Conjugated polymers based on metalla-aromatic building blocks.

Conjugated polymers usually require strategies to expand the range of wavelengths absorbed and increase solubility. Developing effective strategies to enhance both properties remains challenging. Herein, we report syntheses of conjugated polymers based on a family of metalla-aromatic building blocks via a polymerization method involving consecutive carbyne shuttling processes. The involvement of metal d orbitals in aromatic systems efficiently reduces band gaps and enriches the electron transition pathways of the chromogenic repeat unit. These enable metalla-aromatic conjugated polymers to exhibit broad and strong ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption bands. Bulky ligands on the metal suppress π-π stacking of polymer chains and thus increase solubility. These conjugated polymers show robust stability toward light, heat, water, and air. Kinetic studies using NMR experiments and UV-Vis spectroscopy, coupled with the isolation of well-defined model oligomers, revealed the polymerization mechanism.

Picometer-Scale Atomic Shifts Governing Subdisordered Structures in Diamond.

Diamond is considered the most promising next-generation semiconductor material due to its excellent physical characteristics. It has been more than three decades since the discovery of a special structure named n-diamond. However, despite extensive efforts, its crystallographic structure and properties are still unclear. Here, we show that subdisordered structures in diamond provide an explanation for the structural feature of n-diamond. Monocrystalline diamond with subdisordered structures is synthesized via the chemical vapor deposition method. Atomic-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy characterizations combined with the picometer-precision peak finder technology and diffraction simulations reveal that picometer-scale shifts of atoms within cells of diamond govern the subdisordered structures. First-principles calculations indicate that the bandgap of diamond decreases rapidly with increasing shifting distance, in accordance with experimental results. These findings clarify the crystallographic structure and electronic properties of n-diamond and provide new insights into the bandgap adjustment in diamond.

Renoprotective effects of empagliflozin in high-fat diet-induced obesity-related glomerulopathy by regulation of gut-kidney axis.

The increasing prevalence of obesity-related glomerulopathy (ORG) poses a significant threat to public health. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors effectively reduce body weight and total fat mass in individuals with obesity and halt the progression of ORG. However, the underlying mechanisms of their reno-protective effects in ORG remain unclear. We established a high-fat diet-induced ORG model using C57BL/6J mice, which were divided into three groups: normal chow diet (NCD group), high-fat diet (HFD) mice treated with placebo (ORG group), and HFD mice treated with empagliflozin (EMPA group). We conducted 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing of feces and analyzed metabolites from kidney, feces, liver, and serum samples. ORG mice showed increased urinary albumin creatinine ratio, cholesterol, triglyceride levels, and glomerular diameter compared with NCD mice (all P < 0.05). EMPA treatment significantly alleviated these parameters (all P < 0.05). Multitissue metabolomics analysis revealed lipid metabolic reprogramming in ORG mice, which was significantly altered by EMPA treatment. MetOrigin analysis showed a close association between EMPA-related lipid metabolic pathways and gut microbiota alterations, characterized by reduced abundances of Firmicutes and Desulfovibrio and increased abundance of Akkermansia (all P < 0.05). The metabolic homeostasis of ORG mice, especially in lipid metabolism, was disrupted and closely associated with gut microbiota alterations, contributing to the progression of ORG. EMPA treatment improved kidney function and morphology by regulating lipid metabolism through the gut-kidney axis, highlighting a novel therapeutic approach for ORG. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Our study uncovered that empagliflozin (EMPA) potentially protects renal function and morphology in obesity-related glomerulopathy (ORG) mice by regulating the gut-kidney axis. EMPA's reno-protective effects in ORG mice are associated with the lipid metabolism, especially in glycerophospholipid metabolism and the pantothenate/CoA synthesis pathways. EMPA's modulation of gut microbiota appears to be pivotal in suppressing glycerol 3-phosphate and CoA synthesis. The insights into gut microbiota-host metabolic interactions offer a novel therapeutic approach for ORG.

A Geometrically Flexible Three-Dimensional Nanocarbon.

The development of architecturally unique molecular nanocarbons by bottom-up organic synthesis is essential for accessing functional organic materials awaiting technological developments in fields such as energy, electronics, and biomedicine. Herein, we describe the design and synthesis of a triptycene-based three-dimensional (3D) nanocarbon, GFN-1, with geometrical flexibility on account of its three peripheral π-panels being capable of interconverting between two curved conformations. An effective through-space electronic communication among the three π-panels of GFN-1 has been observed in its monocationic radical form, which exhibits an extensively delocalized spin density over the entire 3D π-system as revealed by electron paramagnetic resonance and UV-vis-NIR spectroscopies. The flexible 3D molecular architecture of GFN-1, along with its densely packed superstructures in the presence of fullerenes, is revealed by microcrystal electron diffraction and single-crystal X-ray diffraction, which establish the coexistence of both propeller and tweezer conformations in the solid state. GFN-1 exhibits strong binding affinities for fullerenes, leading to host-guest complexes that display rapid photoinduced electron transfer within a picosecond. The outcomes of this research could pave the way for the utilization of shape and electronically complementary nanocarbons in the construction of functional coassemblies.

Metal-Assisted Carbohydrate Assembly.

The sequence-controlled assembly of nucleic acids and amino acids into well-defined superstructures constitutes one of the most revolutionary technologies in modern science. The elaboration of such superstructures from carbohydrates, however, remains elusive and largely unexplored on account of their intrinsic constitutional and configurational complexity, not to mention their inherent conformational flexibility. Here, we report the bottom-up assembly of two classes of hierarchical superstructures that are formed from a highly flexible cyclo-oligosaccharide─namely, cyclofructan-6 (CF-6). The formation of coordinative bonds between the oxygen atoms of CF-6 and alkali metal cations (i) locks a myriad of flexible conformations of CF-6 into a few rigid conformations, (ii) bridges adjacent CF-6 ligands, and (iii) gives rise to the multiple-level assembly of three extended frameworks. The hierarchical superstructures present in these frameworks have been shown to modulate their nanomechanical properties. This research highlights the unique opportunities of constructing convoluted superstructures from carbohydrates and should encourage future endeavors in this underinvestigated field of science.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) exon 3 variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) 2-repeat allele.

To investigate the association of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with the 48-base pair (bp) variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) in exon 3 of the dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) gene, we genotyped 240 ADHD patients and their parents from Hong Kong. The 4R allele was most common, followed by 2R. We examined association between the 2R allele (relative to 4R) and ADHD by Transmission Disequilibrium Test (TDT). The odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval) was 0.90 (0.64-1.3). The p-value was 0.6. Examining subgroups revealed nominally significant association of 2R with inattentive ADHD: OR = 0.33 (0.12-0.92) and p = 0.03. Because our study used TDT analysis, we meta-analyzed the association of 2R with ADHD in Asians (1329 patient alleles), revealing results similar to ours: OR = 0.97 (0.80-1.2) and p = 0.8. To examine the association of 2R with inattentive ADHD, we meta-analyzed all studies (regardless of analysis type or ethnicity, in order to increase statistical power): 702 patient alleles, 1420 control alleles, OR = 0.81 (0.57-1.1) and p = 0.2. Overall, there is no evidence of association between ADHD and the 2R allele, but the suggestive association with the inattentive type warrants further investigation.

Aberrant cortical morphology patterns are associated with cognitive impairment in patients with chronic heart failure.

A mounting body of evidences suggests that patients with chronic heart failure (HF) frequently experience cognitive impairments, but the neuroanatomical mechanism underlying these impairments remains elusive. In this retrospective study, 49 chronic HF patients and 49 healthy controls (HCs) underwent brain structural MRI scans and cognitive assessments. Cortical morphology index (cortical thickness, complexity, sulcal depth and gyrification) were evaluated. Correlations between cortical morphology and cognitive scores and clinical variables were explored. Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify risk factors for predicting 3-year major adverse cardiovascular events. Compared with HCs, patients with chronic HF exhibited decreased cognitive scores (p < .001) and decreased cortical thickness, sulcal depth and gyrification in brain regions involved cognition, sensorimotor, autonomic nervous system (family-wise error correction, all p values <.05). Notably, HF duration and New York Heart Association (NYHA) demonstrated negative correlations with abnormal cortex morphology, particularly HF duration and thickness in left precentral gyrus (r = -.387, p = .006). Cortical morphology characteristics exhibited positive associations with global cognition, particularly cortical thickness in left pars opercularis (r = .476, p < .001). NYHA class is an independent risk factor for adverse outcome (p = .001). The observed correlation between abnormal cortical morphology and global cognition suggested that cortical morphology may serve as a promising imaging biomarker and provide insights into neuroanatomical underpinnings of cognitive impairment in patients with chronic HF.

Novel Vibrational Proteins.

Genetically encoded green fluorescent protein (GFP) and its brighter and redder variants have tremendously revolutionized modern molecular biology and life science by enabling direct visualization of gene regulated protein functions on microscopic and nanoscopic scales. However, the current fluorescent proteins (FPs) only emit a few colors with an emission width of about 30-50 nm. Here, we engineer novel vibrational proteins (VPs) that undergo much finer vibrational transitions and emit rather narrow vibrational spectra (0.1-0.3 nm, roughly 3-10 cm-1). In response to an amber stop codon (UAG), a terminal alkyne bearing an unnatural amino acid (UAA, pEtF) is directly incorporated in place of Tyr64 in the chromophore of pr-Kaede by genetic code expansion. Essentially, the UAA64 further conjugates into a large π system with the contiguous two editable amino acid residues (His63 and Gly65), resulting in a programmable Raman resonance shift of the embedded alkyne. In the proof-of-concept experiment, we constructed a series of novel pEtF-VP mutants and observed fine Raman shifts of the alkynyl group in different chromophores. The genetically encoded novel VPs, could potentially label tens of proteins in the future.

Clinical Effectiveness of Automated Coronary CT-derived Fractional Flow Reserve: A Chinese Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background Coronary CT-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) has been used in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD); however, whether it decreases invasive coronary angiography (ICA) use and affects prognosis remains insufficiently evidenced. Purpose To explore the effectiveness of adding CT-FFR to routine coronary CT angiography (CCTA) on short-term ICA rate and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in a Chinese setting. Materials and Methods A multicenter randomized controlled trial was conducted in 17 Chinese centers, with patient inclusion from May 2021 to September 2021. Eligible individuals with 25%-99% stenosis at CCTA were randomly assigned 1:1 to a strategy of CCTA plus automated CT-FFR or CCTA alone for guiding downstream care. The primary end point was the ICA rate 90 days after enrollment. Secondary end points included 90-day and 1-year MACE rates (comprised of all-cause mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and urgent revascularization) and 1-year cardiac events (comprised of cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and urgent revascularization). The Cox proportional hazards model with center effect adjustment was used for survival comparisons. Results A total of 5297 participants (mean age, 63.5 years ± 10.8 [SD]; 3178 male) were included. During the 90-day follow-up, ICA was performed in 263 of 2633 participants (10.0%) in the CCTA plus CT-FFR group and 327 of 2640 participants (12.4%) in the CCTA-alone group (absolute rate difference: -2.40%; 95% CI: -4.10, -0.70; P = .006). The MACE rates at 90 days (0.5% [12 of 2633 participants] vs 0.8% [21 of 2640 participants]; P = .12) and 1 year (2.9% [74 of 2546 participants] vs 2.8% [72 of 2531 participants]; P = .90) were similar for both groups. At 1-year follow-up, fewer cardiac events were observed in the CCTA plus CT-FFR group compared with the CCTA-alone group (0.5% vs 1.1%; adjusted hazard ratio: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.27, 0.99; P = .047). Conclusion CT-FFR added to CCTA led to a lower 90-day ICA rate and similar 1-year MACE rate in a Chinese real-world setting. Further follow-up is warranted to demonstrate the long-term prognostic value of this management approach. © RSNA, 2024 Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Pundziute-do Prado in this issue.

Advances in Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography for Atherosclerotic Plaque Characterization.

Coronary artery disease is a leading cause of death worldwide. Major adverse cardiac events are associated not only with coronary luminal stenosis but also with atherosclerotic plaque components. Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) enables non-invasive evaluation of atherosclerotic plaque along the entire coronary tree. However, precise and efficient assessment of plaque features on CCTA is still a challenge for physicians in daily practice. Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to algorithms that can simulate intelligent human behavior to improve clinical work efficiency. Recently, cardiovascular imaging has seen remarkable advancements with the use of AI. AI-assisted CCTA has the potential to facilitate the clinical workflow, offer objective and repeatable quantitative results, accelerate the interpretation of reports, and guide subsequent treatment. Several AI algorithms have been developed to provide a comprehensive assessment of atherosclerotic plaques. This review serves to highlight the cutting-edge applications of AI-assisted CCTA in atherosclerosis plaque characterization, including detecting obstructive plaques, assessing plaque volumes and vulnerability, monitoring plaque progression, and providing risk assessment. Finally, this paper discusses the current problems and future directions for implementing AI in real-world clinical settings.

All-fiber hectowatt radially polarized laser system.

A high-power all-fiber radially polarized laser system is demonstrated, in which an integrated nanograting mode convertor (S-wave plate) is used for the generation of radially polarized beam. Experimentally, a 1-W radially polarized beam was used as the seed laser, whose mode purity and mode extinction ratio (MER) were 96.5% and 98.3%, respectively. A single-stage few-mode fiber amplifier was employed to boost the 1-W seed laser to an average power of 113.2 W, when the pump power was 160 W. The corresponding slope efficiency and beam quality factor (M2) were approximately 72% and 2.3%, respectively. Moreover, the mode purity and MER of the amplified radially polarized laser were measured to be 95.7% and 97%, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest output power from an all-fiber radially polarized laser system without obvious degradations of the mode purity and MER.

High average power (105†W) Fe:ZnSe laser pumped by radiation of laser diode side-pumped Er:YAG lasers.

A high average power re-frequency operation Fe:ZnSe laser using laser diode side-pumped free-running Er:YAG lasers as activating sources is presented. Two pieces of subsurface layer doped Fe:ZnSe polycrystal are adoptive in a reflective resonator configuration and face-cooled by liquid nitrogen. A maximal Fe:ZnSe laser power of 105 W at a wavelength of 4.1 µm is achieved upon pumping by ten home-made Er:YAG lasers with fiber coupled output working at a frequency of 250 Hz and a pulse duration of ∼420 µs. Corresponding to the maximum Fe:ZnSe laser power, the optical-optical efficiency and slope efficiency with respect to the absorbed pump power are 43% and 44% respectively. The beam quality factor M2 is measured to be 3.4. To the best of our knowledge, it is the highest output average power of an Fe:ZnSe laser reported.

Late gadolinium enhanced cardiac MR derived radiomics approach for predicting all-cause mortality in cardiac amyloidosis: a multicenter study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prognostic value of radiomics features based on late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) images in patients with cardiac amyloidosis (CA). METHODS: This retrospective study included 120 CA patients undergoing CMR at three institutions. Radiomics features were extracted from global and three different segments (base, mid-ventricular, and apex) of left ventricular (LV) on short-axis LGE images. Primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. The predictive performance of the radiomics features and semi-quantitative and quantitative LGE parameters were compared by ROC. The AUC was used to observe whether Rad-score had an incremental value for clinical stage. The Kaplan-Meier curve was used to further stratify the risk of CA patients. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 12.9 months, 30% (40/120) patients died. There was no significant difference in the predictive performance of the radiomics model in different LV sections in the validation set (AUCs of the global, basal, middle, and apical radiomics model were 0.75, 0.77, 0.76, and 0.77, respectively; all p > 0.05). The predictive performance of the Rad-score of the base-LV was better than that of the LGE total enhancement mass (AUC:0.77 vs. 0.54, p < 0.001) and LGE extent (AUC: 0.77 vs. 0.53, p = 0.004). Rad-score combined with Mayo stage had better predictive performance than Mayo stage alone (AUC: 0.86 vs. 0.81, p = 0.03). Rad-score (≥ 0.66) contributed to the risk stratification of all-cause mortality in CA. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to quantitative LGE parameters, radiomics can better predict all-cause mortality in CA, while the combination of radiomics and Mayo stage could provide higher predictive accuracy. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Radiomics analysis provides incremental value and improved risk stratification for all-cause mortality in patients with cardiac amyloidosis. KEY POINTS: • Radiomics in LV-base was superior to LGE semi-quantitative and quantitative parameters for predicting all-cause mortality in CA. • Rad-score combined with Mayo stage had better predictive performance than Mayo stage alone or radiomics alone. • Rad-score ≥ 0.66 was associated with a significantly increased risk of all-cause mortality in CA patients.

A quinine-squaramide catalyzed enantioselective vinylogous Mannich reaction between benzothiazolimines and γ-butenolides for efficient preparation of chiral N-benzothiazole butyrolactones.

A highly effective and enantioselective vinylogous Mannich reaction between benzothiazolimines and γ-butenolides catalyzed by a quinine based squaramide has been disclosed. A series of chiral benzothiazole amines containing a γ,γ-disubstituted butanolide scaffold bearing an adjacent chiral stereocenter have been successfully obtained in good to excellent yields (up to 91%) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee) and diastereoselectivities (>20 : 1 dr) with broad substrate generality under mild conditions. The new scaffold integrated with both chiral benzothiazolimine and γ-butenolide moieties may provide a possibility for the development of new pharmaceutical entities.

Assessment of Two Restraint Potentials for Coarse-Grained Chemical-Cross-Link-Assisted Modeling of Protein Structures.

The influence of distance restraints from chemical cross-link mass spectroscopy (XL-MS) on the quality of protein structures modeled with the coarse-grained UNRES force field was assessed by using a protocol based on multiplexed replica exchange molecular dynamics, in which both simulated and experimental cross-link restraints were employed, for 23 small proteins. Six cross-links with upper distance boundaries from 4 Å to 12 Å (azido benzoic acid succinimide (ABAS), triazidotriazine (TATA), succinimidyldiazirine (SDA), disuccinimidyl adipate (DSA), disuccinimidyl glutarate (DSG), and disuccinimidyl suberate (BS3)) and two types of restraining potentials ((i) simple flat-bottom Lorentz-like potentials dependent on side chain distance (all cross-links) and (ii) distance- and orientation-dependent potentials determined based on molecular dynamics simulations of model systems (DSA, DSG, BS3, and SDA)) were considered. The Lorentz-like potentials with properly set parameters were found to produce a greater number of higher-quality models compared to unrestrained simulations than the MD-based potentials, because the latter can force too long distances between side chains. Therefore, the flat-bottom Lorentz-like potentials are recommended to represent cross-link restraints. It was also found that significant improvement of model quality upon the introduction of cross-link restraints is obtained when the sum of differences of indices of cross-linked residues exceeds 150.

Regulation of the PD-1/PD-L1 Axis and NK Cell Dysfunction by Exosomal miR-552-5p in Gastric Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: NK cells play a vital role in tumor immune resistance. Various factors affect NK cell activity. While NK cell dysfunction has been observed in numerous malignancies, the underlying mechanisms in gastric cancer remain unclear. METHOD: Flow cytometry was used to identify the phenotypic distribution and expression of activated receptors on NK cells. ELISA was used to determine the expression of cytokines. We examined the expression of NK cell-related genes and explored their association with survival and prognosis. Additionally, we conducted PCR detection of miR-552-5p expression levels in plasma exosomes of patients and investigated its correlation with phenotypic distribution and activated receptors. We used flow cytometry and ELISA to verify the role of miR-552-5p in NK cell dysfunction. Furthermore, we investigated the potential role of PD-1/PD-L1 in regulating NK cell dysfunction in patients' cells. RESULTS: We observed a significant decrease in the percentage of NKG2D and NKp30 and IFN-γ and TNF-α in patients than in healthy volunteers. Patients with low levels of CD56, CD16, NKG2D, and NKP46 exhibited poorer survival prognoses. Moreover, increased expression levels of plasma exosomal miR-552-5p in patients were negatively associated with NK cell phenotypic distribution and activated receptor expression. MiR-552-5p downregulated the secretion of perforin, granzyme, and IFN-γ as well as the expression of NKp30, NKp46, and NKG2D. Additionally, it suppressed the cytotoxicity of NK cells. The inhibitory effect of miR-552-5p, on NK cell function was reversed when anti-PD-L1 antibodies were used. CONCLUSION: Exosomal miR-552-5p targets the PD-1/PD-L1 axis, leading to impaired NK cell function.

Macrophage membrane-functionalized manganese dioxide nanomedicine for synergistic treatment of atherosclerosis by mitigating inflammatory storms and promoting cholesterol efflux.

Atherosclerosis (AS) poses a significant threat to human life and health. However, conventional antiatherogenic medications exhibit insufficient targeting precision and restricted therapeutic effectiveness. Moreover, during the progression of AS, macrophages undergo polarization toward the proinflammatory M1 phenotype and generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) to accelerate the occurrence of inflammatory storms, and ingest excess lipids to form foam cells by inhibiting cholesterol efflux. In our study, we developed a macrophage membrane-functionalized hollow mesoporous manganese dioxide nanomedicine (Col@HMnO2-MM). This nanomedicine has the ability to evade immune cell phagocytosis, enables prolonged circulation within the body, targets the inflammatory site of AS for effective drug release, and alleviates the inflammatory storm at the AS site by eliminating ROS. Furthermore, Col@HMnO2-MM has the ability to generate oxygen autonomously by breaking down surplus hydrogen peroxide generated at the inflammatory AS site, thereby reducing the hypoxic microenvironment of the plaque by downregulating hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α), which in turn enhances cholesterol efflux to inhibit foam cell formation. In an APOE-/- mouse model, Col@HMnO2-MM significantly reduced inflammatory factor levels, lipid storage, and plaque formation without significant long-term toxicity. In summary, this synergistic treatment significantly improved the effectiveness of nanomedicine and may offer a novel strategy for precise AS therapy.

Effect of macrophage polarization on parasitic protection against type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease caused by the destruction of pancreatic beta cells. Based on the hygiene hypothesis, a growing body of evidence suggests a negative association between parasitic infections and diabetes in humans and animal models. The mechanism of parasite-mediated prevention of type 1 diabetes mellitus may be related to the adaptive and innate immune systems. Macrophage polarization is a new paradigm for the treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus, and different host macrophage subsets play various roles during parasite infection. Proinflammatory cytokines are released by M1 macrophages, which are important in the development of type 1 diabetes mellitus. Parasite-activated M2 macrophages prevent the development of type 1 diabetes mellitus and can influence the development of adaptive immune responses through several mechanisms, including Th2 cells and regulatory T cells. Here, we review the role and mechanism of macrophage polarization in parasitic protection against type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Single-Atom Control of Single-Molecule van der Waals Junctions with Semimetallic Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Electrodes.

Electrodes play an essential role in controlling electrode-molecule coupling. However, conventional metal electrodes require linkers to anchor the molecule. Van der Waals interaction offers a versatile strategy to connect the electrode and molecule without anchor groups. Except for graphene, the potential of other materials as electrodes to fabricate van der Waals molecular junctions remains unexplored. Herein, we utilize semimetallic transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) 1T'-WTe2 as electrodes to fabricate WTe2/metalated tetraphenylporphyrin (M-TPP)/WTe2 junctions via van der Waals interaction. Compared with chemically bonded Au/M-TPP/Au junctions, the conductance of these M-TPP van der Waals molecular junctions is enhanced by ∼736%. More importantly, WTe2/M-TPP/WTe2 junctions exhibit the tunable conductance from 10-3.29 to 10-4.44 G0 (1.15 orders of magnitude) via single-atom control, recording the widest tunable range of conductance for M-TPP molecular junctions. Our work demonstrates the potential of two-dimensional TMDCs for constructing highly tunable and conductive molecular devices.

Regulatory distance and corporate environmental performance: From the perspective of rent-seeking distance.

This paper investigates the impact of regulatory distance on corporate environmental performance using data from Chinese A-share listed companies. The results demonstrate that staying away from regulatory agencies significantly improves corporate environmental performance. The potential impact mechanism is that the increase in regulatory distance significantly suppresses rent-seeking activities. The above impacts are particularly pronounced in companies with weak CEO political and financial connections, state-owned enterprises, and firms in regions with low levels of marketization, owing to the fact that these company characteristics influence firms' ability or inclination to participate in rent-seeking. Further evidence indicates that the effect of regulatory distance on environmental performance will be significantly enhanced by strengthening media regulation and anti-corruption efforts.