Correlation of Skp2 overexpression to prognosis of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma from South China

S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2), which plays a role in cell cycle regulation, is commonly overexpressed in a variety of human cancers and associated with poor prognosis. However, its role in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is not well understood. In this study, we examined the clinical significance of Skp2, with a particular emphasis on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), in NPC cases in South China, where NPC is an epidemic. Additionally, we explored the function of Skp2 in maintaining a cancer stem cell -like phenotype in NPC cell lines. Skp2 expression was assessed for 127 NPC patients using tissue microarrays and immunohistochemistry and analyzed together with clinicopathologic features, OS, and DFS. Skp2 expression was detectable, or positive, in 75.6% of patients. Although there was no correlation between Skp2 and any clinicopathologic factor, Skp2 expression significantly portended inferior OS (P = 0.013) and DFS (P = 0.012). In the multivariate model, Skp2 expression remained significantly predictive of poor OS [P = 0.009, risk ratio (RR) = 4.06] and DFS (P = 0.008, RR = 3.56), and this was also true for clinical stage (P = 0.012 and RR=3.201 for OS; P = 0.002 and RR=1.94 for DFS) and sex (P = 0.016 and RR=0.31 for OS; P = 0.006 and RR = 0.27 for DFS). After Skp2 knockdown, a colony formation assay was used to evaluate the self-renewal property of stem-like cells in the NPC cell lines CNE-1 and CNE-2. The colony formation efficiency in CNE-1 and CNE-2 cells was decreased. In Skp2-transfected CNE-1 and CNE-2 cells, side population (SP) proportion was increased as detected by flow cytometry. Skp2 is an independent prognostic marker for OS and DFS in NPC. Skp2 may play a role in maintaining the cancer stem cell-like phenotype of NPC cell lines.

Isothermal oxidation behavior and mechanism of a nickel-based superalloy at 1000°C

The oxidation behavior of a nickel-based superalloy at 1000°C in air was investigated through X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy analysis. A series of oxides, including external oxide scales（Cr_2O_3,（TiO_2 ＋ Mn Cr_2O_4）） and internal oxides（Al_2O_3,Ti N）, were formed on the surface or sub-surface of the substrate at 1000°C in experimental still air. The oxidation resistance of the alloy was dependent on the stability of the surface oxide layer. The continuity and density of the protective Cr_2O_3 scale were affected by minor alloying elements such as Ti and Mn. The outermost oxide scale was composed of TiO_2 rutile and Mn Cr_2O_4 spinel, and the growth of TiO_2 particles was controlled by the outer diffusion of Ti ions through the pre-existing oxide layer. Severe internal oxidation occurred beneath the external oxide scale, consuming Al and Ti of the strength phase γ′（Ni_3（Al,Ti）） and thereby severely deteriorating the surface mechanical properties. The depth of the internal oxidation region was approximately 35 μm after exposure to experimental air at 1000°C for 80 h.

Ni(OH)_(2) Derived from NiS_(2) Induced by Reflux Playing Three Roles for Hydrogen/Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Developing efficient and promising non-noble catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction(OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction(HER) is vital but still a huge challenge for the clean energy system. Herein, we have integrated the active components for OER(Ni(OH)_(2)) and HER(Ni S_(2) and Ni(OH)_(2)) into Ni(OH)_(2)@NiS_(2) heterostructures by a facile reflux method. The in-situ formed Ni(OH)_(2) thin layer is coated on the surface of hollow Ni S2 nanosphere. The uniform Ni(OH)_(2)@NiS_(2) hollow sphere processes enlarge the electrochemically active specific surface area and enhance the intrinsic activity compared to NiS_(2) precursor, which affords a current density of 10 m A cm^(-2) at the overpotential of 309 m V and 100 m Acm^(-2) at 359 m V for OER. Meanwhile, Ni(OH)_(2)@NiS_(2) can reach 10 m A cm^(-2) at 233 m V for HER, superior to pure NiS_(2). The enhanced performance can be attributed to the synergy between Ni(OH)_(2) and NiS_(2). Specifically, Ni(OH)_(2) has three functions for water splitting: providing active sites for hydrogen adsorption and hydroxyl group desorption and working as real OER active sites. Moreover, Ni(OH)_(2)@NiS_(2) displays great stability for OER(50 h) and HER(30 h).