Human spermatozoa are quiescent in the male reproductive system and must undergo activation once introduced into the female reproductive tract. This process is known to require alkalinization of sperm cytoplasm, but the mechanism responsible for transmembrane proton extrusion has remained unknown because of the inability to measure membrane conductance in human sperm. Here, by successfully patc...

Artificial ocean alkalinization (AOA) is investigated as amethod tomitigate local ocean acidification and protect tropical coral ecosystems during a 21st century highCO2 emission scenario. Employing an Earth systemmodel of intermediate complexity, our implementation of AOA in theGreat Barrier Reef, Caribbean Sea and SouthChina Sea regions, shows that alkalinization has the potential to countera...

Inflow of potassium ions into the alga Hydrodictyon reticulatum is reduced in the dark, the reduction being accompanied by a change in the selectivity pattern with respect to alkali metal ions, observed in competition experiments and evaluated by the gnostic analysis as described by Kovanic. This suggests that in the light a special mechanism of potassium uptake with a characteristic selectivit...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW To highlight some of the recent key issues surrounding crystalloid and colloid fluid management of critically ill patients. RECENT FINDINGS Significant developments have been made in the understanding of ionic balance of fluids and their effects on acid-base, the role of hydration and overhydration, alkalinization of fluids in patients at high risk for contrast induced nephr...

Application of the elicitor cryptogein to tobacco (cv Xanthi) is known to evoke external medium alkalinization, active oxygen species production, and phytoalexin synthesis. These are all dependent on an influx of calcium. We show here that cryptogein also induces calcium-dependent plasma membrane depolarization, chloride efflux, cytoplasm acidification, and NADPH oxidation without changes in NA...