M Bercovier | PubMed Health

PubMed1996

Parallel computation enables precise description of Ca2+ distribution in nerve terminals.

Parallel computation employing a domain decomposition method was used to calculate precisely without approximations the spatio-temporal distribution of Ca2+ in nerve terminals. The results showed, contrary to expectations, that for equal admitted Ca2+ currents at low (one channel open) and high (four channels open) depolarization, the average Ca2+ concentration at the release area is higher at the low depolarization. These calculations provide additional support for the Ca(2+)-voltage hypothesis for neurotransmitter release.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Semi-automatic computer construction of three-dimensional shapes for the finite element method.

Precise estimation of spatio-temporal distribution of ions (or other constitutives) in three-dimensional geometrical configuration plays a major role in biology. Since a direct experimental information regarding the free intracellular Ca2+ spatio-temporal distribution is not available to date, mathematical models have been developed. Most of the existing models are based on the classical numerical method of finite-difference (FD). Using this method one is limited when dealing with complicated geometry, general boundary conditions and variable or non-linear material properties. These difficulties are easily solved when the finite-element-method (FEM) is employed. The first step in the implementation of the FEM procedure is the mesh generation which is the single most tedious, time consuming task and vulnerable to mistake. In order to overcome these limitations we developed a new interface called AUTOMESH. This tool is used as a preprocessor program which generates two- and three-dimensional meshes for some known and often-used shapes in neurobiology. AUTOMESH creates an appropriate mesh by using the mesh generator commercial tool of FIDAP.

Calcium↗