Coupling Fe-Co atomic pair to promote the selective reduction of nitroaromatics under mild conditions.

Selectively reducing nitroaromatics into aromatic amines will not only remove nitroaromatic pollutants in waste effluents to reduce environmental risks, but also yield important feedstocks for chemical industrial manufactures. In this study, a FeCo-co-embedded N-doped Carbon (FeCo-N-C) catalyst with Fe-Co atomic pair has been identified with favorable activity, superior selectivity, excellent reusability, as well as outstanding performance in the treatment of real water. The combined results from theoretical study and experimental tests indicate that the improved catalytic performance of FeCo-N-C is owing to the narrowed band gap and electron delocalization caused by the Fe-Co atomic pair which can improve electron transport in its catalytic reaction.

Analysis of a Prophage Gene Frequency Revealed Population Variation of 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' from Two Citrus-Growing Provinces in China.

Prophages are important genetic elements of bacterial genomes and are involved in lateral gene transfer, pathogenicity, environmental adaptations, and interstrain genetic variability. In this study, the sequence of a prophage terminase gene of 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus', a bacterium associated with citrus Huanglongbing (HLB), was selected as a molecular marker to assess the genetic variation in two 'Ca. L.

[Association between myocardial connexin 40 and 45 expression and myocardial fibrosis in the rapid atrial pacing canine model].

Objective: Electrical and structural remodeling are of importance for the occurrence and maintenance of atrial fibrillation. We observed association between atrial connexin protein expression and fibrosis in a canine model of prolonged rapid atrial pacing.

Methods: "J"-type electrodes were placed in the right atrial appendage under the guidance of X-ray in 16 dogs, Animals in model group (n = 8) received fast pacing (400 beats/min) for 10 weeks while animals in control group (n = 8) maintained at sinus rhythm.

[Effects of losartan and simvastatin on collagen content, myocardial expression of MMP-2 mRNA, MMP-9 mRNA and TIMP-1 mRNA, TIMP-2 mRNA in pressure overload rat hearts].

Objective: To investigate the effects of simvastatin(Sim) and losartan(Los) on cardiac fibrosis and myocardial expression of MMP-2 mRNA, MMP-9 mRNA and TIMP-1 mRNA, TIMP-2 mRNA in pressure overloaded rat hearts.

Methods: The pressure overload model was induced by descending aortic constriction (DAC) in rats. SD rats were randomized into 6 groups (n = 20 each): normol control group, control sham group, DAC group, Los group (DAC + Los, 5 mg/kg), Sim group (DAC + Sim, 2 mg/kg), Los + Sim group (DAC + Los + Sim, Los 5 mg/kg, Sim 2 mg/kg).