Search results for "Ion pump"
showing 5 items of 15 documents
The cost of an action potential.
2000
Neuronal modules, or 'cell-assemblies', comprising millions of mutually interconnected cells have been postulated to form the basis of many functions of the brain, such as mood, sleep, hunger, vigilance, and more. Depending on the extent of the module, neurocommunication in cell-assemblies might exceed metabolic resources. A medium-size (10000 neurons) module would require at least 10 J per l of brain, based on a calculated cost of an isolated action potential (AP) of 10(11)-10(12) molecules of ATP per cm(2) of cell membrane, with an absolute minimum of 10(6) ATP at a node of Ranvier. The figure matches the cost of depolarizing the unmyelinated axon of the large monopolar cell in the blowfl…
Crystal structures of bR(D85S) favor a model of bacteriorhodopsin as a hydroxyl-ion pump
2003
AbstractStructural features on the extracellular side of the D85S mutant of bacteriorhodopsin (bR) suggest that wild-type bR could be a hydroxyl-ion pump. A position between the protonated Schiff base and residue 85 serves as an anion-binding site in the mutant protein, and hydroxyl ions should have access to this site during the O-intermediate of the wild-type bR photocycle. The guanidinium group of R82 is proposed (1) to serve as a shuttle that eliminates the Born energy penalty for entry of an anion into this binding pocket, and conversely, (2) to block the exit of a proton or a related proton carrier.
Asymmetric nanopore rectification for ion pumping, electrical power generation, and information processing applications
2011
Single-track, asymmetric nanopores can currently be functionalised with a spatially inhomogeneous distribution of fixed charges and a variety of pore tip shapes. Optimising the asymmetric nanopore characteristics is crucial for practical applications in nanofluidics. We have addressed here this question for three cases based on different input/output chemical and electrical signals: (i) ion pumping up a concentration gradient by means of a periodic, time-dependent bias potential, (ii) information processing with a single nanopore acting as the nanofluidic diode of a logic gate, and (iii) electrical energy harvesting using a nanopore that separates two solutions of different salt concentrati…
Compression of Polarized 3He
1991
This article gives a status report on the polarized 3He target development work at Mainz. It is based on the optical pumping of the 3S1 state of 3He with subsequent metastability spin exchange to the ground state atoms. This pumping scheme is very efficient at 3He pressures of about 1 Torr; for high density targets, however, a mechanical compression of the polarized gas is needed in a second step. First results with a Toepler compression pump look promising and will be discussed in the following.
Continuous subcutaneous Insulin infusion leads to immediate, table, and long-term changes in metabolic control
2008
Background: Evaluations of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) usually focus on one pre- and one post-CSII measurement to assess metabolic therapy outcome. Aim: Extending this research, the aim of the present study was to provide a more fine-grained analysis of achieved glycaemic control. Methods: In 52 patients with type 1 diabetes (mean age of 37.85 years at CSII begin; s.d. ± 12.41), haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels were assessed every 3 months over a period of 5 years (1 year before and 4 years after the introduction of CSII). Mixed models were utilized to describe changes in glycaemic control. Results: The pre–post course showed that already in the first quarter, a statis…