6 cm above the GEJ line,without Barrett’s esophagus or involvement of the gastric cardia.The nodule was completely resected by endoscopic submu-cosal dissection(ESD).Pathological examination confirmed diagnosis of intra-mucosal adenocarcinoma mixed with an NEC component,measuring 1.5 cm.Immunohistochemically,both adenocarcinoma and NEC components were positive for P53 with a Ki67 index of 90%;NEC was positive for synaptophysin and chromogranin.Next-generation sequencing of 196 genes demonstrated a novel germline mutation of the ERCC3 gene in the DNA repair pathway and a germline mutation of the RNF43 gene,a common gastric cancer driver gene,in addition to pathogenic somatic mutations in P53 and CHEK2 genes.The patient was alive without evidence of the disease 36 mo after ESD.CONCLUSION Early adenocarcinoma with an NEC component arising in the distal esophageal side of the GEJ region showed evidence of gastric origin.

Anthropogenic nesting materials and reproductive performance of Chinese Bulbuls(Pycnonotus sinensis)along the urbanization gradient in Hangzhou,China

Urbanization induced by human activities presents both challenges and adaptive opportunities for wildlife.One notable impact of urban sprawl is the vast amount of waste it produces,which has discernible effects on wildlife.Interestingly,an emerging trend has been observed that birds are incorporating anthropogenic materials into their nests.However,the relationship between anthropogenic nesting materials(ANMs)and the reproductive performance of urban birds is unclear.In this study,we investigated the relationship between the incorporation of ANMs into nests and the reproductive performance of Chinese Bulbuls(Pycnonotus sinensis)by monitoring and collecting data on 136 breeding nests in Hangzhou,China.We gathered data on seven reproductive traits of Chinese Bulbuls,including laying date,incubation period,nestling period,clutch size,egg volume,hatching success rate,and fledging success rate.We then calculated the urbanization synthetic index as a measure of the level of urbanization and examined its relationship with the proportion and weight of ANMs.Through examination of nest components,we observed significant increase in the proportion and weight of ANMs with the urbanization synthetic index.Notably,we found a higher hatching success rate of Chinese Bulbuls with an increasing proportion of ANMs.However,the inclusion of ANMs in nests was not correlated with other reproductive traits of Chinese Bulbuls.Overall,the use of ANMs by Chinese Bulbuls is consistent with the adaptive hypothesis and the availability hypothesis.Further studies should use controlled experiments to investigate the impact of ANMs on avian reproductive success.

LIN28A/B在肿瘤发生发展中的作用研究进展

LIN28A及其同源蛋白LIN28B是高度保守的RNA结合蛋白,在胚胎早期发育、体细胞重编程、葡萄糖代谢以及肿瘤发生发展中具有重要作用。LIN28A/B在乳腺癌等恶性肿瘤中高表达,在肿瘤的起始、维持和转移中均发挥重要作用,并与预后不良相关。研究表明,LIN28A/B主要通过抑制let-7s等microRNA和直接靶向mRNA的方式发挥调控作用。本文主要综述了LIN28A/B在肝癌、乳腺癌、结直肠癌等恶性肿瘤中的功能及其分子调控机制,以期为进一步研究LIN28A/B的作用机制及其在临床治疗中的可能应用提供理论参考。

Biomechanical analysis of an absorbable material for treating fractures of the inferior orbital wall

AIM:To investigate the biomechanical properties and practical application of absorbable materials in orbital fracture repair.METHODS:The three-dimensional(3D)model of orbital blowout fractures was reconstructed using Mimics21.0 software.The repair guide plate model for inferior orbital wall fracture was designed using 3-matic13.0 and Geomagic wrap 21.0 software.The finite element model of orbital blowout fracture and absorbable repair plate was established using 3-matic13.0 and ANSYS Workbench 21.0 software.The mechanical response of absorbable plates,with thicknesses of 0.6 and 1.2 mm,was modeled after their placement in the orbit.Two patients with inferior orbital wall fractures volunteered to receive single-layer and double-layer absorbable plates combined with 3D printing technology to facilitate surgical treatment of orbital wall fractures.RESULTS:The finite element models of orbital blowout fracture and absorbable plate were successfully established.Finite element analysis(FEA)showed that when the Young’s modulus of the absorbable plate decreases to 3.15 MPa,the repair material with a thickness of 0.6 mm was influenced by the gravitational forces of the orbital contents,resulting in a maximum total deformation of approximately 3.3 mm.Conversely,when the absorbable plate was 1.2 mm thick,the overall maximum total deformation was around 0.4 mm.The half-year follow-up results of the clinical cases confirmed that the absorbable plate with a thickness of 1.2 mm had smaller maximum total deformation and better clinical efficacy.CONCLUSION:The biomechanical analysis observations in this study are largely consistent with the clinical situation.The use of double-layer absorbable plates in conjunction with 3D printing technology is recommended to support surgical treatment of infraorbital wall blowout fractures.

Diabetic ketoacidosis complicated with intussusception: a case report

Intussusception is relatively rare in adults but common in children.[1,2]An untreated intussusception often causes intestinal obstruction,intestinal perforation,peritonitis,and shock.[3]Diabetic ketoacidosis(DKA)is the most common acute hyperglycemic emergency in uncontrolled type 1 diabetes(T1DM).[4]More than 60%of DKA patients experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea,vomiting,and abdominal pain,[5,6]which sometimes lead to the neglect of other serious underlying conditions.Although delayed gastric emptying,intestinal obstruction,electrolyte imbalance,and metabolic acidosis are associated with DKA,the underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated.[7]This study aimed to report a DKA patient complicated with intussusception.

Unraveling the mechanism of malancao in treating ulcerative colitis:A multi-omics approach

BACKGROUND Malancao(MLC)is a traditional Chinese medicine with a long history of utilization in treating ulcerative colitis(UC).Nevertheless,the precise molecular mechanisms underlying its efficacy remain elusive.This study leveraged ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with exactive mass spectrometry(UHPLC-QE-MS),network pharmacology,molecular docking(MD),and gene microarray analysis to discern the bioactive constituents and the potential mechanism of action of MLC in UC management.AIM To determine the ingredients related to MLC for treatment of UC using multiple databases to obtain potential targets for fishing.METHODS This research employs UHPLC-QE-MS for the identification of bioactive compounds present in MLC plant samples.Furthermore,the study integrates the identified MLC compound-related targets with publicly available databases to elucidate common drug disease targets.Additionally,the R programming language is utilized to predict the central targets and molecular pathways that MLC may impact in the treatment of UC.Finally,MD are conducted using AutoDock Vina software to assess the affinity of bioactive components to the main targets and confirm their therapeutic potential.RESULTS Firstly,through a comprehensive analysis of UHPLC-QE-MS data and public database resources,we identified 146 drug-disease cross targets related to 11 bioactive components.The Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis highlighted that common disease drug targets are primarily involved in oxidative stress management,lipid metabolism,atherosclerosis,and other processes.They also affect AGE-RAGE and apoptosis signaling pathways.Secondly,by analyzing the differences in diseases,we identified key research targets.These core targets are related to 11 active substances,including active ingredients such as quercetin and luteolin.Finally,MD analysis revealed the stability of compound-protein binding,particularly between JUNLuteolin,JUN-Quercetin,HSP90AA1-Wogonin,and HSP90AA1-Rhein.Therefore,this suggests that MLC may help alleviate intestinal inflammation in UC,restore abnormal lipid accumulation,and regulate the expression levels of core proteins in the intestine.CONCLUSION The utilization of MLC has demonstrated notable therapeutic efficacy in the management of UC by means of the compound target interaction pathway.The amalgamation of botanical resources,metabolomics,natural products,MD,and gene chip technology presents a propitious methodology for investigating therapeutic targets of herbal medicines and discerning novel bioactive constituents.

α1抗胰蛋白酶与脓毒症患者发生急性肾损伤的关系及其预测价值

目的探讨α1抗胰蛋白酶(α1-AT)与脓毒症患者急性肾损伤(AKI)发生的关系及其预测价值。方法选取2017年9月-2019年10月在宁波大学医学院附属医院重症医学科住院的脓毒症患者90例。28例AKI患者作为AKI组,其余62例患者未合并AKI作为非AKI组。连续监测患者7 d血清和尿α1-AT,并绘制受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线分析AKI确诊前48和24 h及当日对脓毒症患者发生AKI的预警或诊断价值。结果①与非AKI患者入组当日数据比较,AKI组患者AKI确诊前48和24 h及确诊当日血清α1-AT含量降低(P <0.05),而尿α1-AT含量升高(P <0.05)。②经ROC曲线分析,AKI确诊前48和24 h尿α1-AT对AKI的预警效能高于血清α1-AT(P <0.05)。③多因素非条件一般Logistic回归分析结果显示,尿α1-AT是AKI发生的独立影响因素[OR^^]=1.813(95% CI:1.230,2.974),P=0.001]。结论脓毒症合并AKI患者血清α1-AT含量升高,而尿α1-AT含量降低,对AKI发生具有早期预警和诊断效能,且尿α1-AT是AKI发生的独立影响因素。

Research on Water Sensitivity and Velocity Sensitivity of Loose Sandstone Reservoir in China Offshore Oilfield

Aiming at the development characteristics of Bohai P oilfield, formation mechanism of reservoir damage was analyzed by mines of mineral composition, micro-pore structure, and seepage mechanism. Microscopic petrological observations and laboratory core experiments show that the content of clay minerals such as the Imon mixed layer and kaolinite is high with high porosity and good pore roar structure;the water sensitivity is medium to strong, The lower the salinity of injected water, the greater the drop in core permeability;the velocity-sensitive damage is strong, and permeability increases with the increase in flow velocity, and a large number of particles are observed in the produced fluid under the microscope. Aiming at the contradiction of velocity sensitivity between core permeability increase and the permeability decrease near the wellbore, the velocity sensitivity seepage model of “long-distance migration and blockage near the well” is proposed, and the permeability and formation distribution formula are deduced. The calculated value is close to the test value of actual pressure recovery test. The research results of water sensitivity and velocity sensitivity provide important guidance for Bohai P oilfield to improve production and absorption capacity and reservoir protection.

Differences in HER2 over-expression between proximal and distal gastric cancers in the Chinese population

AIM: To investigate HER2 expression and its correlation with clinicopathological variables between proximal and distal gastric cancers (GC) in the Chinese population. METHODS: Immunostaining of HER2 was performed and scored on a scale of 0-3 in 957 consecutive GC cases, according to the revised scoring criteria of HercepTest TM as used in the ToGA trial. Correlations between HER2 expression and clinicopathologic variables of proximal (n = 513) and distal (n = 444) GC were investigated. RESULTS: Our results showed that HER2 expression was significantly higher in the proximal than in distal GC (P < 0.05). Overall, HER2 expression was significantly higher in male patients (P < 0.01), the Lauren intestinal type (P < 0.001), low-grade (P < 0.001) and pM1 (P < 0.01) diseases, respectively. There was a significant difference in HER2 expression among some pTNM stages (P < 0.05). In contrast, HER2 expression in the distal GC was significantly higher in male patients (P < 0.001), low-grade histology (P < 0.001), the Lauren intestinal type(P < 0.001), and pM1 (P < 0.001). In the proximal GC, however, higher HER2 expression scores were observed only in tumors with low-grade histology (P < 0.001) and the Lauren intestinal type (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: HER2 over-expression in GC of Chinese patients was significantly more common in proximal than in distal GC, and significantly correlated with the Lauren intestinal type and low-grade histology in both proximal and distal GC, and with pM1 disease and male gender in distal GC.

Factors predicting survival in patients with proximal gastric carcinoma involving the esophagus

AIM： To investigate the clinicopathologic features which predict surgical overall survival in patients with proxima gastric carcinoma involving the esophagus （PGCE）. METHODS： Electronic pathology database established in the Department of Pathology of the Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital was searched for consecutive resection cases of proximal gastric carcinoma over the period from May 2004 through July 2009. Each retrieved pa- thology report was reviewed and the cases with tumors crossing the gastroesophageal junction line were se- lected as PGCE. Each tumor was re-staged, following the guidelines on esophageal adenocarcinoma, accord- ing to the 7th edition of the American Joint Commission on Cancer Staging Manual. All histology slides were studied along with the pathology report for a retrospec- tive analysis of 13 clinicopathologic features, i.e., age, gender, Helicobacter pylori （H. pylon} infection, surgical modality, Siewert type, tumor Bormann＇s type, size, dif- ferentiation, histology type, surgical margin, lympho- vascular and perineural invasion, and pathologic stage in relation to survival after surgical resection. Prognos- tic factors for overall survival were assessed with uni- and multi-variate analyses. RESULTS： Patients＇ mean age was 65 years （range： 47-90 years）. The male： female ratio was 3.3. The 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 87%, 61% and 32%, respectively. By univariate analysis, age, male gender, H. pylori, tumor Bormann＇s type, size, histology type, surgical modality, positive surgical margin, lym- phovascular invasion, and pT stage were not predictive for overall survival; in contrast, perineural invasion （P = 0.003）, poor differentiation （P = 0.0003）, 〉 15 to- tal lymph nodes retrieved （P = 0.008）, positive lymph nodes （P = 0.001）, and distant metastasis （P = 0.005） predicted poor post-operative overall survival. Celiac axis nodal metastasis was associated with significantly worse overall survival （P = 0.007）. By multivariate analysis, ≥ 16 positive nodes （P = 0.018）, lymph node ratio 〉 0.2 （P = 0.003）, and overall pathologic stage （P= 0.002） were independent predictors for poor overa survival after resection. CONCLUSION： Patients with PGCE showed worse over- all survival in elderly, high nodal burden and advanced pathologic stage. This cancer may be more accurately staged as gastric, than esophageal, cancer.

Human amniotic epithelial cells express specific markers of nerve cells and migrate along the nerve fibers in the corpus callosum

Human amniotic epithelial cells were isolated from a piece of fresh amnion. Using immunocytochemical methods, we investigated the expression of neuronal phenotypes （microtubule-associated protein-2, glial fibrillary acidic protein and nestin） in human amniotic epithelial cells. The conditioned medium of human amniotic epithelial cells promoted the growth and proliferation of rat glial cells cultured in vitro, and this effect was dose-dependent. Human amniotic epithelial cells were further transplanted into the corpus striatum of healthy adult rats and the grafted cells could integrate with the host and migrate 1 2 mm along the nerve fibers in corpus callosum. Our experimental findings indicate that human amniotic epithelial cells may be a new kind of seed cells for use in neurograft.

Variability of Raindrop Size Distribution during a Regional Freezing Rain Event in the Jianghan Plain of Central China

The characteristics of the raindrop size distribution(DSD)during regional freezing rain(FR)events that occur throughout the phase change(from liquid to solid)are poorly understood due to limited observations.We investigate the evolution of microphysical parameters and the key formation mechanisms of regional FR using the DSDs from five disdrometer sites in January 2018 in the Jianghan Plain(JHP)of Central China.FR is identified via the size and velocity distribution measured from a disdrometer,the discrete Fréchet distancemethod,surface temperature,human observations,and sounding data.With the persistence of precipitation,the emergence of graupel or snowflakes significantly reduces the proportion of FR.The enhancement of this regional FR event is mainly dominated by the increase in the number concentration of raindrops but weakly affected by the diameters.To improve the accuracy of quantitative precipitation estimation for the FR event,a modified second-degree polynomial relation between the shapeμand slopeΛof gamma DSDs is derived,and a new Z-R(radar reflectivity to rain rate)relationship is developed.The mean values of mass-weighted mean diameters(D_(m))and generalized intercepts(lgN_(w))in FR are close to the stratiform results in the northern region of China.Both the melting of tiny-rimed graupels and large-dry snowflakes are a response to the formation of this regional FR process in the JHP,dominated by the joint influence of the physical mechanism of warm rain,vapor deposition,and aggregation/riming coupled with the effect of weak convective motion in some periods.

Cervical inlet patch-optical coherence tomography imaging and clinical significance

AIM:To demonstrate the feasibility of optical coherence tomography(OCT)imaging in differentiating cervical inlet patch(CIP)from normal esophagus,Barrett'sesophagus(BE),normal stomach and duodenum. METHODS:This study was conducted at the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System(VABHS).Patients undergoing standard esophagogastroduodenoscopy at VABHS,including one patient with CIP,one representative patient with BE and three representative normal subjects were included.White light video endoscopy was performed and endoscopic 3D-OCT images were obtained in each patient using a prototype OCT system.The OCT imaging probe passes through the working channel of the endoscope to enable simultaneous video endoscopy and 3D-OCT examination of the human gastrointestinal(GI)tract.Standard hematoxylin and eosin(H and E)histology was performed on biopsy or endoscopic mucosal resection specimens in order to compare and validate the 3D-OCT data. RESULTS:CIP was observed from a 68-year old male with gastroesophageal reflux disease.The CIP region appeared as a pink circular lesion in the upper esophagus under white light endoscopy.OCT imaging over the CIP region showed columnar epithelium structure,which clearly contrasted the squamous epithelium structure from adjacent normal esophagus.3D-OCT images obtained from other representative patients demonstrated distinctive patterns of the normal esophagus,BE,normal stomach,and normal duodenum bulb.Microstructures,such as squamous epithelium,lamina propria, muscularis mucosa,muscularis propria,esophageal glands,Barrett's glands,gastric mucosa,gastric glands, and intestinal mucosal villi were clearly observed with OCT and matched with H and E histology.These results demonstrated the feasibility of using OCT to evaluate GI tissue morphology in situ and in real-time. CONCLUSION:We demonstrate in situ evaluation of CIP microstructures using 3D-OCT,which may be a useful tool for future diagnosis and follow-up of patients with CIP.

Thermal cracking characteristics of n-decane in the rectangular and circular tubes

To investigate the effect of regenerative cooling channel geometry on pyrolysis of endothermic hydrocarbon fuel,a series of supercritical pyrolysis experiments of n-decane in the rectangular and circular tubes were conducted.Moreover,sensitivity analysis of production of propylene and methane as well as CFD simulation were also done.The results showed that gas yield and conversion in the circular tube with an inner diameter of 2 mm had a similar tendency with the one of 1.5 mm in inner diameter.The conversion in the circular tube was much less than that in the rectangular tube at the same outlet temperature.The heat sink of the rectangular tube at the same outlet temperature was larger than that of circular tubes,but the temperature at the corner of the rectangular tube was relatively high.According to the experimental data of the test tubes,a correlation between the conversion and the temperature in the rectangular and circular tubes at the same outlet temperature was fitted,providing a reference for the design of regenerative cooling channels.

Low-Density Parity-Check Codes:Highway to Channel Capacity

Low-density parity-check(LDPC)codes are not only capacity-approaching,but also greatly suitable for high-throughput implementation.Thus,they are the most popular codes for high-speed data transmission in the past two decades.Thanks to the low-density property of their parity-check matrices,the optimal maximum a posteriori probability decoding of LDPC codes can be approximated by message-passing decoding with linear complexity and highly parallel nature.Then,it reveals that the approximation has to carry on Tanner graphs without short cycles and small trapping sets.Last,it demonstrates that well-designed LDPC codes with the aid of computer simulation and asymptotic analysis tools are able to approach the channel capacity.Moreover,quasi-cyclic(QC)structure is introduced to significantly facilitate their high-throughput implementation.In fact,compared to the other capacity-approaching codes,QC-LDPC codes can provide better area-efficiency and energy-efficiency.As a result,they are widely applied in numerous communication systems,e.g.,Landsat satellites,Chang’e Chinese Lunar mission,5G mobile communications and so on.What’s more,its extension to non-binary Galois fields has been adopted as the channel coding scheme for BeiDou navigation satellite system.

Copper-comprising nanocrystals as well-defined electrocatalysts to advance electrochemical CO_(2) reduction

In the continuous development of electrochemical CO_(2) reduction (ECR), Cu-based electrocatalysts have received great attention, due to their unique ability to produce high value-added multicarbon products. Of particular interest are various Cu-comprising nanocrystals, not only because they usually show better catalytic properties than bulk materials, but also because their well-defined structures and highly tunable compositions facilitate in-depth mechanistic studies. This review aims to summarize the latest developments of electrocatalysts for ECR, with a focus on systems using Cu-comprising nanocrystals. We first give a general introduction to the field of ECR, covering the significance of this process, reaction mechanisms, catalyst evaluation criteria, and electrolytic cell configurations. Next, we discuss Cu-comprising nanocrystals developed for ECR by categorizing them into four groups: monometallic copper, copper-containing bimetals/multimetals, copper compounds, and copper–metal oxide hybrids;among these groups, we choose representative examples for detailed discussion on the synthetic methods, structural and compositional reaction sensitivities, and catalyst evolution during ECR. In the last section, we outline the challenges in this field from the fundamental and applicative aspects, and give perspectives on the expansion of catalyst varieties, the identification and preservation of active sites, and the exploration of industrially relevant operations for these nanocrystals. We hope the insights provided in this review will inspire the design and development of next-generation catalysts for ECR.

Carcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction in Chinese patients

Carcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction(GEJ) is defined as carcinoma that crosses the GEJ line,irrespective of where the tumor epicenter is located.This group of cancer is rare but controversial.Based on study results from the majority of epidemiologic and clinicopathologic investigations carried out in Western countries,this cancer is believed to arise from Barrett's esophagus(BE) and includes both distal esophageal and proximal gastric carcinomas because of similar characteristics in epidemiology,clinicopathology,and molecular pathobiology in relation to BE.As such,the most recent American Joint Committee on Cancer staging manual requires staging all GEJ carcinomas with the rule for esophageal adenocarcinoma(EA).This mandate has been challenged recently by the data from several studies carried out mainly in Chinese patients.The emerging evidence derivedfrom those studies suggests:(1) both BE and EA are uncommon in the Chinese population;(2) almost all GEJ cancers in Chinese arise in the proximal stomach and show the features of proximal gastric cancer,not those of EA;(3) application of the new cancer staging rule to GEJ cancer of Chinese patients cannot stratify patients' prognosis effectively;and(4) prognostic factors of GEJ cancer in Chinese are similar,but not identical,to those of EA.In conclusion,the recent evidence suggests that GEJ cancer in Chinese shows distinct clinicopathologic characteristics that are different from EA.Further investigations in molecular pathology may help illustrate the underlying pathogenesis mechanisms of this cancer in Chinese patients and better manage patients with this fatal disease.

Variation in reproductive life-history traits of Chinese Bulbuls(Pycnonotus sinensis)along the urbanization gradient in Hangzhou,China

Urbanization brings new selection pressures to wildlife living in cities,and changes in the life-history traits of urban species can reflect their responses to such pressures.To date,most of the studies investigating the impacts of urbanization on avian life-history traits are conducted in Europe and North America,while such studies are often lacking in quickly developing countries in Asia(e.g.,China).In this study,we examined the variations in reproductive life-history traits of Chinese Bulbuls(Pycnonotus sinensis)along the urbanization gradient in Hangzhou,China.We detected 234 natural nests of Chinese Bulbuls and continuously monitored them in two continuous breeding seasons from 2012 to 2013.We collected data on seven life-history traits(laying date,incubation period,nestling period,clutch size,egg volume,hatching success rate,and fledging success rate).We used infrared cameras to record the number of feedings per hour as the measure of food resources for the nestlings.We measured nest predation pressure by monitoring 148 natural breeding nests during breeding seasons and 54 artificial nests immediately after breeding seasons.We then calculated the urbanization synthetic index(USI)as a measure of the level of urbanization and examined its relationship with the seven life-history traits.We found that Chinese Bulbuls laid eggs significantly earlier with increasing USI.However,the other six life-history traits did not vary significantly with the USI.Moreover,the feeding frequency of chicks increased significantly with the USI,but the nest predation pressure of Chinese Bulbuls decreased significantly with the USI.Increased food resources and reduced nest predation pressure in cities may lead to earlier laying date of Chinese Bulbuls.Further study should test whether the earlier laying date of Chinese Bulbuls is the result of phenotypic plasticity or genetic change.