Although extant literature has shown that formal contracts and relational governance play a key role in interorganizational relationships, the nature of their interplay still remains equivocal. To ...better understand the relationships between contractual and relational governance, we conducted a qualitative review and meta-analysis of the existing literature. Meta-analytic results from 33,051 interorganizational relationships across 149 empirical studies have indicated that contractual governance is positively related to both sides of relational governance—trust and relational norms. Our results have also indicated that contracts, trust, and relational norms jointly improve satisfaction and relationship performance and jointly reduce opportunism. These findings provide strong evidence for the complementarity arguments of the contractual–relational governance relationships and their joint impacts on performance. We also found that the mutual relationships between contractual and relational governance are moderated by the institutional environments, the interorganizational relationship type and length, and the construct measurement of contracts. Overall, this study provides new insights on when contractual and relational governance complement or substitute each other. We discuss the implications of our study for theory and practice and propose a research agenda for future research on governance in interorganizational relationships.
Activation of inert chemical bonds, such as C–H, C–O, C–C, and so on, is a very important area, to which has been drawn much attention by chemists for a long time and which is viewed as one of the ...most ideal ways to produce valuable chemicals. Under modern chemical bond activation logic, many conventionally viewed “inert” chemical bonds that were intact under traditional conditions can be reconsidered as novel functionalities, which not only avoids the tedious synthetic procedures for prefunctionalizations and the emission of undesirable wastes but also inspires chemists to create novel synthetic strategies in completely different manners. Although activation of “inert” chemical bonds using stoichiometric amounts of transition metals has been reported in the past, much more attractive and challenging catalytic transformations began to blossom decades ago. Compared with the broad application of late and noble transition metals in this field, the earth-abundant first-row transition-metals, such as Fe, Co, and Ni, have become much more attractive, due to their obvious advantages, including high abundance on earth, low price, low or no toxicity, and unique catalytic characteristics. In this Account, we summarize our recent efforts toward Fe, Co, and Ni catalyzed “inert” chemical bond activation. Our research first unveiled the unique catalytic ability of iron catalysts in C–O bond activation of both carboxylates and benzyl alcohols in the presence of Grignard reagents. The benzylic C–H functionalization was also developed via Fe catalysis with different nucleophiles, including both electron-rich arenes and 1-aryl-vinyl acetates. Cobalt catalysts also showed their uniqueness in both aromatic C–H activation and C–O activation in the presence of Grignard reagents. We reported the first cobalt-catalyzed sp2 C–H activation/arylation and alkylation of benzohquinoline and phenylpyridine, in which a new catalytic pathway via an oxidative addition process was demonstrated to be much preferable. Another interesting discovery was the Co-catalyzed magnesiation of benzylic alcohols in the presence of different Grignard reagents, which proceeded via Co-mediated selective C–O bond activation. In C–O activation, Ni catalysts were found to be most powerful, showing the high efficacy in different kinds of couplings starting form “inert” O-based electrophiles. In addition, Ni catalysts exhibited their power in C–H and C–C activation, which have been proven by us and pioneers in this field. Notably, our developments indicated that the catalytic efficacy in cross coupling between aryl bromides and arenes under mild conditions was not the privilege of several noble metals; most of the transition metals exhibited credible catalytic ability, including Fe, Co, and Ni. We hope our studies inspire more interest in the development of first row transition metal-catalyzed inert chemical bond functionalization.
There is a pressing need for methods that can connect enantioenriched organic compounds with readily accessible building blocks via asymmetric functionalization of unreactive chemical bonds in ...organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry. Herein, the asymmetric chemoselective cleavage of two unactivated C(Ar)−O bonds in the same molecule is disclosed for the first time through an unusual nickel‐catalyzed carbomagnesiation. This reaction facilitates the evolution of a novel atroposelective ring‐opening difunctionalization. Utilizing readily available dibenzo bicyclic substrates, diverse valuable axially chiral biaryls are furnished with high efficiencies. Synthetic elaborations showcase the application potential of this method. The features of this method include good atom‐economy, multiple roles of the nucleophile, and a simple catalytic system that enables the precise magnesiation of an α‐C(Ar)−O bond and arylation of a β‐C(Ar)−O bond.
A chiral catalytic system that can facilitate the cleavage of two different unactivated aromatic C−O bonds in the same molecule with simultaneous chemo‐ and enantiocontrol is disclosed through an unusual Ni‐catalyzed carbomagnesiation. This reaction enables the establishment of a novel catalytic atroposelective ring‐opening difunctionalization process. Synthetic elaborations indicates the application potential of this method.
Successful bench‐to‐bedside translation of nanomedicine relies heavily on the development of nanocarriers with superior therapeutic efficacy and high biocompatibility. However, the optimal strategy ...for improving one aspect often conflicts with the other. Herein, we report a tactic of designing tumor‐pH‐labile linkage‐bridged copolymers of clinically validated poly(d,l‐lactide) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG‐Dlinkm‐PDLLA) for safe and effective drug delivery. Upon arriving at the tumor site, PEG‐Dlinkm‐PDLLA nanoparticles will lose the PEG layer and increase zeta potential by responding to tumor acidity, which significantly enhances cellular uptake and improves the in vivo tumor inhibition rate to 78.1 % in comparison to 47.8 % of the non‐responsive control. Furthermore, PEG‐Dlinkm‐PDLLA nanoparticles show comparable biocompatibility with the clinically used PEG‐b‐PDLLA micelle. The improved therapeutic efficacy and safety demonstrate great promise for our strategy in future translational studies.
PEG‐detachable delivery micelles: A chemotherapeutic vector with superior therapeutic efficacy and high biocompatibility is obtained by designing bridged PEGylated polylactide‐containing tumor‐acidity‐responsive linkages. The decreased PEGylation and increased zeta potential in the tumor matrix enhanced cellular uptake of the vector, enabling safe and effective antitumor drug delivery.
Phenol derivatives are naturally abundant or can be easily fabricated from commercially accessible building blocks. In recent years, with the aim of producing functionally important chiral compounds ...in enantioenriched form, there has been initial progress in the development of metal‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reactions that involve the enantioselective cleavage of aromatic C−O bonds. This concept encompasses a review of the significant advancements in this field, as well as the associated strategies. Moreover, the challenges and potential opportunities in this area are also underscored.
Phenol‐derivatives are naturally abundant or can be easily obtained from other commercially accessible building blocks. Alternatively, optically pure molecules are of utmost importance in the progression of pharmaceuticals and pesticides. In this concept, we have succinctly summarized the established techniques that bridge these two categories of compounds by metal‐catalyzed cross‐couplings, which involve the enantioselective cleavage of aromatic C−O bonds.
China's Loess Plateau (LP) is one of the most typical regions with serious soil erosion. Its ecological restoration, economic development, and social progress are directly related to realizing ...China's national sustainable development goals (SDGs). With intensive field investigations, comprehensive analyses of statistical data, remote sensing data, and local monitoring data, this current research explored the achievements in local ecological restoration and economic development, discussed the main problems faced by the LP, and assessed the sustainable development status of the LP. Moreover, drawing from a 3C system approach (classification–coordination–collaboration), this research proposed the sustainable development strategies for more sustainable LP. We found that the LP's ecological restoration and economic development made remarkable achievements since 2000. However, the environment was still fragile and regional development was still lagging behind. In realizing SDGs, further improvements on clean water and sanitation, decent work and economic growth, industry, innovation and infrastructure, reduced inequalities, and climate action are needed. Coordinated and collaborated efforts are expected from multiple hierarchical levels including household, watershed, region, and nation in developing LP. Specifically, human-environment interactions should be highlighted at the household level, upstream-downstream interactions that are catering to the particular characteristics of the LP is encouraged at the watershed level, and regional and urban-rural interactions shall play an increasingly important role at the regional level. While at the national level, the central government should carry out a systematic overarching design. To better realize the goal of more sustainable LP, this research calls for (1) forming an actor-network consists of multi stakeholders, including the central government, local government, watershed, families, ecosystem and environment, enterprises, NGOs, and scientists, and (2) paying attention to ecosystem management, ecological restoration, industrial structure optimization, ecological agriculture, rural infrastructure, and ecological civilization construction in the future development.
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•The Loess Plateau has made remarkable achievements in ecological restoration and economic development.•Main problems faced by the Loess Plateau are discussed.•We assessed the status of sustainable development in the Loess Plateau.•Strategy for More Sustainable Loess Plateau has been constructed based on Classification–Coordination–Collaboration approach.•Key tasks in the field of environment, economy and society for SDGs were identified.
Abstract
Decarbonization strategies for the cement and concrete sector have relied heavily on supply-side technologies, including carbon capture and storage (CCS), masking opportunities for ...demand-side intervention. Here we show that cross-cutting strategies involving both the supply and demand sides can achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 across the entire Japanese cement and concrete cycle without resorting to mass deployment of CCS. Our analysis shows that a series of mitigation efforts on the supply side can reduce 2050 CO
2
emissions by up to 80% from baseline levels and that the remaining 20% mitigation gap can be fully bridged by the efficient use of cement and concrete in the built environment. However, this decarbonization pathway is dependent on how CO
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uptake by carbonation and carbon capture and utilization is accounted for in the inventory. Our analysis underscores the importance of including demand-side interventions at the heart of decarbonization strategies and highlights the urgent need to discuss how to account for CO
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uptake in national inventories under the Paris Agreement.
Single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) is being used widely to resolve cellular heterogeneity. With the rapid accumulation of public scRNA-seq data, an effective and efficient cell-querying method is ...critical for the utilization of the existing annotations to curate newly sequenced cells. Such a querying method should be based on an accurate cell-to-cell similarity measure, and capable of handling batch effects properly. Herein, we present Cell BLAST, an accurate and robust cell-querying method built on a neural network-based generative model and a customized cell-to-cell similarity metric. Through extensive benchmarks and case studies, we demonstrate the effectiveness of Cell BLAST in annotating discrete cell types and continuous cell differentiation potential, as well as identifying novel cell types. Powered by a well-curated reference database and a user-friendly Web server, Cell BLAST provides the one-stop solution for real-world scRNA-seq cell querying and annotation.
A principal goal of cancer nanomedicine is to deliver therapeutics effectively to cancer cells within solid tumors. However, there are a series of biological barriers that impede nanomedicine from ...reaching target cells. Here, we report a stimuli-responsive clustered nanoparticle to systematically overcome these multiple barriers by sequentially responding to the endogenous attributes of the tumor microenvironment. The smart polymeric clustered nanoparticle (iCluster) has an initial size of ∼100 nm, which is favorable for long blood circulation and high propensity of extravasation through tumor vascular fenestrations. Once iCluster accumulates at tumor sites, the intrinsic tumor extracellular acidity would trigger the discharge of platinum prodrug-conjugated poly(amidoamine) dendrimers (diameter ∼5 nm). Such a structural alteration greatly facilitates tumor penetration and cell internalization of the therapeutics. The internalized dendrimer prodrugs are further reduced intracellularly to release cisplatin to kill cancer cells. The superior in vivo antitumor activities of iCluster are validated in varying intractable tumor models including poorly permeable pancreatic cancer, drug-resistant cancer, and metastatic cancer, demonstrating its versatility and broad applicability.
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