A functional model for O-O bond formation by the O2-evolving complex in photosystem II. (1/341)

The formation of molecular oxygen from water in photosynthesis is catalyzed by photosystem II at an active site containing four manganese ions that are arranged in di-mu-oxo dimanganese units (where mu is a bridging mode). The complex [H2O(terpy)Mn(O)2Mn(terpy)OH2](NO3)3 (terpy is 2,2':6', 2"-terpyridine), which was synthesized and structurally characterized, contains a di-mu-oxo manganese dimer and catalyzes the conversion of sodium hypochlorite to molecular oxygen. Oxygen-18 isotope labeling showed that water is the source of the oxygen atoms in the molecular oxygen evolved, and so this system is a functional model for photosynthetic water oxidation.  (+info)

Factors affecting dimensional instability of alginate impressions during immersion in the fixing and disinfectant solutions. (2/341)

To clarify the factors determining the dimensional stability of alginate impressions during immersion in disinfectant and fixing solution, the weight change of impressions in solutions of glutaraldehyde (GA), NaClO, Na2SO4, K2SO4, CaCl2, and ZnSO4 was measured. In the nonelectrolytic solution, GA, the weight decreased in proportion to concentration, possibly due to the gradient of osmotic pressure between the impression and solution. In monovalent metallic salt solutions the weight change decreased with increased concentration. Especially at lower concentrations the rate of weight loss was high. A chemical action of the solution might also be involved, in addition to the osmotic pressure difference. The weight loss in divalent metallic salt solutions was greater than in monovalent solutions, implicating crosslinking reactions between the impression and solution.  (+info)

Changes in the orientation of collagen fibers on the superficial layer of the mouse tibial bone after denervation: scanning electron microscopic observations. (3/341)

This study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship between the mechanical stress loaded onto the bone and the orientation of collagen fibers formed by osteoblasts. The femoral, obturator, and sciatic nerves in the left posterior legs of 7-week-old mice were exposed and electroscissored to reduce the mechanical stress loaded onto the leg. Four weeks after operation, the tibial bones in the control and denervated legs were removed and observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) after NaOCl treatment. In the control right tibia, collagen fibers on the superficial bone matrix tended to be arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bone. However, the arrangement of collagen fibers in the left tibia, which were immobilized for 4 weeks by denervation, was disorganized and ran in random directions. The findings suggest that the direction of collagen fibers in the bone changes in response to the mechanical stress loaded onto the bone, probably due to changes in the activity of osteoblasts in the denervated leg.  (+info)

Escherichia coli resistance to chlorine and glutathione synthesis in response to oxygenation and starvation. (4/341)

Reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and resistance to chlorine were measured for two isogenic Escherichia coli strains stressed by oxygenation and/or starvation. The E. coli mutant deficient in GSH was not more sensitive to the oxidant than its parent strain when the bacteria were cultured with a low oxygenation rate. Starvation or oxygenation increased the resistance of the parent strain to chlorine, while the resistance of the deficient strain remained unchanged.  (+info)

Effects of chlorine, iodine, and quaternary ammonium compound disinfectants on several exotic disease viruses. (5/341)

The effects of three representative disinfectants, chlorine (sodium hypochlorite), iodine (potassium tetraglicine triiodide), and quaternary ammonium compound (didecyldimethylammonium chloride), on several exotic disease viruses were examined. The viruses used were four enveloped viruses (vesicular stomatitis virus, African swine fever virus, equine viral arteritis virus, and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus) and two non-enveloped viruses (swine vesicular disease virus (SVDV) and African horse sickness virus (AHSV)). Chlorine was effective against all viruses except SVDV at concentrations of 0.03% to 0.0075%, and a dose response was observed. Iodine was very effective against all viruses at concentrations of 0.015% to 0.0075%, but a dose response was not observed. Quaternary ammonium compound was very effective in low concentration of 0.003% against four enveloped viruses and AHSV, but it was only effective against SVDV with 0.05% NaOH. Electron microscopic observation revealed the probable mechanism of each disinfectant. Chlorine caused complete degeneration of the viral particles and also destroyed the nucleic acid of the viruses. Iodine destroyed mainly the inner components including nucleic acid of the viruses. Quaternary ammonium compound induced detachment of the envelope of the enveloped viruses and formation of micelle in non-enveloped viruses. According to these results, chlorine and iodine disinfectants were quite effective against most of the viruses used at adequately high concentration. The effective concentration of quaternary ammonium compound was the lowest among the disinfectants examined.  (+info)

A method of decontaminating Strongyloides venezuelensis larvae for the study of strongyloidiasis in germ-free and conventional mice. (6/341)

To study the possible influence of intestinal micro-organisms on the course of strongyloidiasis in mice, a method was developed to obtain axenic infective larvae of Strongyloides venezuelensis. Cultured larvae from conventional mice were treated with sodium hypochlorite 0.25% for 10 min, washed in distilled water and then exposed to various combinations of antibiotics for 30 or 60 min. Success was achieved with a combination of penicillin 180 mg/L and ceftazidime 1 mg/ml. Decontamination of the larvae was determined by aerobic and anaerobic culture and by inoculation into gnotobiotic mice. Viability was established by subcutaneous inoculation of larvae into germ-free and conventional mice. Preliminary results showed that gnotobiotic mice were more susceptible than conventional mice to infection with axenic S. venezuelensis larvae as judged by faecal egg excretion, recovery of worms in the small intestine and histopathological examination of the duodenal mucosa. These results suggest that the normal intestinal flora protects the host against experimental infection with S. venezuelensis.  (+info)

Hypochlorite-induced alterations to canine serum complement. (7/341)

Changes in the concentration of the components of complement produced by NaOC1 both in vitro and in vivo are recorded. C1, C4 and C7 are particularly sensitive to this oxidizing agent, although all components decrease at high concentrations of NaOC1. Following oxidation, complement componenets return rapidly to normal. Data are presented to indicate that part of this repair mechanism is due to the action of reducing agents such as ascorbic acid and part is due to the synthesis of the individual components. The unique sensitivity of complement components to oxidation make this treatment of potential value in suppressing the inflammatory response.  (+info)

Effect of NaClO treatment on bonding to root canal dentin using a new evaluation method. (8/341)

The purposes of this study were to investigate the reliability and efficiency of a new evaluation method for resin bonding to root canal dentin, which measures both marginal adaptation and shear bond strength simultaneously, and to determine the effects of root canal irrigants on resin bonding. A wet bonding system (Single Bond) and a self-etching primer system (Clearfil Mega Bond) were employed; NaClO was used as a root canal irrigant. No gaps or changes in bond strength were observed despite the NaClO treatment when the wet bonding system was employed, while the gap formation ratio increased, and bond strength decreased with longer NaClO treatment time when the self-etching primer system was employed. These findings suggested that this new experimental method was effective for evaluating resin systems to the root canal wall dentin which is affected by irrigation with NaClO.  (+info)