Voltage-controlled gating in a large conductance Ca2+-sensitive K+channel (hslo)

Large conductance calcium- and voltage-sensitive K+ (MaxiK) channels share properties of voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels. In voltage-gated channels, membrane depolarization promotes the displacement of charged residues contained in the voltage sensor (S4 region) inducing gating currents and pore opening. In MaxiK channels, both voltage and micromolar internal Ca2+ favor pore opening. We demonstrate the presence of voltage sensor rearrangements with voltage (gating currents) whose movement and associated pore opening is triggered by voltage and facilitated by micromolar internal Ca2+ concentration. In contrast to other voltage-gated channels, in MaxiK channels there is charge movement at potentials where the pore is open and the total charge per channel is 4-5 elementary charges.     

Allokationsethik aus Sicht des Personalmanagements im Krankenhaus

Definition of the problem It is widely acknowledged that resource allocations are taking place at various levels of the health care system. On the macro level, resources are allocated according to societal and political considerations within the system as a whole. On the micro level, it is the health care organization where allocations have to be made. Ethical analyses of this micro level usually deal with decisions of health care professionals since they affect patients directly. Arguments Allocation decisions by management are of less interest to the ethical literature, although they define the framework for patient care. In this respect, this concerns not only the use of drugs or infrastructure but also of human resources. Human resource management, therefore, is deeply involved in allocation decisions and, thereby, must shoulder a threefold responsibility: towards the health of the patient, the employees, and the organization. The objective of this article is to analyze the ethics of allocation that derives from this threefold responsibility from the perspective of human resource management in a hospital. Conclusion For an adequate ethical analysis of allocation in a hospital, human resource management has to be considered, since personnel is the most precious resource to allocate in a hospital.     

Red meat,diseases, and healthy alternatives: A critical review

Meat is an important food for human nutrition, by especially providing high-quality protein and also some essential micronutrients, in front iron, zinc, and vitamin B₁₂. However, a high intake of red and processed meat is associated with an increased risk for diseases, especially type 2 diabetes and colorectal cancer, as several epidemiological studies and meta-analyses have shown. This review summarizes meta-analyses of publications studying the association between red and processed meat intake and type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, colorectal and other cancers, and all-cause mortality. Various potential mechanisms involved in the increased disease risk are discussed. Furthermore, the beneficial effects of healthy alternatives for meat, like fish, nuts, vegetables and fruits, pulses and legumes, whole grains, and dairy products are reviewed by including selected papers and recent meta-analyses.     

Isotopenhydrologische Methoden (2H, 18O) zur Bestimmung der Grundwasserneubildung in Trockengebieten: Potenzial und Grenzen

Grundwasser - Die Quantifizierung der Grundwasserneubildung in Trockengebieten stellt aufgrund klimatischer Gegebenheiten, mächtiger ungesättigter Zonen sowie hochangepasster Vegetation...     

Thermotropic layers for flat-plate collectors—A review of various concepts for overheating protection with polymeric materials

Within this paper a comprehensive review of the developments of thermotropic hydrogels, thermotropic polymer blends and thermotropic systems with fixed domains for overheating protection purposes is given. In addition, performance properties for thermotropic layers to prevent overheating in solar collectors are defined. The different thermotropic material classes are discussed as to their ability to meet these requirements. The review shows that thermotropic layers developed so far need to be adapted as to switching temperature and long-term stability for applicability in solar thermal collectors.     

Aging behavior of polymeric solar absorber materials - Part 1: Engineering plastics

In this series of two papers, various polymeric materials are investigated as to their potential applicability as absorber materials for solar thermal collectors. The focus of the investigation is to study the aging behavior of these materials under maximum operating conditions (80 °C in water up to 16,000 h) and stagnation conditions (140 °C in air up to 500 h) typical for northern climate. The materials supplied or produced as polymer films were first characterized in the unaged state and then for different states of aging by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and by mechanical tensile tests. Physical aging phenomena were studied by DSC, SEC analysis provided information on chemical degradation of the materials. In addition, physical and chemical aging were both analyzed via the small and large strain mechanical behavior. While the present Part 1 of this paper series deals with the aging behavior of engineering plastics, including two amorphous polymers (a polyphenylene ether polystyrene blend (PPE + PS) and polycarbonate (PC)) and two semi-crystalline polymers (two types of polyamide 12 (PA12)), the aging behavior of so-called “commodity” plastics (PE and PP) is the subject of Part 2. Comparing the two aging conditions, the amorphous materials (PPE + PS and PC) turned out to be more prone to physical and chemical aging at 140 °C in air. In contrast, the semi-crystalline PA12 materials were more strongly affected by exposure to water at 80 °C, although to different degrees, depending on the modification.     

Characterization of gloss properties of differently treated polymer coating surfaces by surface clarity measurement methodology

With one measurement configuration, existing gloss measurement methodologies are generally restricted to specific gloss levels. A newly developed image-analytical gloss parameter called "clarity" provides the possibility to describe the perceptual result of a broad range of different gloss levels with one setup. In order to analyze and finally monitor the perceived gloss of products, a fast and flexible method also for the automated inspection is highly demanded. The clarity parameter is very fast to calculate and therefore usable for fast in-line surface inspection. Coated metal specimens were deformed by varying degree and polished afterwards in order to study the clarity parameter regarding the quantification of varying surface gloss types and levels. In order to analyze the correlation with the human gloss perception a study was carried out in which experts were asked to assess gloss properties of a series of surface samples under standardized conditions. The study confirmed clarity to exhibit considerably better correlation to the human perception than alternative gloss parameters.