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The state is a key driver of corporate social responsibility across developed and developing countries. But the existing research provides comparatively little knowledge about: (1) how companies strategically manage the relationship with the state through corporate social responsibility (CSR); (2) how this strategy takes shape under the influence of political institutions. Understanding these questions captures a realistic picture of how a company applies CSR to interacting with the state, particularly in countries where the state relationship is critical to the business operation. This article draws on political legitimacy as a useful concept to directly address both strategic and politically embedded natures of CSR. This work extends the currently under-specified political implication of the strategic view of CSR and provides fresh insights to the political legitimacy research by specifying a typology of CSR-based legitimacy strategies and its contextual variation. China and Russia are the focal settings. A qualitative analysis of business—state interaction cases is done using a database that contains the majority of CSR reports published in Chinese and Russian as the end of 2009. As a result, this paper identifies four qualitatively different types of CSR-based political legitimacy strategies and reveals how the adoption of these strategies differs across Chinese companies, Russian companies, and multinational corporations.

The scalable and sustainable manufacture of thick electrode films with high energy and power densities is critical for the large-scale storage of electrochemical energy for application in transportation and stationary electric grids. Two-dimensional nanomaterials have become the predominant choice of electrode material in the pursuit of high energy and power densities owing to their large surface-area-to-volume ratios and lack of solid-state diffusion 1 , 2 . However, traditional electrode fabrication methods often lead to restacking of two-dimensional nanomaterials, which limits ion transport in thick films and results in systems in which the electrochemical performance is highly dependent on the thickness of the film 1 – 4 . Strategies for facilitating ion transport—such as increasing the interlayer spacing by intercalation 5 – 8 or introducing film porosity by designing nanoarchitectures 9 , 10 —result in materials with low volumetric energy storage as well as complex and lengthy ion transport paths that impede performance at high charge–discharge rates. Vertical alignment of two-dimensional flakes enables directional ion transport that can lead to thickness-independent electrochemical performances in thick films 11 – 13 . However, so far only limited success 11 , 12 has been reported, and the mitigation of performance losses remains a major challenge when working with films of two-dimensional nanomaterials with thicknesses that are near to or exceed the industrial standard of 100 micrometres. Here we demonstrate electrochemical energy storage that is independent of film thickness for vertically aligned two-dimensional titanium carbide (Ti 3 C 2 T x ), a material from the MXene family (two-dimensional carbides and nitrides of transition metals (M), where X stands for carbon or nitrogen). The vertical alignment was achieved by mechanical shearing of a discotic lamellar liquid-crystal phase of Ti 3 C 2 T x . The resulting electrode films show excellent performance that is nearly independent of film thickness up to 200 micrometres, which makes them highly attractive for energy storage applications. Furthermore, the self-assembly approach presented here is scalable and can be extended to other systems that involve directional transport, such as catalysis and filtration. Electrode films prepared from a liquid-crystal phase of vertically aligned two-dimensional titanium carbide show electrochemical energy storage that is nearly independent of film thickness.

Lithium metal has been regarded as the future anode material for high-energy-density rechargeable batteries due to its favorable combination of negative electrochemical potential and high theoretical capacity. However, uncontrolled lithium deposition during lithium plating/stripping results in low Coulombic efficiency and severe safety hazards. Herein, we report that nanodiamonds work as an electrolyte additive to co-deposit with lithium ions and produce dendrite-free lithium deposits. First-principles calculations indicate that lithium prefers to adsorb onto nanodiamond surfaces with a low diffusion energy barrier, leading to uniformly deposited lithium arrays. The uniform lithium deposition morphology renders enhanced electrochemical cycling performance. The nanodiamond-modified electrolyte can lead to a stable cycling of lithium | lithium symmetrical cells up to 150 and 200 h at 2.0 and 1.0 mA cm –2 , respectively. The nanodiamond co-deposition can significantly alter the lithium plating behavior, affording a promising route to suppress lithium dendrite growth in lithium metal-based batteries. Lithium metal is an ideal anode material for rechargeable batteries but suffer from the growth of lithium dendrites and low Coulombic efficiency. Here the authors show that nanodiamonds serve as an electrolyte additive to co-deposit with lithium metal and suppress the formation of dendrites.

Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals are important bioelectrical signals widely used in brain activity studies, cognitive mechanism research, and the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders. However, EEG signals are often influenced by various physiological artifacts, which can significantly affect data analysis and diagnosis. Recently, deep learning-based EEG denoising methods have exhibited unique advantages over traditional methods. Most existing methods mainly focus on identifying the characteristics of clean EEG signals to facilitate artifact removal; however, the potential to integrate cross-disciplinary knowledge, such as insights from artifact research, remains an area that requires further exploration. In this study, we developed DHCT-GAN, a new EEG denoising model, using a dual-branch hybrid network architecture. This model independently learns features from both clean EEG signals and artifact signals, then fuses this information through an adaptive gating network to generate denoised EEG signals that accurately preserve EEG signal features while effectively removing artifacts. We evaluated DHCT-GAN’s performance through waveform analysis, power spectral density (PSD) analysis, and six performance metrics. The results demonstrate that DHCT-GAN significantly outperforms recent state-of-the-art networks in removing various artifacts. Furthermore, ablation experiments revealed that the hybrid model surpasses single-branch models in artifact removal, underscoring the crucial role of artifact knowledge constraints in improving denoising effectiveness.

This study aims to examine the short-term axial shortening effects of orthokeratology (ortho-K) lenses and investigate their mechanical mechanisms. We conducted a retrospective analysis on 80 myopic children, aged 8-18, who wore ortho-K lenses for one week. Axial lengths were measured pre- and post-treatment using AL-Scan Optical Biometer. We developed a finite element model of the eye using ABAQUS software to explore mechanical changes. A significant reduction in axial length was observed after one week of ortho-K lens wear, with an average decrease of 0.028 ± 0.032 mm (P = 4.02 x 10-11). Approximately 82.5% of participants exhibited axial length reduction. The biomechanical model indicated that ortho-K lenses exerted forces altering the tension dynamics within the ocular structure, notably decreasing tension in the posterior ciliary muscle-lens complex. This differential change in tension may account for the mechanical basis of the observed short-term reduction in axial length. Orthokeratology lenses induce a short-term shortening in axial length, likely due to mechanical changes in ocular tension dynamics. The finite element model suggests that these lenses decrease posterior ciliary-lens complex tension, leading to axial shortening. These findings enhance comprehension of the mechanical basis for myopia control via ortho-K treatment, highlighting potential avenues for further applied research in myopia management.

We investigated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) environmental contamination in 2 rooms of a quarantine hotel after 2 presymptomatic persons who stayed there were laboratory-confirmed as having coronavirus disease. We detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA on 8 (36%) of 22 surfaces, as well as on the pillow cover, sheet, and duvet cover.

Ammonia, a vital component in the synthesis of fertilizers, plastics, and explosives, is traditionally produced via the energy‐intensive and environmentally detrimental Haber–Bosch process. Given its considerable energy consumption and significant greenhouse gas emissions, there is a growing shift toward electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis as an eco‐friendly alternative. However, developing efficient electrocatalysts capable of achieving high selectivity, Faraday efficiency, and yield under ambient conditions remains a significant challenge. This review delves into the decades‐long research into electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis, highlighting the evolution of fundamental principles, theoretical descriptors, and reaction mechanisms. An in‐depth analysis of the nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) and nitrate reduction reaction (NitRR) is provided, with a focus on their electrocatalysts. Additionally, the theories behind electrocatalyst design for ammonia synthesis are examined, including the Gibbs free energy approach, Sabatier principle, d‐band center theory, and orbital spin states. The review culminates in a comprehensive overview of the current challenges and prospective future directions in electrocatalyst development for NRR and NitRR, paving the way for more sustainable methods of ammonia production. This review delves into the decades‐long research into electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis, highlighting the evolution of fundamental principles, theoretical descriptors, and reaction mechanisms and paving the way for more sustainable methods of ammonia production.

Lipid overload results in lipid redistribution among metabolic organs such as liver, adipose, and muscle; therefore, the interplay between liver and other organs is important to maintain lipid homeostasis. Here, we show that liver responds to lipid overload first and sends hepatocyte-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) targeting adipocytes to regulate adipogenesis and lipogenesis. Geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (Ggpps) expression in liver is enhanced by lipid overload and regulates EV secretion through Rab27A geranylgeranylation. Consistently, liver-specific Ggpps deficient mice have reduced fat adipose deposition. The levels of several EV-derived miRNAs in the plasma of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients are positively correlated with body mass index (BMI), and these miRNAs enhance adipocyte lipid accumulation. Thus, we highlight an inter-organ mechanism whereby the liver senses different metabolic states and sends corresponding signals to remodel adipose tissue to adapt to metabolic changes in response to lipid overload. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) containing miRNAs or proteins can coordinate metabolic responses between tissues. Here the authors demonstrate that during lipid overload, the liver secretes miRNA-containing EVs through a Ggpps-Rab27 dependent mechanism, which controls adipose tissue lipid storage capacity.

Summary Plant health is intricately linked to crop quality, food security and agricultural productivity. Obtaining accurate plant health information is of paramount importance in the realm of precision agriculture. Wearable sensors offer an exceptional avenue for investigating plant health status and fundamental plant science, as they enable real‐time and continuous in‐situ monitoring of physiological biomarkers. However, a comprehensive overview that integrates and critically assesses wearable plant sensors across various facets, including their fundamental elements, classification, design, sensing mechanism, fabrication, characterization and application, remains elusive. In this study, we provide a meticulous description and systematic synthesis of recent research progress in wearable sensor properties, technology and their application in monitoring plant health information. This work endeavours to serve as a guiding resource for the utilization of wearable plant sensors, empowering the advancement of plant health within the precision agriculture paradigm.

Background Abiotic stress severely influences plant growth and development. MYB transcription factors (TFs), which compose one of the largest TF families, play an important role in abiotic stress responses. Result We identified 139 soybean MYB-related genes; these genes were divided into six groups based on their conserved domain and were distributed among 20 chromosomes (Chrs). Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) indicated that GmMYB118 highly responsive to drought, salt and high temperature stress; thus, this gene was selected for further analysis. Subcellular localization revealed that the GmMYB118 protein located in the nucleus. Ectopic expression (EX) of GmMYB118 increased tolerance to drought and salt stress and regulated the expression of several stress-associated genes in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. Similarly, GmMYB118 -overexpressing (OE) soybean plants generated via Agrobacterium rhizogenes ( A. rhizogenes )-mediated transformation of the hairy roots showed improved drought and salt tolerance. Furthermore, compared with the control (CK) plants, the clustered, regularly interspaced, short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-transformed plants exhibited reduced drought and salt tolerance. The contents of proline and chlorophyll in the OE plants were significantly greater than those in the CK plants, whose contents were greater than those in the CRISPR plants under drought and salt stress conditions. In contrast, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were significantly lower in the OE plants than in the CK plants, whose contents were lower than those in the CRISPR plants under stress conditions. Conclusions These results indicated that GmMYB118 could improve tolerance to drought and salt stress by promoting expression of stress-associated genes and regulating osmotic and oxidizing substances to maintain cell homeostasis.