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Electrocardiogram (ECG) outcomes serve as early manifestations of cardiovascular functional or structural changes. While temperature fluctuation has been demonstrated to be a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, few epidemiological studies have reported its relationship with ECG outcomes. In this study, we employed temperature anomaly (TA) as an innovative indicator of temperature fluctuation to quantify its detrimental impacts on ECG outcomes. A longitudinal study design was conducted using the repeated ECG records of the China National Stroke Screening Survey from 2013 to 2019. Only individuals undergoing at least two ECG tests were included. The daily temperature was assimilated by combining three kinds of data: in situ observations, satellite remote sensing measurements and weather research forecast simulations. We used generalized estimating equations to control for autocorrelation among repeated records and to estimate the association between TA and the risk of ECG abnormalities. We found 6837 events of ECG abnormalities in 47,286 individuals with 102,030 visits. Each unit increment of TA increased the risk of ECG abnormalities [odds ratio (OR) = 1.009, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.001–1.017] and the risk of myocardial ischemia (OR = 1.061, 95% CI: 1.012–1.111). Hierarchic analyses presented a similar association of TA with both ECG abnormalities (OR = 1.017, 95% CI: 1.008–1.026) and myocardial ischemia (OR = 1.061, 95%CI: 1.011–1.114) in Northern China, but not in Southern China. The exposure-response relationship was estimated as a U-shaped curve centered at the TA value of zero. Sudden warming tended to increase the risk of ECG abnormalities and myocardial ischemia, and sudden cooling tended to increase the risk of atrial fibrillation. All these detrimental effects of TA could be modified by specific individual characteristics. In summary, ambient temperature fluctuation increased the risk of ECG abnormalities. This result indicated that regular ECG tests could be an early-warning measure for monitoring the adverse health effects of temperature fluctuations. • Temperature anomaly (TA) is an innovative index reflecting temperature fluctuations. • Each unit increment of TA increases the risk of ECG abnormalities. • The exposure-response curve is U-shaped which centered at the TA value of zero. • ECG tests can be used to monitor the health effects of temperature fluctuations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Abstract The NiFe-layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets were decorated on the surface of doped BiVO 4 to structure an integrating photoanode for improving solar photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting efficiency, which is a dynamic research topic to solve the energy crisis and remit environmental pollution caused by fossil fuel combustion. The fabricated photoanode exhibits rapid response to visible light, enhances photocurrent density and shows significant cathodic shift compared to BiVO 4. Moreover, the measured incident photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE) of the photoanode is comparable to that reported in the literature. The amount of evolution oxygen was measured and the faradaic efficiency produced oxygen was also obtained by comparing the theoretical calculation value. The enhancement is attributed to the increase of the carrier density, the effective separation of photogenerated electron-hole and consuming of the photogenerated holes accumulated at the electrode surface, which has been confirmed by electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) and the intensity modulated photocurrent spectra (IMPS). The work may offer a promising method for designing a high efficiency and low-cost photoanode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of nanoporous materials. The development of efficient and environmentally friendly methods for activating MOFs is of great significance for its industrial application. In this work, nanoscale magnetic core-shell Cu-BTC@Fe 3 O 4 was prepared through a secondary growth strategy. The effects of different activation solvents (dichloromethane and ethanol, respectively) and temperatures on the surface area, pore structures and the adsorption of xylene isomers on Cu-BTC@Fe 3 O 4 were investigated. Ethanol as an activation solvent could more easily displace the precursors remaining in the channels of Cu-BTC@Fe 3 O 4 than dichloromethane, while the temperature change has no significant influence on the pore structure. The adsorption separation of xylene isomers on Cu-BTC@Fe 3 O 4 composite materials was studied using the batch vapor-phase adsorption, and liquid-phase breakthrough experiments. The activated Cu-BTC@Fe 3 O 4 (CH 2 Cl 2 -200 ​°C ​− ​C 2 H 5 OH) material has the highest adsorption capacity of 210.26 ​mg ​g−1 for p -xylene (p X). Cu-BTC@Fe 3 O 4 (C 2 H 5 OH) and Cu-BTC@Fe 3 O 4 materials have excellent adsorption capacity for m -xylene (m X), with the values of 200.19 ​mg ​g−1 and 219.63 ​mg ​g−1, respectively, which is about 4 times higher than that of Cu-BTC@Fe 3 O 4 (CH 2 Cl 2). The adsorption capacity sequence of xylene on Cu-BTC@Fe 3 O 4 (C 2 H 5 OH) and Cu-BTC@Fe 3 O 4 materials is m -xylene (m X) ​> ​ p -xylene (p X) ​> ​ o -xylene (o X), and that of other materials is p X ​> ​ m X ​> ​ o X. Nanoscale magnetic core-shell Cu-BTC@Fe 3 O 4 was prepared through a secondary growth strategy towards the adsorption separation of xylene isomers. [Display omitted] • Nanoscale magnetic core-shell Cu-BTC@Fe 3 O 4 was prepared through a secondary growth strategy. • The effects of different activation solvents and temperatures on the xylene isomers adsorption of Cu-BTC@Fe 3 O 4 were studied. • Using ethanol as an activation solvent could more easily displace the precursors remaining in the channels of Cu-BTC@Fe 3 O 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two isomorphic metal-organic frameworks, [Co 2 (4-Ptz) 2 (BDC)(DMA)] n ( 1 ) and [Co 2 (4-Ptz) 2 (2-NH 2 -BDC)(DMA)] n ( 2 ) (4-Ptz=5-(4-Pyridyl)tetrazole, H 2 BDC=Terephthalic Acid, 2-NH 2 -H 2 BDC=2-Aminoterephthalic Acid, DMA=N,N-dimethylacetamide), have been successfully constructed through solvothermal reactions. Crystallographic data analysis reveals a binuclear Co(II) cluster-based structure for 1 and 2 , which were constructed by bridging two neighboring Co(II) ions with teterazole rings of 4-Ptz ligand together with one DMA oxygen atom. Simplifying Co 2 cluster as a 6-connecting node, complexes 1 and 2 reveal bcu-6 net. The CO 2 adsorption isotherms measurement at 273 K manifests higher adsorption quantities for 2 (33.8 cm 3 /g) than 1 (26.2 cm 3 /g), which was attributed to the introduction of NH 2 -group in 2 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current research, the moisture-resistant of Mg-MOF-74 was successfully improved by coating with two-dimensional (2-D) hexagonal boron nitride (h -BN) during the facile hydrothermal synthesis process. Both TEM and SEM results revealed that 2-D h -BN is coated on Mg-MOF-74's surface. The crystal structure, morphology, surface area, thermal stability and CH 4 uptake capacity of Mg-MOF-74 were not drastically influenced by coating with h -BN as examined by XRD, FTIR, SEM, and TEM. Further, the coated Mg-MOF-74 demonstrated better stability than uncoated Mg-MOF-74, when being exposed to high humidity, in terms of surface area and CH 4 uptake capacity. It was observed that the coated Mg-MOF-74 with 1 ​wt % h -BN has reached to 1959 ​m2 ​g−1 surface area and CH 4 uptake capacity of 43 ​cm3 ​g−1 after exposure to high humidity for a duration of 1 month. Thus, this research work has opened a new window towards the improvement of the water stability of Mg-MOF-74. [Display omitted] • The water resistance capacity of Mg-MOF-74 could be improved by coating with two dimensional materials h -BN. • Application of h -BN as coating material of Mg-MOF-74. • h -BN coated Mg-MOF-74 provide high surface area and enhanced CH 4 uptake capacity. • The sample Mg-MOF-74@1 wt.% h -BN exhibited the highest water stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The static and dynamic instabilities of a torsional MEMS/NEMS actuator caused by capillary effects are studied, respectively. An instability number, η, is defined, and the critical gap distance, , between the mainplate and the substrate is derived. According to the values of η and g, the instability criteria of the actuator are presented. The dimensionless motion equation of the MEMS/NEMS torsional actuator is derived when it makes nonlinear oscillation under capillary force. The qualitative analysis of the nonlinear equation is made, and the phase portraits are presented on the phase plane. In addition, the bifurcation phenomena in the system are also analyzed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We synthesized on cellulose membranes 4942 ten-amino-acid peptides which included all of the sequences predicted for the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) corona virus. We probed these membranes with four pairs of acute and convalescent sera from recovered SARS cases. We correlated positively reacting peptides with the in vitro SARS-CoV neutralizing activity of the samples. We found that convalescent sera with high neutralizing activity recognized exclusively only a limited number of peptides on the membranes. This suggests that antibodies against the epitopes represented by these peptides could be responsible for much of the SARS-CoV neutralizing activity. The findings have implications for monitoring humoral responses to SARS-CoV as well as for developing a successful SARS vaccine. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The FHTiNs cathode combines the dual effects of chemical adsorption and physical restriction. It reduces the dissolution of polysulfides and promotes the transformation process of polysulfides. Finally, It realizes the result of inhibiting shuttle effect and has good application potential. [Display omitted] Lithium-sulfur battery(LSB)'s commercial manufacturing has been mainly retarded by the "shuttle effect" and low electrical conductivity of polysulfides (LiPSs). Designing a cathode with hollow and hierarchically porous structures was expected to solve the above problems. Herein, a kind of TiN particles with the hierarchical hollow double-shelled structures was synthesized and applied to cathodes of LSB. The Fig-like hollow TiO 2 particles (FHTiO 2 s) were firstly synthesized by the hard-template method. Subsequently, the Fig-like hierarchical hollow double-shelled TiN particles (FHTiNs) were synthesized by the template-free sequential transformation and separation approach (STSA). It was verified that the heating temperature and time were key parameters. Special Fig-like double-shell hollow structures could greatly increase the loading of S, and the excellent initial capacity of FHTiNs cathodes was up to 1159 mAh/g. On the one hand, the Fig-like framework in internal cavity and double-shell structures could promote the ultrahigh specific surface area, and the adsorption to LiPSs was improved by increasing active sites; On the other hand, the shuttle effect of LiPSs was weakened by the fig-like framework and double-shell structures, which slowed down the massive dissolution of sulfur in the electrolyte. As a result, the pleasant rate performance of FHTiNs cathodes was up to 400 mAh/g at 5C. This novel structures and synthesis method provided a new strategy for the designing of LSB cathodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of biofortification technology in regulating the microbial community of Sichuan bran vinegar (SBV) to enhance its quality has garnered significant attention recently. Here, we utilized Cuqu fortified (JQ) by synthetic microbiota composed of two different strains to enhance SBV fermentation, while simultaneously revealing community succession and metabolic regulatory mechanisms. Compared to control samples, the fortified vinegar grains (ZJV) community exhibited a 1.60-fold increase in bacterial biomass during major stages. Dominant fungi dynamics in ZJV significantly shifted, with a notable increase in Monascus and Rasamsonia. Upregulation of enzymes involved in starch and cellulose degradation led to increased contents of volatiles, 4-ethylguaiacol (4-EG), and raw starch conversion rate in the fermented ZJV by 1.75 times, 40 times, and 21.92%, respectively. Biofortification boosted interspecies interactions, clustering functional microbes into a module. Functional bacteria served as connectors, enhancing fungal-bacterial communication, optimizing information and energy exchange, reducing primary metabolite accumulation like ethanol, and improving nutrient utilization and metabolic conversion for secondary metabolite synthesis. These findings establish crucial groundwork for the practical application of synthetic microbiota in various engineering applications. [Display omitted] • Cuqu fortified by a microbiota composed of two isolates improved the function. • Fortified Cuqu boost interactions by clustering functional microbes into a module. • Functional bacteria optimized trophic network via rising cross domain communication. • Reduce primary metabolite accumulation to enhance nutrient use and conversion. • Contents of volatiles and 4-EG in vinegar increased by 1.75 times and 40 times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in land use and landscapes have a direct impact on the regional eco-environment. It is of great importance to understand the change pattern of land use, landscapes, and their mechanism on the ecological quality, especially ecologically fragile areas. The northern sand-prevention belt (NSPB) is an important ecologically fragile area in China, which has a large influence on the ecological security of the entire country. Based on the land use data of the NSPB in 2000, 2010, and 2018, we studied the spatio-temporal characteristics of land-use change and change in landscape patterns. The ecological quality represented by the remote sensing-based desertification index (RSDI) was calculated using satellite images. The effects of land use and landscape patterns on RSDI were analyzed by geographic detector and geographically weighted regression. Important results include the following: (1) Land-use change in the study area was high during 2000–2010 but slower in 2010–2018. Grassland was the largest land-use type in the NSPB, and varied greatly in terms of total change and spatial location. The major change was the conversion between dense and moderate grass, with 64,860 km2 of dense grass turning into moderate grass, and 48,505 km2 changing the other way. (2) Among the four landscape metrics, patch density, area-weighted mean fractal dimension, and edge density increased, whereas the aggregation index decreased, which indicated that the landscape was developing towards heterogeneity, fragmentation, complexity, and aggregation. Spatially, the landscape metrics presented a strip distribution in the east of the NSPB. (3) The effects of various land-use types on ecological quality, from high to low, were unused land, woodland, dense grass, cropland, moderate grass, built-up land, sparse grass, and waterbody. The areas where the ecological quality was greatly affected by the landscape patterns were concentrated in the agro-pastoral ecotone and the forest-steppe ecotone. The results of this study reveal the trends of land use and landscape patterns in the NSPB over 18 years and can help to understand their mechanism on ecological quality, which is of significance for the management of this area. • LUC in the NSPB was active from 2000 to 2010 and weakened from 2010 to 2018. • The landscape was developing towards heterogeneity, fragmentation, complexity, and aggregation. • The effects of land use and landscape on ecological quality were studied by GD and GWR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aboveground biomass (AGB) in grasslands directly reflects the net primary productivity, making it a sensitive indicator of grassland resource quality and ecological degradation. Accurately estimating AGB over large regions to reveal long-term AGB evolution trends remains a formidable challenge. In this study, we divided Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (IMAR) grasslands into three study regions based on their spatial distribution of grassland types. We combined remote sensing data with ground-based sample data collected over the past 19 years from 6114 field plots using the Google Earth Engine platform. We constructed random forest (RF) and traditional regression AGB inversion models for each region and selected the best-performing model through accuracy assessment to estimate IMAR grassland AGB for the period 2000–2022. We also examined the trends in AGB changes and identified the driving forces affecting IMAR grasslands through the application of Theil-Sen estimation, Mann-Kendall trend analysis, and the Geodetector model. The main findings are as follows: (1) Compared with the univariate parametric traditional regression model, the AGB monitoring accuracy of the multivariate non-parametric RF model in the three study regions increased by 5.94%, 5.08% and 19.14%, respectively. (2) The average AGB per unit area of IMAR grasslands from 2000 to 2022 was 731.41 kg/hm2, with alpine meadow having the highest average AGB (1271.70 kg/hm2) and temperate grassland desertification having the lowest (469.06 kg/hm2). IMAR grasslands exhibited an overall increasing trend in AGB over the past 23 years (6.01 kg/hm2•yr), with the increasing trend covering 83.52% of the grassland area and the decreasing trend covering 16.48%. (3) Spatially, IMAR grassland AGB showed a gradual decline from northeast to southwest and exhibited an increasing trend with increasing longitude (45.423 kg/hm2 per degree) and latitude (71.9 kg/hm2 per degree). (4) Meteorological factors were the most significant factors affecting IMAR grassland AGB, with precipitation (five-year average q value of 0.61) being the most prominent. In the western part of IMAR, where precipitation is consistently limited throughout the year, the primary drivers of influence were human activities, with particular emphasis on the number of livestock (with a five-year average q value of 0.44). It is evident that reducing human activity disturbance and pressure in fragile grassland areas or implementing near-natural restoration measures will be beneficial for the sustainable development of grassland ecosystems. The results of this research hold substantial reference importance for the protection and restoration of grasslands, the supervision and administration of grassland resources, as well as the development of policies related to grassland management. [Display omitted] • The aboveground biomass (AGB) of grasslands in IMAR increased over the past 23 years. • IMAR grassland AGB shows an upward trend with increasing longitude and latitude. • Precipitation is the main factor affecting grassland AGB in IMAR. • Human activities have a greater impact on the grassland AGB in western IMAR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Bacillus amyloliquefaciens HSSN09 with antagonistic effect on FON was isolated. • B. amyloliquefaciens HSSN09 could effectively control watermelon Fusarium wilt and promote the growth of watermelon seedlings. • Tacrolimus has a very obvious antifungal effect and can be used to control watermelon Fusarium wilt. • Tacrolimus was also able to stimulate the growth of watermelon seedlings. • Tacrolimus or its analogs may play a role as a pleiotropic factor in B. amyloliquefaciens HSSN09 biological control. Watermelon Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (FON) is one of the most devastating diseases in watermelon production. Biological control approaches are efficient and environmentally-friendly, thus have aroused broad interest. However, only a few biocontrol factors/molecules have been characterized due to varied genomes and diversified secreted secondary metabolites of biocontrol microorganisms. We report the screen and identification of a Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain HSSN09 with high antagonism to FON and watermelon growth promotion capacity. B. amyloliquefaciens HSSN09 and its secondary metabolites showed inhibition on FON mycelial growth, spore formation and spore germination. Metabolomes of the highly antagonistic strain B. amyloliquefaciens HSSN09, medium antagonistic strain B. amyloliquefaciens FGW53, weakly antagonistic strain B. subtilis JC03 and non-antagonistic strain B. cereus FGW109 were compared with LC-MS/MS. By antagonistic assay, tacrolimus was screened out among the 531 molecules that appeared in the sequencing results of HSSN09 metabolome but not in that of the non-antagonistic strain without significant inhibition on the growth of FON. Among the four tested Bacillus strains, tacrolimus analogue was only observed in the supernatant of HSSN09 by HPLC and MALDI-TOF-MS. We further confirmed the ability of tacrolimus to suppress FON and promote watermelon seedling growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work two new coordination polymers (CPs) with formulas [Zn 2 (Cl)(BTC)(bmb) 2 ] (1) and [Cd 2 (H 2 O) 2 (BTC) 2 ·H 2 bmb·6H 2 O] (2) (bmb=1,4-bis(2-methylimidazol-1-yl)butane and H 3 BTC ​= ​1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid), have been prepared and characterized by various spectroscopic data. The single crystal X-ray data suggests that 1 comprises a 2D layered network and 2 has a 3D porous framework with pcu -type topology. The photocatalytic properties revealed that 2 could successfully degrade organic dyes such as Rhodamine B (Rh B), methylene orange (MO), and methylene blue (MB). Further, the trapping experiment established the active species in the photodegradation process. [Display omitted] • Two new MOFs were synthesized using mixed strategy. • The two MOFs were modulated by synthesized temperature. • Photocatalytic capability was demonstrated for the MOFs. • The photodegradation process was estimated by trapping experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • 29 HDAC6 inhibitors featuring Schisandrin C-analogous Cap were designed and synthesized. • SAR study identified compound 24h as the most attractive one throughout this series. • 24h exhibited single-digit nanomolar IC 50 against HDAC6, along with favorable selectivity over HDAC1, 8 and 11. • In A549 cells, 24h was capable of reversing IL-6-mediated PD-L1 upregulation. • 24h displayed acceptable oral bioavailability, high oral exposure, and long elimination half-life in SD rats. HDAC6 inhibitors (HDAC6is) represent an emerging therapeutic option for triggering anti-cancer immune response. In this work, a novel series of HDAC6is, derived from an in-house analog of the traditional Chinese medicine monomer Schisandrin C, were designed and synthesized for SAR study. Throughout the 29 target compounds, 24a , 24b and 24h exerted single-digit nanomolar enzymatic activity and remarkably elevated subtype selectivity compared to the clinically investigated HDAC6i Ricolinostat (Selectivity index = 3.3). In A549 tumor cells, 24h , as the representative in this series (IC 50 = 7.7 nM; selectivity index = 31.4), was capable of reversing IL-6-mediated PD-L1 upregulation, highlighting its immunomodulatory capability. Importantly, unlike numerous other hydroxamate-based HDACis, 24h displayed an acceptable oral bioavailability in Sprague-Dawley rats, along with high plasma exposure, long elimination half-life and slow clearance. With the aforementioned attractive performance, 24h deserves further in vivo investigation as an immunomodulatory therapeutic agent for batting human malignance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A series of lanthanide-organic complexes based on polyoxometalates (POMs) [Ln2(DNBA)4(DMF)8][W6O19] (Ln=La(1), Ce(2), Sm(3), Eu(4), Gd(5); DNBA=3,5-dinitrobenzoate; DMF=N,N-dimethylformamide) has been synthesized. These complexes consist of [W6O19]2− and dimeric [Ln2(DNBA)4(DMF)8]2+ cations. The luminescence properties of 4 are measured in solid state and different solutions, respectively. Notably, the emission intensity increases gradually with the increase of solvent permittivity, and this solvent effect can be directly observed by electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The analyses of ESI-MS show that the eight coordinated solvent DMF units of dimeric cation are active. They can move away from dimeric cations and exchange with solvent molecules. Although the POM anions escape from 3D supramolecular network, the dimeric state structure of [Ln2(DNBA)4]2+ remains unchanged in solution. The conservation of red luminescence is attributed to the maintenance of the aggregated state structures of dimeric cations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The functionalization of porous metal–organic frameworks (Cu3(BTC)2) was achieved by incorporating Keggin-type polyoxometalates (POMs), and further optimized via alkali metal ion-exchange. In addition to thermal gravimetric analysis, IR, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and powder X-ray diffraction, the adsorption properties were characterized by N2 and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) adsorption measurements, including short-chain alcohols (C<4), cyclohexane, benzene, and toluene. The adsorption enthalpies estimated by the modified Clausius–Clapeyron equation provided insight into the impact of POMs and alkali metal cations on the adsorption of VOCs. The introduction of POMs not only improved the stability, but also brought the increase of adsorption capacity by strengthening the interaction with gas molecules. Furthermore, the exchanged alkali metal cations acted as active sites to interact with adsorbates and enhanced the adsorption of VOCs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Reactions of different metal salts with 3-pyridin-4-yl-benzoic acid (3,4-Hpybz) under ambient condition afford a series of 3-D metal-organic frameworks with two new types of (3,6)-connected net topologies. In the isomorphic complexes [M 2(μ-H2O)(3,4-pybz)4] n (M II=MnII for 1, ZnII for 2, or CdII for 3), the octahedral metal nodes are extended by the 3-connected pybz tectons to constitute 3-D arrays with the Schläfli symbol of (3.4.5)(32.44.55.62.72), whereas [Pb(3,4-pybz)2] n (4) shows a completely different 3-D (42.6)2(44.62.89) framework, which represents a subnet of the (4,8)-connected fluorite lattice. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Among various coating processes, slot die coating belongs to a class of pre-metered coating, in which the coating film thickness can be predetermined. In the past, most research works on slot die coating have focused mainly on polymer solutions; very little information is available using suspensions as coating fluids. In this study, the effect of adding TiO2 and SiO2 in aqueous polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solutions on slot die coating is investigated. It was found that the stable coating window was enlarged with the addition of particles, and its size increased with solids concentration. This is due to the strong interaction between polymer and particles, resulting in a higher viscosity and surface tension. As a result, the upstream coating bead is more stable and the maximum coating speed is extended to a high value, hence the coating window becomes larger. Although both viscosity and surface tension appear to contribute to the stability of coating flow, the effect of surface tension is more dominant. The surface tension of a suspension with porous particles was higher than one with hard solid particles. Consequently, the coating window obtained with the former was significantly larger than the latter. Flow visualization revealed that under the same operating conditions, the upstream dynamic contact angle for the suspension was smaller than for the aqueous polymer solution. This observation could be related to the stability of the upstream coating bead, and hence the coating window. The experimental flow fields were verified numerically with the aid of a numerical simulation package (Flow-3D). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Three layered compounds CsLiCoS 2 , CsAgCoS 2 and CsLiFeS 2 have been synthesized by conventional solid-state reaction method. All of three compounds exhibit semiconducting behavior in electrical transport with small thermal activation energy gap. The crystal structure of CsLiCoS 2 is isostructural to ThCr 2 Si 2 -type CsCo 2 S 2 with random mixture of Li+ and Co2+. The latter two compounds exhibit √2 ​× ​√2 ​× ​1 superstructure of ThCr 2 Si 2 -type because the monovalent Ag+/Li+ and divalent Co2+/Fe2+ independently occupy inequivalent sites in [AMS 2 ]- layer. Through comprehensive investigation of the crystallographic lattice in CsAMS 2 , a phase boundary between disorder and ordered phases may be identified, which highlights the importance of the atomic size and lattice mismatch in determining the crystal structure. Image 1 • Three layered sulfides CsAMS 2 (A ​= ​Li, Ag; M ​= ​Co, Fe) are synthesized by solid state reaction method. • Introducing monovalent Li+/Ag+ could significantly change the structure and property of Co-based sulfides. • A phase boundary between random and ordered occupation in the [AMS 2 ]- layers is determined by the atomic size difference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]