Superconductivity in chromium nitrides Pr3Cr10-xN11 with strong electron correlations

Exploration of superconductivity in Cr-based compounds has attracted considerable interest because only a few Cr-based superconductors (CrAs, A₂Cr₃As₃ and ACr₃As₃ (A = K, Rb, Cs, Na)) have been discovered so far and they show an unconventional pairing mechanism. We report the discovery of bulk superconductivity at 5.25 K in chromium nitride in Pr₃Cr_10-xN₁₁ with a cubic lattice structure. A relatively large upper critical field of H_c2(0) ∼ 12.6 T is determined, which is larger than the estimated Pauli-paramagnetic pair-breaking magnetic field. The material has a large electronic specific-heat coefficient of 170 mJ K⁻² mol⁻¹—about 10 times larger than that estimated by the electronic structure calculation, which suggests that correlations between 3d electrons are very strong in Pr₃Cr_10-xN₁₁, and thus quantum fluctuations might be involved. Electronic structure calculations show that the density of states at the Fermi energy are contributed predominantly by Cr 3d electrons, implying that the superconductivity results mainly from the condensation of Cr 3d electrons. Pr₃Cr_10-xN₁₁ represents a rare example of possible unconventional superconductivity emerging in a 3D system with strong electron correlations. Nevertheless, clarification of the specific pairing symmetry needs more investigation.     

Encapsulating metal organic framework into hollow mesoporous carbon sphere as efficient oxygen bifunctional electrocatalyst

Applying metal organic frameworks (MOFs) in electrochemical systems is a currently emerging field owing to the rich metal nodes and highly specific surface area of MOFs. However, the problems for MOFs that need to be solved urgently are poor electrical conductivity and low ion transport. Here we present a facile in situ growth method for the rational synthesis of MOFs@hollow mesoporous carbon spheres (HMCS) yolk–shell-structured hybrid material for the first time. The size of the encapsulated Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-67 (ZIF-67) is well controlled to 100 nm due to the spatial confinement effect of HMCS, and the electrical conductivity of ZIF-67 is also increased significantly. The ZIF@HMCS-25% hybrid material obtained exhibits a highly efficient oxygen reduction reaction activity with 0.823 V (vs. reversible hydrogen electrode) half-wave potential and an even higher kinetic current density (J_K = 13.8 mA cm⁻²) than commercial Pt/C. ZIF@HMCS-25% also displays excellent oxygen evolution reaction performance and the overpotential of ZIF@HMCS-25% at 10 mA cm⁻² is 407 mV. In addition, ZIF@HMCS-25% is further employed as an air electrode for a rechargeable Zn–air battery, exhibiting a high power density (120.2 mW cm⁻² at 171.4 mA cm⁻²) and long-term charge/discharge stability (80 h at 5 mA cm⁻²). This MOFs@HMCS yolk–shell design provides a versatile method for the application of MOFs as electrocatalysts directly.     

On theory and methods for advanced detonation-driven hypervelocity shock tunnels

This study describes theory and methods for developing detonation-driven shock tunnels in hypervelocity test facilities. The primary concept and equations for high-enthalpy shock tunnels are presented first to demonstrate the unique advantage of shock tubes for aerodynamic ground-based testing. Then, the difficulties in simulating flight conditions in hypervelocity shock tunnels are identified, and discussed in detail to address critical issues underlying these difficulties. Theory and methods for developing detonation drivers are proposed, and relevant progress that has advanced the state of the art in large-scale hypersonic test facilities is presented with experimental verifications. Finally, tailored conditions for detonation-driven shock tunnels are described, laying a solid foundation to achieve long test duration. This interface-matching key issue encountered in developing shock tunnels has been investigated for decades, but not solved for detonation drivers in engineering applications.     

Local and teleconnected temperature effects of afforestation and vegetation greening in China

Afforestation in China provides carbon sequestration and prevents soil erosion, but its remote impacts on climate in other regions via the coupling of forest energy fluxes with atmospheric circulation are largely unknown. Here, we prescribe inventory-based forest cover change and satellite-observed leaf area index from 1982 to 2011 in a coupled land-atmosphere model to simulate their biophysical climate effects. Both local and global surface air temperatures show a seasonal contrast in response to past vegetation cover expansion over China: a phenomenon we primarily attribute to a variation of seasonality of vegetation greening. A large cooling in spring results in concurrent decreases in geopotential height over China and zonal wind over Mongolia, causing a dipole structure in the upper troposphere over the Arctic. This accounts for ∼58% of simulated spring warming over the Russian Arctic and ∼61% of simulated spring cooling over the Canadian Artic. Our results imply that spring vegetation dynamics in China may affect climate in northern high latitudes.     

Large-scale multiferroic complex oxide epitaxy with magnetically switched polarization enabled by solution processing

Complex oxides with tunable structures have many fascinating properties, though high-quality complex oxide epitaxy with precisely controlled composition is still out of reach. Here we have successfully developed solution-based single-crystalline epitaxy for multiferroic (1-x)BiTi_(1-y)/2Fe_yMg_(1-y)/2O₃–(x)CaTiO₃ (BTFM–CTO) solid solution in large area, confirming its ferroelectricity at the atomic scale with strong spontaneous polarization. Careful compositional tuning leads to a bulk magnetization of 0.07 ± 0.035 μ_B/Fe at room temperature, enabling magnetically induced polarization switching exhibiting a large magnetoelectric coefficient of 2.7–3.0 × 10⁻⁷ s/m. This work demonstrates the great potential of solution processing in large-scale complex oxide epitaxy and establishes novel room-temperature magnetoelectric coupling in epitaxial BTFM–CTO film, making it possible to explore a much wider space of composition, phase, and structure that can be easily scaled up for industrial applications.     

Evolution and distribution of medullary bone: evidence from a new Early Cretaceous enantiornithine bird

Living birds are unique among vertebrates in the formation of a female-specific bone tissue called medullary bone (MB) that is strictly associated with reproductive activity. MB is a rapidly mobilized source of calcium and phosphorus for the production of eggshell. Among living taxa, its skeletal distribution can be highly extensive such that it even exists in the ribs of some species. Due to its ephemeral nature, MB is rarely fossilized and so little is understood with regard to the origin of MB and its skeletal distribution in early taxa. Here we describe a new Early Cretaceous enantiornithine bird, Mirusavis parvus, gen. et. sp. nov., indicating that skeleton-wide distribution of MB appeared early in avian evolution. We suggest that this represents the plesiomorphic condition for the Aves and that the distribution of MB observed among extant neornithines is a product of increased pneumatization in this lineage and natural selection for more efficient distribution of MB.     

黄河流域农村饮水安全问题及对策

21世纪以来中国农村饮水安全工程建设取得重大成就,截至2018年底,全国农村自来水普及率已达到80%以上,解决了绝大多数农村人口的安全饮水问题。然而黄河流域部分农村地区水资源短缺、水源水质差、饮水型地方病危害重、饮用水水源地缺乏保护和农村饮水安全工程不完善等问题突出,饮水安全保障工作相对于全国农村饮水安全工程进程较为滞后。为切实解决黄河流域农村人民群众的饮水安全问题,促进黄河流域生态保护和高质量发展,本文综述了目前黄河流域饮水安全突出的问题,并结合全国农村饮水提质增效的工作目标,提出了进一步做好流域内农村饮水安全工作的建议,包括实现水资源动态配置、加强饮水安全设施建设和工程管理、强化水源地保护与监测等,从优先保障饮用水水量和水质方面全面维护流域内农村地区的饮水安全。     

新药研发发展态势分析

新药研发是医药创新发展的关键环节,是新一轮生命科技革命和生物经济变革的核心领域,对引领科技创新、带动经济发展、提升人民健康福祉具有战略意义。当前,前沿技术不断革新、学科跨域融合、数字深度赋能驱动新药研发领域创新日趋活跃,国内外创新性小分子药物、抗体药物、免疫细胞治疗、基因治疗与核酸药物等密集获批上市,为未满足的临床需求提供更多选择。文章深入分析新药研发领域发展趋势、全球新药批准情况,以及我国新药研发发展现状与态势,提出发展启示与建议,以期为新药研发领域发展提供参考。