p32/OPA1 axis-mediated mitochondrial dynamics contributes to cisplatin resistance in non-small cell lung cancer.

Cisplatin resistance is a major obstacle in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). p32 and OPA1 are the key regulators of mitochondrial morphology and function. This study aims to investigate the role of the p32/OPA1 axis in cisplatin resistance in NSCLC and its underlying mechanism. The levels of p32 protein and mitochondrial fusion protein OPA1 are higher in cisplatin-resistant A549/DDP cells than in cisplatin-sensitive A549 cells, which facilitates mitochondrial fusion in A549/DDP cells. In addition, the expression of p32 and OPA1 protein is also upregulated in A549 cells during the development of cisplatin resistance. Moreover, p32 knockdown effectively downregulates the expression of OPA1, stimulates mitochondrial fission, decreases ATP generation and sensitizes A549/DDP cells to cisplatin-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, metformin significantly downregulates the expressions of p32 and OPA1 and induces mitochondrial fission and a decrease in ATP level in A549/DDP cells. The co-administration of metformin and cisplatin shows a significantly greater decrease in A549/DDP cell viability than cisplatin treatment alone. Moreover, D-erythro-Sphingosine, a potent p32 kinase activator, counteracts the metformin-induced downregulation of OPA1 and mitochondrial fission in A549/DDP cells. Taken together, these findings indicate that p32/OPA1 axis-mediated mitochondrial dynamics contributes to the acquired cisplatin resistance in NSCLC and that metformin resensitizes NSCLC to cisplatin, suggesting that targeting p32 and mitochondrial dynamics is an effective strategy for the prevention of cisplatin resistance.

Highly Reflective Silver-Enhanced Coating with High Adhesion and Sulfurization Resistance for Telescopes.

Highly reflective metal coatings are essential for manufacturing reflecting telescope mirrors to achieve the highest reflectivity with broad spectral bandwidth. Among metallic materials, enhanced silver-based coatings can provide higher reflectivity in the 400-500 nm spectral range to better performance from visible to near IR. Moreover, over-coating a dielectric protective layer on the mirror's front side attains additional hardness and oxidation stability. In this paper, we study a combination of thermal and electron beam evaporation as a technology to form protected enhanced high reflective Ag coatings. A newly designed multiplayer film can pass ASTM 5B adhesive performance testing and give sulfurization inhibition. The average specular reflectivity for the enhancement coating is about 98% in wavelengths across the spectral range from 400-1000 nm. This innovation has been demonstrated on a Newtonian type telescope, with storage in an ambiance humidity H = 60-85%, and temperature T = 10-35 °C, for more than six months without degradation in coating performance.

[Environmental efficiency evaluation under carbon emission constraint in Western China].

This research used the SBM model based on undesirable outputs to measure the static environmental efficiency of Western China under carbon emission constraint from 2000 to 2012. The researchers also utilized the Malmquist index to further analyze the change tendency of environmental efficiency. Additionally, Tobit regression analysis was used to study the factors relevant to environmental efficiency. Practical solutions to improve environmental quality in Western China were put forward. The study showed that in Western China, environmental efficiency with carbon emission constraint was significantly lower than that without carbon emission constraint, and the difference could be described as an inverse U-shaped curve which increased at first and then decreased. Guang-xi and Inner Mongolia, the two provinces met the effective environmental efficiency levels all the time under carbon emission constraint. However, the five provinces of Guizhou, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia and Xinjiang did not. Furthermore, Ningxia had the lowest level of environmental efficiency, with a score between 0.281-0.386. Although the environmental efficiency of most provinces was currently at an ineffective level, the environmental efficiency quality was gradually improving at an average speed of 6.6%. Excessive CO2 emission and a large amount of energy consumption were the primary factors causing environmental inefficiency in Western China, and energy intensity had the most negative impact on the environmental efficiency. The increase of import and export trade reduced the environmental efficiency significantly in Western China, while the increase of foreign direct investment had a positive effect on its environmental efficiency.

"Smart" Ag Nanostructures for Plasmon-Enhanced Spectroscopies.

Silver is an ideal candidate for surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based applications because of its great optical cross-section in the visible region. However, the uses of Ag in plasmon-enhanced spectroscopies have been limited due to their interference via direct contact with analytes, the poor chemical stability, and the Ag(+) release phenomenon. Herein, we report a facile chemical method to prepare shell-isolated Ag nanoparticle/tip. The as-prepared nanostructures exhibit an excellent chemical stability and plasmonic property in plasmon-enhanced spectroscopies for more than one year. It also features an alternative plasmon-mediated photocatalysis pathway by smartly blocking "hot" electrons. Astonishingly, the shell-isolated Ag nanoparticles (Ag SHINs), as "smart plasmonic dusts", reveal a ∼1000-fold ensemble enhancement of rhodamine isothiocyanate (RITC) on a quartz substrate in surface-enhanced fluorescence. The presented "smart" Ag nanostructures offer a unique way for the promotion of ultrahigh sensitivity and reliability in plasmon-enhanced spectroscopies.