Lifeboat Foundation

It is a commonly accepted view that light stimulation of mammalian photoreceptors causes a graded change in membrane potential instead of developing a spike. The presynaptic Ca²⁺ channels serve as a crucial link for the coding of membrane potential variations into neurotransmitter release. Ca_v1.4 L-type Ca²⁺ channels are expressed in photoreceptor terminals, but the complete pool of Ca²⁺ channels in cone photoreceptors appears to be more diverse. Here, we discovered, employing whole-cell patch-clamp recording from cone photoreceptor terminals in both sexes of mice, that their Ca²⁺ currents are composed of low-(T-type Ca²⁺ channels) and high-(L-type Ca²⁺ channels) voltage-activated components. Furthermore, Ca²⁺ channels exerted self-generated spike behavior in dark membrane potentials, and spikes were generated in response to light/dark transition. The application of fast and slow Ca²⁺ chelators revealed that T-type Ca²⁺ channels are located close to the release machinery. Furthermore, capacitance measurements indicated that they are involved in evoked vesicle release. Additionally, RT-PCR experiments showed the presence of Ca_v3.2 T-type Ca²⁺ channels in cone photoreceptors but not in rod photoreceptors. Altogether, we found several crucial functions of T-type Ca²⁺ channels, which increase the functional repertoire of cone photoreceptors. Namely, they extend cone photoreceptor light-responsive membrane potential range, amplify dark responses, generate spikes, increase intracellular Ca²⁺ levels, and boost synaptic transmission.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Photoreceptors provide the first synapse for coding light information. The key elements in synaptic transmission are the voltage-sensitive Ca²⁺ channels. Here, we provide evidence that mouse cone photoreceptors express low-voltage-activated Ca_v3.2 T-type Ca²⁺ channels in addition to high-voltage-activated L-type Ca²⁺ channels. The presence of T-type Ca²⁺ channels in cone photoreceptors appears to extend their light-responsive membrane potential range, amplify dark response, generate spikes, increase intracellular Ca²⁺ levels, and boost synaptic transmission. By these functions, Ca_v3.2 T-type Ca²⁺ channels increase the functional repertoire of cone photoreceptors.

The skeleton of the actual T. rex is expected to be sold for as much as $25 million.

The actual T. rex for sale! The skeleton of the “king of the tyrant lizards,” Tyrannosaurus Rex, will go to auction on November 30 at Christie’s in Hong Kong. The fossils of the dinosaur are expected to be sold for as much as $25 million according to Christie’s.

Named Shen for now, the new owner of the 3,000-pound (1,400 kilograms) skeleton will get exclusive naming rights and be able to change it after purchase. Shen is 40 feet (12.2 meters) long, 15 feet (4.6 m) tall, and 6.8 feet (2.1 m) wide.

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But there was just one problem: it’s not Proxima Centauri.

In fact, this magnificent, planetary orb, a swirling masterpiece of dazzling reds and glowing orange, is just a slice of Spanish chorizo.

Now, Klein — who meant the post as a harmless prank — has had to make a public apology for causing any confusion.

Were you unable to attend Transform 2022? Check out all of the summit sessions in our on-demand library now! Watch here.

Every time someone invents a new standard, the rest of the world is compelled to comply: VHS to DVD, DVD to Blu-ray, or Blu-ray to streaming. Change is inexorable, but it can also be glacially slow. Converting the tech geeks and conspicuous consumers is easy, but getting the long tail of ordinary users to embrace the “new paradigm” is fiendishly hard — and so, it is with Web3.

We’re living through a transitional time when the slow deprecation of one standard is being countered with the mainstreaming of another. To say that red pilling the masses on the wonders of Web3 has been tough would be an understatement, however. At this stage, it cannot even be said for certain that Web3 will replace its numerical predecessor — rather, it is more of an if. For Web2 to go the way of the VHS and fully transition to a new format — much needs to happen first.

Einstein did it the hard way, but there’s a much easier approach to relativity.

The study confirmed something that it was only a theory, namely that ocean water accompanies subducting slabs and thus enters the transition zone.

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He did do a deepfake commercial last year.

A spokesperson for Bruce Willis has come forward and told the BBC

In addition, a representative of Deepcake added that currently, only Willis had the rights to his face.

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