Increased extracellular proton concentrations during neurotransmission are converted to excitatory sodium influx by acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs). 10-fold sodium/potassium selectivity in ASICs has long been attributed to a central constriction in the channel pore, but experimental verification is lacking due to the sensitivity of this structure to conventional manipulations. Here, we explor...

Increasing the hydrogen ion concentration of the bathing medium reversibly depresses the sodium permeability of voltage-clamped frog nerves. The depression depends on membrane voltage: changing from pH 7 to pH 5 causes a 60% reduction in sodium permeability at +20 mV, but only a 20% reduction at +180 mV. This voltage-dependent block of sodium channels by hydrogen ions is explained by assuming t...

Amorphous Sb2S3 embedded in a conductive graphite matrix is designed for sodium-ion batteries. Owing to the amorphous structure of the active phase and the conductive graphite matrix, the Sb2S3-graphite electrode exhibits a high initial Coulomblic efficiency, a high rate capacity, and stable cycle performance in sodium-ion batteries.

Abstract Increasing concerns regarding the sustainability of lithium sources, due to their limited availability and consequent expected price increase, have raised awareness importance developing alternative energy-storage candidates that can sustain ever-growing energy demand. Furthermore, limitations on transition metals used in manufacturing cathode materials, together with questionable mini...

1. Methods for the use of the marine green alga, Ulva lactuca, in studies on electrolyte metabolism are described. 2. The effect of illumination and iodoacetate on the potassium and sodium content, as well as the influence of light and running sea water on the iodoacetate effect was investigated. The rate of exchange of cellular potassium ion for K(42) under conditions of light and dark at 20 a...

We measured the emf of a sodium ion-selective electrode in NaCl-NaHCO3 solutions (160 mmol of Na+, 160-120 mmol of Cl-, and 0-40 mmol HCO3- per liter) with a home-built cell in steady-state after 10 min and with two commercial direct potentiometric analyzers about 20 s after the sample was introduced. Substitution of HCO3- for Cl- resulted in a small decrease in emf. We calculated the effect of...

Rice (Oryza sativa) is sensitive to salinity, which affects one-fifth of irrigated land worldwide. Reducing sodium and chloride uptake into rice while maintaining potassium uptake are characteristics that would aid growth under saline conditions. We describe genetic determinants of the net quantity of ions transported to the shoot, clearly distinguishing between quantitative trait loci (QTL) fo...