Executive pharmaceutical background, R&D investment and corporate innovation performance.

BACKGROUND: In the context of China's innovation-driven economy, the competitive advantage for pharmaceutical companies increasingly depends on their level of innovation. The executives, as the highest decision-makers in the company, directly influence corporate research and development (R&D) investment and innovation performance. Additionally, government subsidies, as an external factor alleviating corporate financial constraints, also impact a company's R&D investment. According to a survey by the Journal of China Securities, at the end of 2020, among 119 pharmaceutical companies listed on the A-share market, only 53.3% had Chief Executive Officer (CEOs) with pharmaceutical backgrounds. This study constructs a theoretical model of executive pharmaceutical backgrounds, R&D investment, government subsidies, and corporate innovation performance in pharmaceutical companies, aiming to reveal the mechanism and boundary condition between executive pharmaceutical backgrounds and corporate innovation performance in the pharmaceutical industry. METHODS: This study uses Chinese pharmaceutical companies listed from 2015 to 2022 as the research sample. The selected sample was processed as follows: companies with significant issues and risks of Special Treatment (ST) or *ST were excluded, companies with missing data were excluded, and companies for which executive background data could not be obtained were excluded. After these exclusions, the study obtained data for 223 listed pharmaceutical companies over 8 years. Then we constructed a three-stage regression model to test the impact of executive pharmaceutical background on R&D investment, the impact of R&D investment on corporate innovation performance, and the mediating effect of R&D investment. Considering that some scholars raised questions about it, this study simultaneously uses the Bootstrap analysis method in the SPSS PROCESS to test the mediating effect of R&D and the moderated mediating effect of government subsidies. RESULTS: The empirical research results reveal that executive pharmaceutical backgrounds have a significant positive impact on corporate R&D investment. R&D investment contributes to the innovation performance of pharmaceutical companies and plays an intermediary role between executive pharmaceutical backgrounds and corporate innovation performance. Government subsidies act as a moderator in the relationship between executive pharmaceutical backgrounds and R&D investment, and they also moderate the mediating effect of executive pharmaceutical backgrounds, R&D investment, and corporate innovation performance. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides insight from a dual perspective of internal and external factors, revealing the internal mechanism and boundary conditions influencing the innovation performance of pharmaceutical companies. In conclusion, pharmaceutical companies should employ executives with pharmaceutical backgrounds to manage the company. This will help increase the company's R&D investment, subsequently improving R&D performance and enhancing the pharmaceutical company's innovation competitiveness. This study not only expands the theories in the fields of executive characteristics, R&D investment, and corporate innovation performance but also has important policy implications for the appointment and selection of executives in pharmaceutical companies.

Strong synergy between gold nanoparticles and cobalt porphyrin induces highly efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

The reaction efficiency of reactants near plasmonic nanostructures can be enhanced significantly because of plasmonic effects. Herein, we propose that the catalytic activity of molecular catalysts near plasmonic nanostructures may also be enhanced dramatically. Based on this proposal, we develop a highly efficient and stable photocatalytic system for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) by compositing a molecular catalyst of cobalt porphyrin together with plasmonic gold nanoparticles, around which plasmonic effects of localized electromagnetic field, local heating, and enhanced hot carrier excitation exist. After optimization, the HER rate and turn-over frequency (TOF) reach 3.21 mol g-1 h-1 and 4650 h-1, respectively. In addition, the catalytic system remains stable after 45-hour catalytic cycles, and the system is catalytically stable after being illuminated for two weeks. The enhanced reaction efficiency is attributed to the excitation of localized surface plasmon resonance, particularly plasmon-generated hot carriers. These findings may pave a new and convenient way for developing plasmon-based photocatalysts with high efficiency and stability.

Green Flexible Electronics: Natural Materials, Fabrication, and Applications.

The emergence of plastic electronics satisfies the increasing demand for flexible electronics. However, it has caused severe ecological problems. Flexible electronics based on natural materials are increasing to hopefully realize the "green" and eco-friendly concept. Herein, recent advances in the design and fabrication of green flexible electronics are reviewed. First, this review comprehensively introduces various natural materials and derivatives, focusing particularly on fibroin and silk, wood and paper, plants, and biomass. Second, fabrication techniques for modifying natural materials, including physical and chemical methods, are presented, after which their merits and demerits are thoroughly discussed. Green flexible electronics based on natural materials, comprising electrical wires/electrodes, antennas, thermal management devices, transistors, memristors, sensors, energy-harvesting devices, energy-storage devices, displays, actuators, electromagnetic shielding, and integration systems, are described in detail. Finally, perspectives on the existing challenges and opportunities to employ natural materials in green flexible electronics are presented.

Density-of-States Matching-Induced Ultrahigh Current Density and High-Humidity Resistance in a Simply Structured Triboelectric Nanogenerator.

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) can covert mechanical energy into electricity in a clean and sustainable manner. However, traditional TENGs are mainly limited by the low output current, and thus their practical applications are still limited. Herein, a new type of TENG is developed by using conductive materials as the triboelectric layers and electrodes simultaneously. Because of the matched density of states between the two triboelectric layers, this simply structured device reaches an open-circuit voltage of 1400 V and an ultrahigh current density of 1333 mA m-2 when poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) film and copper (Cu) or aluminum (Al) foil are used as the triboelectric pair. The current density increases by nearly three orders of magnitude compared with traditional TENGs. More importantly, this device can work stably in high-humidity environments, which is always a big challenge for traditional TENGs. Surprisingly, this TENG can even perform well in the presence of water droplets. This work provides a new and effective strategy for constructing high-performance TENGs, which can be used in many practical applications in the near future.

High-Performance Organic Electrochemical Transistor Based on Photo-annealed Plasmonic Gold Nanoparticle-Doped PEDOT:PSS.

Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs), particularly the ones based on PEDOT:PSS, are excellent candidates for chemical and biological sensing because of their unique advantages. Improving the sensitivity and stability of OECTs is crucially important for practical applications. Herein, the transconductance of OECT is improved by 8-fold to 14.9 mS by doping the PEDOT:PSS channel with plasmonic gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using a solution-based process followed by photo annealing. In addition, the OECT also possesses high flexibility and cyclic stability. It is revealed that the doping of AuNPs increases the conductivity of PEDOT:PSS and the photo annealing improves the crystallinity of the PEDOT:PSS channel and the interaction between AuNPs and PEDOT:PSS. These changes lead to the increase in transconductance and cyclic stability. The prepared OECTs are also demonstrated to be effective in sensitive detection of glucose within a wide concentration range of 10 nM-1 mM. Our OECTs based on photo-annealed plasmonic AuNP-doped PEDOT:PSS may find great applications in chemical and biological sensing, and this strategy may be extended to prepare many other high-performance OECT-based devices.

Selective adsorption of cysteamine molecules on Au/TiO2 boosts visible light-driven photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

Photocatalytic evolution of hydrogen is becoming a research hotspot because it can help to produce clean energy and reduce environmental pollution. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and its composites are photocatalysts that are widely used in hydrogen evolution because of their high abundance in nature, low price, and high photo/chemical stability. However, their catalytic performances still need to be further improved, particularly in the visible light spectrum. Herein, visible light-driven photocatalytic evolution of hydrogen on Au/TiO2 nanocomposite is enhanced âˆ¼ 10 folds by selectively functionalizing the nanocomposite with cysteamine molecules. It is revealed that the amine group (-NH2) in cysteamine favors the transfer and separation of photo-generated hot carriers. The rate of hydrogen produced can be further tuned by varying the ionization of the functionalized molecules at different pH values. This work provides a simple, convenient, and effective method that can be used to improve the photocatalytic evolution of hydrogen. This method can also be used for many other nanocatalysts (e.g., Au-MoS2, Au-BiVO4) and catalytic reactions (e.g., carbon dioxide reduction, nitrogen reduction).

Influence of differential leadership behavior on employees' deviant innovation: Based on dual perspectives of insider and outsider subordinates.

Differential leadership as a localized leadership style gradually developed on the basis of the Pattern of Differential Sequence. It plays a dual role in stimulating "insider subordinates" and "outsider subordinates" through the dynamic transformation of the roles. Using the process of game reasoning, the study identifies the differing principles used by insider subordinates and outsider subordinates in implementing deviant innovative behaviors. The simulation graph presents the perceived benefits of employees performing or not performing deviant innovative behaviors as clues during the reasoning process, and implements deviant innovative behaviors for the high risk-taking trait of insider subordinates and the high internal control personality of outsider subordinates who implement deviant innovation. The theoretical derivation of behavior provides relevant references, and provides counter measures for effectively promoting employees' deviant innovative behavior in the context of differential leadership.

Simple, Skin-Attachable, and Multifunctional Colorimetric Sweat Sensor.

In situ analysis of sweat provides a simple, convenient, cost-effective, and noninvasive approach for the early diagnosis of physical illness in humans and is particularly useful in family care. In this study, a flexible and skin-attachable colorimetric sweat sensor for multiplexed analysis is developed using a simple, cost-effective, and convenient method. The obtained sweat sensor can be used to simultaneously detect glucose, lactate, urea, and pH value in sweat, as well as sweat loss and skin temperature. Only 2.5 µL of sweat is enough for the whole test, and the sweat loss and chemical-sensing results can be read out conveniently by naked eyes or a smartphone. In addition, body temperature can also be detected with an additional electrical circuit. Our sweat sensor provides a new, cost-effective, and convenient approach for in vitro diagnosis of multiple components in sweat, and the easy fabrication and cost-effectiveness make our sensor commercializable in the near future.

Preparation of Janus nanosheets composed of gold/palladium nanoparticles and reduced graphene oxide for highly efficient emulsion catalysis.

Interface/emulsion catalysis is an effective approach for many organic and inorganic chemical reactions. Positioning catalysts at the interface is essential for highly efficient interface/emulsion catalysis. The sheet-like Janus nanostructures may have great advantages in stabilizing emulsions and improving reaction efficiency. In this work, by using a simple emulsion reaction and photodeposition, we successfully prepare the Janus nanosheets with opposite sides composed of AuNPs/PdNPs and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) respectively, referred to as AuNP-rGO/PdNP-rGO Janus nanosheets. Due to the distinct hydrophilicities on opposite sides, the prepared Janus nanosheets demonstrate high efficiency in emulsion stabilization and emulsion catalysis. By introducing the prepared PdNP-rGO and AuNP-rGO Janus nanosheets in emulsion reactions, highly efficient hydrogenation of p-nitroanisole and photocatalytic degradation of Nile red are demonstrated. This work provides a simple and cost-effective method to prepare Janus nanosheets and realize highly efficient emulsion reactions, and this strategy can be extended to promote many other interface/emulsion reactions.

Realizing Ultrahigh Transconductance in Organic Electrochemical Transistor by Co-Doping PEDOT:PSS with Ionic Liquid and Dodecylbenzenesulfonate.

Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs), especially the ones with high transconductance, are highly promising in sensitive detection of chemical and biological species. However, it is still a great challenge to design and fabricate OECTs with very high transconductance. Herein, an OECT with ultrahigh transconductance is reported by introducing ionic liquid and dodecylbenzenesulfonate (DBSA) simultaneously in poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) as the semiconductive channel. Compared with the OECT based on pristine PEDOT:PSS, the OECT based on co-doped PEDOT:PSS demonstrates a significant enhancement of transconductance from 1.85 to 22.7 mS, because of the increase in volumetric capacitance and conductivity. The enhanced transconductance is attributed to the DBSA-facilitated phase separation between the ionic liquid and PEDOT:PSS, which helps to form conductive domains of ionic liquid in PEDOT:PSS matrix, and the partial dispersion of ionic liquid in the PEDOT:PSS phase. Furthermore, by using the interdigitated electrodes as the source and drain electrodes, an ultrahigh transconductance of 180 mS is obtained, which is superior to that of the state-of-the-art OECTs. Because of the ultrahigh transconductance, the obtained OECT demonstrates sensitive detection of hydrogen peroxide and glucose, making it promising in clinical diagnosis, health monitoring, and environmental surveillance.

High-Performance Foam-Shaped Strain Sensor Based on Carbon Nanotubes and Ti3C2Tx MXene for the Monitoring of Human Activities.

The flexible strain sensor is of significant importance in wearable electronics, since it can help monitor the physical signals from the human body. Among various strain sensors, the foam-shaped ones have received widespread attention owing to their light weight and gas permeability. However, the working range of these sensors is still not large enough, and the sensitivity needs to be further improved. In this work, we develop a high-performance foam-shaped strain sensor composed of Ti3C2Tx MXene, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). MXene sheets are adsorbed on the surface of a composite foam of MWCNTs and TPU (referred to as TPU/MWCNTs foam), which is prefabricated by using a salt-templating method. The obtained TPU/MWCNTs@MXene foam works effectively as a lightweight, easily processable, and sensitive strain sensor. The TPU/MWCNTs@MXene device can deliver a wide working strain range of ∼100% and an outstanding sensitivity as high as 363 simultaneously, superior to the state-of-the-art foam-shaped strain sensors. Moreover, the composite foam shows an excellent gas permeability and suitable elastic modulus close to those of skin, indicating its being highly comfortable as a wearable sensor. Owing to these advantages, the sensor works effectively in detecting both subtle and large human movements, such as joint motion, finger motion, and vocal cord vibration. In addition, the sensor can be used for gesture recognition, demonstrating its perspective in human-machine interaction. Because of the high sensitivity, wide working range, gas permeability, and suitable modulus, our foam-shaped composite strain sensor may have great potential in the field of flexible and wearable electronics in the near future.