Copper acetate-facilitated transfer-free growth of high-quality graphene for hydrovoltaic generators

Direct synthesis of high-quality graphene on dielectric substrates without a transfer process is of vital importance for a variety of applications. Current strategies for boosting high-quality graphene growth, such as remote metal catalyzation, are limited by poor performance with respect to the release of metal catalysts and hence suffer from a problem with metal residues. Herein, we report an effective approach that utilizes a metal-containing species, copper acetate, to continuously supply copper clusters in a gaseous form to aid transfer-free growth of graphene over a wafer scale. The thus-derived graphene films were found to show reduced multilayer density and improved electrical performance and exhibited a carrier mobility of 8500 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹. Furthermore, droplet-based hydrovoltaic electricity generator devices based on directly grown graphene were found to exhibit robust voltage output and long cyclic stability, in stark contrast to their counterparts based on transferred graphene, demonstrating the potential for emerging energy harvesting applications. The work presented here offers a promising solution to organize the metal catalytic booster toward transfer-free synthesis of high-quality graphene and enable smart energy generation.     

Ultrafast growth of large single crystals of monolayer WS2 and WSe2

Monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have attracted considerable attention as atomically thin semiconductors for the ultimate transistor scaling. For practical applications in integrated electronics, large monolayer single crystals are essential for ensuring consistent electronic properties and high device yield. The TMDs available today are generally obtained by mechanical exfoliation or chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth, but are often of mixed layer thickness, limited single crystal domain size or have very slow growth rate. Scalable and rapid growth of large single crystals of monolayer TMDs requires maximization of lateral growth rate while completely suppressing the vertical growth, which represents a fundamental synthetic challenge and has motivated considerable efforts. Herein we report a modified CVD approach with controllable reverse flow for rapid growth of large domain single crystals of monolayer TMDs. With the use of reverse flow to precisely control the chemical vapor supply in the thermal CVD process, we can effectively prevent undesired nucleation before reaching optimum growth temperature and enable rapid nucleation and growth of monolayer TMD single crystals at a high temperature that is difficult to attain with use of a typical thermal CVD process. We show that monolayer single crystals of 450 μm lateral size can be prepared in 10 s, with the highest lateral growth rate up to 45 μm/s. Electronic characterization shows that the resulting monolayer WSe₂ material exhibits excellent electronic properties with carrier mobility up to 90 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹, comparable to that of the best exfoliated monolayers. Our study provides a robust pathway for rapid growth of high-quality TMD single crystals.     

Estimated Creatinine Clearance, Homocysteine and High Sensitivity-C-Reactive Protein Levels Determination for Early Prediction of Nephropathy and Atherosclerosis Risk In Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) patients are increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Many studies had demonstrated that CKD is significantly associated with CVD. We aim to indicate the using estimated creatinine clearance (eCrCl), homocysteine (tHcy), and high sensitivity-C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels, may have an impact on the interpretation risk for nephropathy and CVD. eCrCl was using the Cockroft-Gault formula, eCrCl levels were stratified according to the Kidney Disease Outcome Quality Initiative definition. We measured serum tHcy, hs-CRP, and the other biochemical variables in 54 T2D patients compared with 40 age matched healthy controls (NDM). T2D patients were significantly lower eCrCl than NDM (P < 0.05). T2D patients also showed significantly higher in tHcy, hs-CRP, and MDA levels than NDM subjects (P < 0.05). The eCrCl was significantly correlated with tHcy and hs-CRP levels in T2D patients (r = −0.504, P < 0.001; r = −0.282, P = 0.047). eCrCl had an impact on interpretation for CKD, especially in T2D patients. Decrease eCrCl concomitant with increased in tHcy, hs-CRP, and MDA levels may present a higher risk for future diabetic nephropathy and CVD.     

Correlation Between Intron 4 Polymorphism of the Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Gene and Cardiovascular Risk with the Numbers of Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Healthy Subjects

In the present study, we investigated the relationship between an important 27 bp repeat polymorphism in intron 4 of eNOS and numbers of circulating EPCs in presence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in a group of healthy human volunteers. The study comprised of 45 healthy subjects (30–50 years). These subjects had various degrees of CVD risk but no history of CVD. The repeat polymorphism of eNOS was detected by polymerase chain reaction and EPC levels were analyzed by flow cytometry. We observed a good association between the intronic 4 mutant a/b genotype and the combined Framingham risk factor score in our subjects (χ² = 3.2, P = 0.07). EPC numbers in subjects with mutant eNOS a/b genotype were also less than those observed in subjects with normal eNOS b/b genotype (P = 0.06). Interestingly, subjects with eNOS a/b genotype showed a significant inverse correlation between framingham risk score and EPC numbers (R = ?0.57, P < 0.05). The study suggests that the presence of CVD risk factors in subjects with eNOS intron 4 polymorphism results in reduced number of circulating EPCs, which may significantly predispose them to CVD and aberrant endothelial repair.     

Lipoprotein(a) in Children of Asian Indian Descendants and Their Caucasian Neighbors: The Slovak Lipid Community Study

To elucidate a higher rate of premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Asian Indian descendants (Roma) in Slovakia, we investigated frequency distribution, correlates and relationship of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] to family CVD risk factors in Roma children and their Caucasian neighbors. The study sample consisted of 607 healthy children aged 7–18 years (55% Roma, 48% male) as part of the biracial (Roma–Caucasian) Slovak Lipid Community Study. Overall, frequency distribution data of Lp(a) were highly skewed to low concentrations, with markedly higher Lp(a) levels in Roma than in Caucasian children (median and range, mg/dL: 14.5; 0–159.2 vs 6.2; 0–112.3, P < 0.001), regardless of age and gender. Lp(a) was positively correlated with apo B (0.159, P = 0.004) in Roma, and LDL cholesterol (0.170, P = 0.005) in Caucasian children. In addition, daily income of the family was negatively related with Lp(a) in Roma (−0.134, P = 0.036) while positively in Caucasians (0.136, P = 0.047). For both race groups, no significant association was found between Lp(a) and age, body mass index, mean arterial pressure, smoking, and physical activity. Also, no significant relationships were examined between serum Lp(a) levels >30 mg/dL in children and family CVD risk factors, except for diabetes mellitus in parents of Caucasian origin (OR 4.46; 95%CI: 1.23–16.20). In a multivariate analysis, daily income, LDL cholesterol or apo B explained ~7% of the variance of Lp(a). This study suggests a significantly higher serum Lp(a) levels in Roma than in Caucasian children and a small effect, in general, of relevant CVD risk factors on the variation of Lp(a) levels in childhood.     

成渝地区双城经济圈数字经济与经济高质量发展耦合协调度研究

基于2014—2019年成渝地区双城经济圈内16个地级城市的面板数据,结合成渝双城经济圈数字经济和经济高质量发展现状,分别测度及评价二者发展水平,进一步运用灰色关联分析法,构建二者耦合协调测度模型进行实证分析。结果表明：（1）成渝经济圈数字经济与经济高质量发展耦合协调度偏低,数字经济发展水平还不能与经济高质量发展相协调,数字经济对于经济高质量发展水平的贡献程度较低;（2）经济圈的二者耦合协调度总体呈上升态势,显示数字经济推动经济高质量发展的作用和贡献逐渐增强;（3）经济圈各城市的二者耦合协调程度不同,各城市数字经济推动经济高质量发展的贡献程度不一,形成不协调发展态势。据此提出成渝经济圈数字经济推动经济高质量发展的政策建议。     

Real-time measurement of thrombin generation using continuous droplet microfluidics

Thrombin, which has the leading role in the blood coagulation cascade, is an important biomarker in hemostasis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) development. In this study, a measurement system capable of continuously monitoring individual thrombin generation using droplet microfluidic technology is manipulated. The thrombin generation assay based on fluogenic substrate is performed within the droplets and the thrombin generation curve of plasma sample activated by tissue factor is measured in real-time to reflect the sample conditions dynamically. The injection of the inhibitor of thrombin generation is developed to assay the inhibited curve which relates to thrombin self-inhibition in biological systems. This microfluidic system is integrated with the microdialysis probe, which is useful to connect to the living animals for future in vivo real time thrombin measurements for rapid CVD diagnosis.     

Ultrabithorax is a key regulator for the dimorphism of wings,a main cause for the outbreak of planthoppers in rice

Rice planthoppers, the most devastating rice pests, occur in two wing forms: the short-wing form for rapid population growth and long-wing form for long-distance migration, which together create the mechanism for outbreak. Here we show that Ultrabithorax (Ubx) is a key regulator for switching between the long- and short-wing forms of rice planthoppers. Ubx is expressed in both forewing and hindwing pads, which is different from the canonical model of Ubx expression. In brown planthoppers, expression of Ubx (NlUbx) is regulated by nutritional status of the rice host. High-quality young plants induce NlUbx expression leading to the short-wing form; low-quality ripe plants reduce NlUbx expression resulting in long-wing form. We also showed that NlUbx is regulated by the insulin receptors NlInR1 and NlInR2. The default expression of NlInR1 inhibits NlUbx resulting in long-wings, while high-quality hosts induce NlInR2 expression, which represses NlInR1 thus promoting NlUbx expression to produce short-wings.     

A combined microfluidic-microstencil method for patterning biomolecules and cells

Despite the myriad of soft lithography based micropatterning methods available to researchers, it is still challenging to define small features (10–100 μm) that are spaced far apart (1–10 mm). In this report, we describe a combined microfluidic-microstencil patterning method that can produce multifunctional substrates of small features, O(10 μm), with a large pitch, O(1 mm). In that, we fabricate microstencils using an UV curable polyurethane (Norland Optical Adhesive 81) with dense arrays of 10–100 μm holes. Overlaying arrays of microfluidic channels over these microstencils allow for the control of the spacing between features and the ability to pattern multiple substrates. We show that this method is capable of patterning soluble proteins, fibrillar insoluble collagen, liposomes, cells, and nanoparticles. We demonstrate the utility of the method by measuring platelet adhesion under flow to three adhesive proteins (insoluble fibrillar collagen, laminin, and reconstituted acid solubilized collagen fibers) in a single assay.     

城市群型国家自主创新示范区科技创新与经济高质量发展测度研究

在国内国际双循环和深入实施创新驱动发展战略背景下，当前我国经济已由高速增长向高质量发展转型，良好的科技创新可以推动国家自主创新示范区经济高质量发展。文章以福厦泉国家自主创新示范区为例，选取了2016-2020年自创区内各地市级区域统计数据，在熵值法和灰色关联分析法的基础上，构建城市群型国家自主创新示范区经济高质量发展与科技创新耦合协调模型并进行实证分析。研究得出以下结论：从科技创新发展水平看，自创区的科技创新发展综合水平整体呈增长趋势，但城市间差异显著；从经济高质量发展水平看，各地市经济高质量发展水平存在较大差距；从时间趋势看，自创区科技创新与经济高质量发展耦合协调度总体呈现缓慢增长趋势；从空间格局看，耦合协调度在各地市间有所差距，厦门耦合协调度略高于福州，而泉州耦合协调度相对较低；创新发展与协调发展的关联性最强，福州的科技创新与经济高质量发展各子系统的关联性最高。最后，基于研究结论，提出针对国家自主创新示范区加强科技创新，推动经济高质量发展的政策建议。     

Reference Ranges for Serum Total Cholesterol, HDL-Cholesterol, LDL-Cholesterol, and VLDL-Cholesterol and Triglycerides in Healthy Iranian Ahvaz Population

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are recognized as major mortality causes and imposes tremendously heavy socio-economic burden worldwide. A vast variety of risk factors have been introduced in the literature known to enhance the incidence of CVD, such as hyperlipidemia. Therefore in order to make an accurate clinical decision it is essential to have appropriate reference ranges for lipids and lipoprotein particles in a particular population. Healthy female (n = 601) and male (n = 617) cases were randomly selected according to certain exclusion criteria from individuals visiting the major University hospital clinics situated in different part of Ahvaz city, Iran, from June 2010 to December 2010. Fasting blood samples (10 ml) were collected and analyzed for total cholesterol, total triglyceride and HDL-C employing enzymatic assays of CHOD-PAP, GPO-PAP and homogenous methods respectively. The samples were obtained such to include the ethnic populations of Persian, Arab. Lore leaving in this city. The data were analyzed statistically by SPSS-18 software. The obtained results were analyzed then age ethnic-wise and reference ranges (mean ± 1SD) were calculated. Remarkable differences between the obtained results for our population with other nations were seen. Also ethnic difference for HDL-C among our cases was noted. The observed significant differences among different nations and ethnicities emphasizes the need for nation-specific, local reference ranges for lipids and lipoproteins particles, to be established.     

要素错配、自主创新与制造业高质量发展

改善要素配置效率和提高技术进步水平是促进制造业全要素生产率（Total Factor Productivity,以下简称TFP）增长,进而实现制造业高质量发展的重要突破口。通过将要素错配和自主创新引入异质性企业垄断竞争模型,提出了要素错配如何通过影响自主创新对制造业高质量发展的间接作用机制。继而,采用2007-2019年制造业上市公司数据、城市经济社会数据和微观土地出让数据进行经验探究,综合考察资本错配、劳动力错配和土地错配等多维度要素错配对制造业高质量发展的直接和间接影响效应。研究结果表明,资本错配和土地错配对制造业高质量发展具有直接抑制作用,而自主创新直接推动制造业高质量发展,值得关注的是,资本错配还会通过抑制自主创新,间接阻碍制造业高质量发展。本文的研究从多维度要素错配角度明确地指出了制造业高质量发展的困境之源。因此,系统推进要素市场化配置改革,优化要素配置效率,从而激发自主创新活力,提高自主创新能力,能够加快制造业TFP提升步伐,推动中国制造业高质量发展。     

黄河流域高质量发展的基本条件与核心策略

黄河流域整体处于工业化中期到后期的转型发展和区域经济的起飞发展阶段,大体处于集聚功能大于扩散效应的“虹吸效应”阶段和区内发展的激烈竞争时期。高质量的中/高速经济增长是黄河流域现代化进程和可持续发展的前提。在大致梳理流域（区域）高质量发展的内涵及其理论演变的基础上,本文探讨了黄河流域高质量发展的基本条件及其核心策略。域内高质量发展的基本条件表现为农业发展的多样性和脆弱性,流域经济联系的松散性,经济发展阶段性及其内部差异性的约束,外部投资和产业转移等动力不足的约束等。这决定了流域高质量发展必表现为长期性、多样性、竞争性、协同性甚至区域化的倾向。因此,黄河流域高质量发展需探索“弯道超车”的核心策略：①在智能社会和全球化浪潮中,谋高质量增长,即持续探寻域内适合国家需求和地方特色的新型产业转型发展模式,建构适合各地方的特色化产业集群/产业链,提升综合竞争力;②探寻同质前提下的协同新模式,谋划流域协同和寻求特色化的新型城镇化模式,包括适合各地的人口城镇化策略和城乡统筹模式,尤其是基于土地流转的乡村人口向河谷/川地/盆地、平原、城镇的持续迁移路径,提高劳动生产率,关注水资源和基础设施建设等问题;③实施“中心突破”的体制,寻求中心带动的流域空间重构,推动中心城市和城镇群的健康发展,促进高质量发展。黄河流域高质量发展是一个至少20~30年的长期探索过程。     

黄河流域数字经济对高质量发展的影响——来自城市异质性的经验证据

黄河流域高质量发展是新时代下重大的国家发展战略,作为新型经济形态的数字经济能否助推黄河流域实现经济高质量发展是有待探究的重要议题。鉴于此,运用内生增长数理模型厘清数字经济作用于高质量发展的机理,并构建流域内城市的数字经济指数和水资源约束下的高质量发展指数,基于2011—2018年流域内沿线城市的面板数据,实证检验数字经济对高质量发展的提升作用及传导路径。结果表明：①全流域内数字经济能够显著提升高质量发展水平,非资源型城市的提升效果相较资源型城市更佳。②数字经济的高质量发展效应具有边际报酬后发递增优势,上游、中游城市相较于下游城市更为显著。③数字经济的作用效果随着城市规模的扩大呈现“倒U型”特征,中等城市是未来发展数字经济的重点所在。④产业结构高度化、技术创新、技术效率是数字经济推动高质量发展的关键传导路径,产业结构合理化则是重要的潜在作用渠道,分维度的互联网发展和普惠金融呈现一致的趋同效应。本文的政策启示是：要充分认识城市性质、城市区位以及城市规模的差异化影响,因地制宜强化数字经济的高质量发展红利效应;顺应新一轮科技革命发展浪潮,助推产业结构升级与技术进步,为黄河流域未来实现高质量发展提供重要支撑。     

人才的资源匹配、技术效率与经济高质量发展

人才对经济高质量发展的影响不仅仅取决于人才要素本身,更取决于其与其他技术、经济、制度等要素资源条件的匹配状况。基于此逻辑,以技术效率衡量经济发展质量,按一定属性将人才进行分类,利用中国30个省市（除西藏和港澳台地区）2002-2016年面板数据,采用超越对数随机前沿生产函数探讨人才的要素资源匹配对经济高质量发展的影响。研究结果表明：（1）人才的要素资源匹配扭曲确实存在并且能够解释技术效率损失的原因;（2）R&D人才能够显著促进经济增长,而学历人才的促进作用并不明显;（3）学历人才和R&D人才在东中西部地区的要素资源匹配效率存在较大差异,具体表现为地区匹配、结构互补、产业匹配、部门匹配在各区域对技术效率和经济高质量发展的作用效果不同。据此,在引进培育人才的同时,更需要打造良好的市场、产业和制度环境,实现人才要素与其他生产或创新要素资源的有效匹配,此外也要兼顾区域间人才要素资源配置的协调。     

专利与理想度提升法则视角的石墨烯技术创新演化阶段识别

凭借特殊的物理和化学性质,石墨烯在新能源、新材料和新一代信息技术等战略性新兴产业中阶段性地表现出极为重要的地位。本文从TRIZ(Teoriya Resheniya Izobreatatelskikh Zadatch,发明问题解决理论)中技术系统进化的理想度提升法则视角出发,结合专利分析、技术生命周期理论,对石墨烯技术创新演化的阶段进行了分析和识别。通过对石墨烯专利数据的计量分析,可以看到世界范围内石墨烯相关技术的创新演化经历了几个阶段性拐点,并且已经进入了高速增长期。与全球范围内石墨烯专利数量高速增长的趋势相比,中国石墨烯专利的技术创新产出却出现阶段性增长近乎停滞的现象,本文从描述性统计、非线性回归和TRIZ中有关技术系统进化法则的多维视角对这一现象也进行了探讨,并提出了部分相关的政策性建议。     

Genomic consequences of population decline in critically endangered pangolins and their demographic histories

Pangolins are among the most critically endangered animals due to heavy poaching and worldwide trafficking. However, their demographic histories and the genomic consequences of their recent population declines remain unknown. We generated high-quality de novo reference genomes for critically endangered Malayan (Manis javanica, MJ) and Chinese (M. pentadactyla, MP) pangolins and re-sequencing population genomic data from 74 MJs and 23 MPs. We recovered the population identities of illegally traded pangolins and previously unrecognized genetic populations that should be protected as evolutionarily distinct conservation units. Demographic reconstruction suggested environmental changes have resulted in a population size fluctuation of pangolins. Additionally, recent population size declines due to human activities have resulted in an increase in inbreeding and genetic load. Deleterious mutations were enriched in genes related to cancer/diseases and cholesterol homeostasis, which may have increased their susceptibility to diseases and decreased their survival potential to adapt to environmental changes and high-cholesterol diets. This comprehensive study provides not only high-quality pangolin reference genomes, but also valuable information concerning the driving factors of long-term population size fluctuations and the genomic impact of recent population size declines due to human activities, which is essential for pangolin conservation management and global action planning.     

Tuning 2D magnetism in Fe3+XGeTe2 films by element dopingOA

Two-dimensional(2D) ferromagnetic materials have been discovered with tunable magnetism and orbital-driven nodal-line features. Controlling the 2D magnetism in exfoliated nanoflakes via electric/magnetic fields enables a boosted Curie temperature(T_C) or phase transitions. One of the challenges, however, is the realization of high T_C2D magnets that are tunable, robust and suitable for large scale fabrication. Here, we report molecular-beam epitaxy growth of wafer-scale Fe     

Comparison of different methods for total RNA extraction from sclerotia of Rhizoctonia solani

BackgroundRhizoctonia solani (teleomorph: Thanatephorus cucumeris) is one of the most important pathogens of rice (Oryza sativa L.) that causes severe yield losses in all rice-growing regions. Sclerotia, formed from the aggregation of hyphae, are important structures in the life cycles of R. solani and contain a large quantity of polysaccharides, lipids, proteins and pigments. In order to extract high-quality total RNA from the sclerotia of R. solani, five methods, including E.Z.N.A.™ Fungal RNA Kit, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)–sodium borate, SDS–polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), guanidinium thiocyanate (GTC) and modified Trizol, were compared in this study.ResultsThe electrophoresis results showed that it failed to extract total RNA from the sclerotia using modified Trizol method, whereas it could extract total RNA from the sclerotia using other four methods. Further experiments confirmed that the total RNA extracted using SDS–sodium borate, SDS–PVP and E.Z.N.A.™ Fungal RNA Kit methods could be used for RT-PCR of the specific amplification of GAPDH gene fragments, and that extracted using GTC method did not fulfill the requirement for above-mentioned RT-PCR experiment.ConclusionIt is concluded that SDS–sodium borate and SDS–PVP methods were the better ones for the extraction of high-quality total RNA that could be used for future gene cloning and expression studies, whereas E.Z.N.A.™ Fungal RNA Kit was not taken into consideration when deal with a large quantity of samples because it is expensive and relatively low yield.     

低压等离子体结合热解法制备金刚石膜

金刚石膜具有天然金刚石相拟的优异特性，预计会有十分广阔的应用前景，本文介绍了一种新颖的金刚石膜生长技术－强流电子增强化学气相沉积法，它结合了传统的热丝法和等离子体法各自的优点，成为一种具有较高生长速率，能够制备大面积均匀金刚石膜的技术，对用这种方法制备的金刚石膜进行了喇曼、扫描电镜和Ｘ－Ｒａｙ衍射分析，并对这项技术的优点作了阐述。