BIOELECTROMAGNETICS

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Description and objectives
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Bioelectromagnetics (BEM) is the study of the interactions between electromagnetic fields, natural or artificial, and living systems.
Living systems are in turn capable of generating electromagnetic fields, starting from the single components of a cell. Often the discipline that studies the electromagnetic forces generated by living organisms is defined as bioelectricity (“bios” and “elektron”); their role in biological control is electrophysiology, while the recording techniques of these electrical signals are electrocardiography, electroencephalography, cutaneous potential.
In fact, the word “bioelectricity” appears to be a contradiction in the usual scientific knowledge: biology books seem to ignore electricity and of physics does not deal with biology.
The comparison between the life sciences and electromagnetism has determined the encounter-clash between biologists and doctors on the one hand and physicists and engineers on the other, two different worlds, with different methods of investigation: on the one hand living systems, very sensitive to environmental conditions, and biologists / doctors who are used to working with such variability; on the other, the physicists / engineers who discover the inadequacy of their methods for the description of living systems.
On the other hand, Physics opened new research perspectives by hypothesizing that, under certain conditions, coherent collective behaviors could be attributed to the biological systems that assimilated them to lasers, superconductors or superfluids. Hypothesis that has found significant experimental verification and subsequent theoretical elaborations, which together constitute an important ground for synthesis between life sciences and electromagnetism, a fundamental profile of Bioelectromagnetics.

Over time, disciplines with different names have flourished to describe particular aspects of the interactions between electromagnetic fields and biological systems: electrobiology, magnetobiology, biomagnetism, bioelectrochemistry; finally, a terminology that is more recently spreading is bioelectromagnetic interaction.

The section currently consists of three operating units:

• Electromagnetic monitoring of the environment, feedback on cell cultures;
• Models, theories and electromagnetic apparatus for fundamental research on biochemical and biological systems, on pharmaceutical compounds. Laboratory tests of methods and measures;
• Electromagnetic theories and devices for diagnostics and therapies; measurements, models and interpretation of the data.
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Areas of interest

On the theoretical-experimental level:

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• elaboration of models or theories that try to interpret and explain the complex processes of interaction between electromagnetic fields and biological systems;
• studies on quantum coherence causing macroscopic phenomena detectable in living systems;
• quantum biology and role of electromagnetic emissions of all cell components (membrane, mitochondria, microtubule, chromosomes) and of DNA.

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On the application-experimental level:

• research and environmental monitoring campaigns of non-ionizing radiation with the mapping method;
• experiments on cell cultures and nano-particles for the detection of specific effects of EMF; in vitro experiments on drugs;
• detection of electrocutaneous parameters with advanced and highly sensitive electronic devices (APEC 300) and Fourier potential analysis (behavior under an external stimulation; detecting anomalies of gastric apparatus, breast and female genitalia);
• properties of water and aqueous solutions investigated with frequency spectrum of potential (APEC 300);
• restoring and calibration of “Ion meter” in order to perform measurements and comparison between a confined environment and open air (in view of the ‘mountain air’ therapy);
• design of portable instruments (for personal detection of health data, for zootechnical applications).

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Composition of the Section
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Coordinator:
Massimo Scalia
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Components:

Mario Barteri
Maria Teresa Di Genova
Tonella Doro
Agata Fantauzzi
Maurizio Grandi
Ivano Lonigro
Fiorenzo Marinelli
Gianni Mattioli
Vincenzo Naso
Francesca Pulcini
Mauro Santilli
Massimo Sperini
Lorenzo Uhl
Vincenzo Valenzi
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Activities

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Monitoring
The main campaigns of environmental electromagnetic characterization have been realized for:

• Some areas in the province of Rome – Rocca di Papa, Genazzano, Guadagnolo, Monte Ciocci (Rome) – for which the campaign has been sponsored by ARPA Lazio, the Regional Agency for Environment Protection, that has published on line the results presented in a Cirps Conference (May 2013);
• Castelnuovo di Porto, a Municipality near to Rome, for which the results have been publicized in a Conference organized by the Municipality (December 2015). Both the monitoring has been implemented with the “mapping” method, in order to give a complete description of the investigated areas, not limited to the only spot measurements. The results of these two monitoring, as well as of other previous ones, have been published in the book: “Inquinamento elettromagnetico e ambiente. Il metodo della mappatura dal 1997 ad oggi”, (May 2017), Inediti, Ed. Andromeda, Roma;
• Electromagnetic fields (Radio and Microwave Waves) irradiated around the NRTF military base, agreement of the Institute of Molecular Genetics (IGM-CNR of Bologna) with the Municipality of Niscemi (CL) (June 2015, March 2017).
  Some other monitoring has been realized for civil buildings in Rome.

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Laboratory activities and experiments:

• Experimentation on the effects of EMFs on cell cultures exposed in living and working environments in areas of the Province of Rome (2013, Rome – see Monitoring 1);
• Experimental measures for APEC 200 calibration on biological objects (plants, fruits, bodily districts), carried out at EU.NA.M laboratory room (European Naturopathy and Natural Medicine Institute, www.eunam.eu) (March 2014);
• Development of a new instrument, APEC 300, evolution of the previous APEC-200, and measures for APEC-300 calibration at MCS laboratory (MCS – Metrology Calibration Service – is the company that produces APEC-300, Pomezia (Rome), www.mcssrl.net) (April-November 2014);
• Electrocutaneous potential and impedance measurements with APEC-300 on human subjects at EU.NA.M. laboratory room (February – June  2015);
• Experimental measurements for the detection of electrocutaneous potential and impedance on body districts (breast, stomach) and Psychophysical Measures (EDA) (October-December 2015) at EU.NA.M. laboratory room;
• Experimental measurements with APEC 300 on cell cultures (July 2015) at Chemistry Dept. Laboratory, “La Sapienza”-University of Rome.
• Study of the in vitro biological effects of EMFs (Radio and Microwave Waves) irradiated around the NRTF military base at Laboratory of the Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute – Bologna (2015 – 2017, see Monitoring 3).
• Internal software standardization measurements for spectral analysis at MCS. Replies at EU.NA.M. Laboratory room and at University classroom D of the CTF Dept.3 of “La Sapienza (April – October 2016).
• Open experimental session, at University classroom D of CTF Dept.3 (Department of “Chimica e Tecnologia del Farmaco” (Chemistry and Technology of Farmaceutical), “La Sapienza” –Università di Roma, Rome), to enable participants at the “EU.NA.M Monothematic Seminar 20 January 2017” to conduct direct measurements of electrocutaneous parameters with APEC 300 on both body districts and cell cultures; discussion on the taken measures and their significance.
• Study of the biological effects on the enzymatic kinetics of Microwave emitted by Wi-Fi technology, on the project of the Association of Illnesses of Chronic Environmental Intoxication at “La Sapienza” – University of Rome. Chemistry Dept. Laboratory, “La Sapienza” – University of Rome (April – October 2017).
• Measurements of the electrical characteristics of particular skin points linked to dermatomers at “Accademia Quantica” (“Accademia Quantica” – Quantum Academy – is a private “School of Holistic Advisor in Quantum Techniques”, Rome, www.accademiaquantica.it/solutions to clinic diagnosis) Laboratory room (November 2017), Rome.

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Conferences, seminars and courses: the list is available at the Italian version of the BEM Section (Massimo Scalia)

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Projects:

Implemented projects

1. APEC 300 development and calibration. Based on previous experience of an advanced electronic equipment (“Ion meter”), Massimo Scalia and Massimo Sperini have designed an electrocutaneous parameter – impedance and potential – detector, whose implementation phases have been accompanied by seminars and illustrative activity within the Cirps (2013), by means of a first prototype, APEC 200, until the APEC 300 (2015) prototype, manufactured by MCS (www.MCS.it).
   This device has been used for campaigns of testing and measuring, implemented in collaboration with researchers from the EU. NA.M Institute and the Accademia Quantica; both on several occasions have furnished classrooms and workshops. APEC 300 has been provided with an internal software that allows the frequency analysis (Fourier) of the time evolution of the electrocutaneous potential, as well as of the impedance. It has been calibrated and tested (October 2016, see previous point at 8.) and is, now, a higher resolving power instrument able to appreciate less than 100 nV differences. APEC 300 is equipped with a circuit minimizing environment electric noise (under 30 nV) and is suitable for various uses: from Electro Acupuncture following Voll (EAV), with more rigorous results, and other diagnostics, to measurements of the influence on humans, but also on living objects, of different kind of stimulations (e.g., music, to quantify the effects associated with the ‘Music Therapy’); from possible precocious detection of gastric and breast anomalies like cancers to fundamental research on properties of water and aqueous solutions. To perform measurements like some of those presented in “Projects in progress” and “Project proposals”, APEC 300 can be equipped with a special small trays array – for containing water, aqueous solutions or cell cultures – electrically connected, ad hoc recently designed and realized.
2. Corsi brevi di educazione ambientale sull’inquinamento elettromagnetico per studenti medi (Coord. Francesca Pulcini). The project was aimed to the environment education for secondary school, mainly on the electromagnetism issues with the participation of IC “Indro Montanelli” and of “Istituto Paritario Vincenzo Pallotti”. Meetings and seminars have taken place in the two Institutes in the period 23 February – 1 June 2018; specially appreciated the session in which EMFs measurements, performed with TM-190 Multi-field EMF Meter, have been directly carried out by students led by BEM – CIRPS researchers.

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Projects in progress

1. Research projects indicated in the Memomorandum of Understanding (MoU) between CIRPS and Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology-National Academy of Science of Ukraine (BIPH-NASU), 28 June 2018. «Study and experiments on interactions between biological systems and electromagnetic fields and ions, including tests regarding physiological and health aspects .. Therapies of quicker regenerating tissues by electromagnetic fields and evaluation of the effects on health of weather factors, in particular of the ‘mountain air’ therapy»
2. Electromagnetic fields biological effects. Experiments of differentiation by electromagnetic fields of stem cells; Testing therapeutic use of low frequency electromagnetic fields; Epigenetic and genotoxic effects of electromagnetic fields. A first series of experiments on cell cultures has been realized up to the end of 2017 at the Department of Chemistry of “La Sapienza” – University of Rome and at Institute of Molecular Genetics – CNR of Bologna. Coordinator: Mario Barteri.
3. Biofeedback in music. The first phase has been concluded with the presentation of electrocutaneous variations under the influence of Tibetan bell sound (March – June 2018), as have been recorded by APEC 300. Some of the results have been presented in a special session organized by EU.NA.M at its classroom in Rome (30 June 2018). Coordinator:  Francesca Pulcini.
4. Properties of water and aqueous solutions. Extremely week fields.
   After the first series of measures (June – July, 2018) experiments continued in 2019 as follows: Water treatment with extremely low intensity fields (magnetic field <1mT, sound field in the range 20-30 dB); APEC-300 measurements of the trend over time for a duration of up to 300 seconds of the potential and impedance of treated and untreated water in the intervals [100 nV, 50 mV], [50 nT, 50 μT], [100 Ω, 100 kΩ]. Frequency analysis in the range] 0, 0.5] Hz. Coordinator: Massimo Scalia
   
5. Measurements for detecting anomalies of gastric apparatus, breast and female genitalia. Measurements relative to gastric apparatus and breast have been carried out with APEC 300 on twenty two subjects at EU.NA.M laboratory in order to record the electrical activity of the skin in the 0 to 30 Hz range (June 2018). These first results, as well the others that will be obtained in the next experiments, provide a precious collection of the electrocutaneous potential in the indicated body districts. They will be compared to those available in literature; eventually, an interaction with clinicians will take place for what can imply the diagnosis of functional disorders. Coordinator: Massimo Sperini.

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Project Proposals

1. Restoring and calibration of “Ion-meter”, an already available device able to measure extremely weak currents up to less than 0,1 picoAmpere (tens ion pairs), in order to perform air ions measurements: i) for quantifying healthiness in a confined environment; ii) at open air, for controlling the effects of the “mountain air” therapy  (as a part of the researches indicated in MoU, see previous point 1.;  in collaboration with MCS for what concerns restoring and calibration of “Ion-meter”).
2. New technique that uses the measurement of the electrical potential of herbal products and plants in vivo to identify their characteristic frequencies (with EU.NA.M).
3. Downsizing APEC 300 up to a portable device (to be implemented in a couple of years with MCS).
4. Measurement of the electrodermal activity (EDA) and of the HRV (Heart Rate Variability) in relation to psychophysiological arousal (with “Associazione Lybra”).
5. Quantitative analysis of the bioelectrical potential and impedance characterizing those skin points which are particularly active in normal subjects (with Accademia Quantica).
6. SABE (Save the bee) in order to eradicate varroa mite, that seriously disturbs the life of the bees, through a killing electromagnetic frequency (it depends on the implementation of the point c. and on the crowd-funding aimed to support the costs of the project).

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Publications

• F. Pulcini: “Manuale di autodifesa dall’inquinamento elettromagnetico. Consigli pratici ed utili nell’uso quotidiano delle tecnologie elettromagnetiche”, Edizioni Andromeda, 2016
• F. Pulcini: “Stress da inquinamento ambientale. Lavoro e salute”, Edizioni Andromeda, 2016
• M. Scalia, F. Pulcini, M. Sperini: “Inquinamento elettromagnetico e ambiente. Il metodo della mappatura dal 1997”, Edizioni Andromeda, 2017
• F. Pulcini: “Practice precautions to minimize exposure to electromagnetic fields How to protect your family. How to protect your family”, Edizioni Andromeda, 2017
• M. Scalia, P. Avino, M. Sperini, V. Viccaro, A. Pisani, V. I. Valenzi: “Some Observations on the role of water states for biological and therapeutic effects”. Innovative Biosystems and Bioengineering, vol. 2, no. 3, 149–162, 2018
• A. Angelini, M. Scalia: “The Sentinel. The MUOS at Niscemi: Environment, Society and High Frequency Electromagnetic Fields”, Lambert Academic Publishing, 2018
• Angelini A. e Scalia M. (2017), La sentinella globale. I campi elettromagnetici del MUOS di Niscemi e i loro effetti, Franco Angeli Ed., Milano
• Zucchetti M., Cristaldi M., Coraddu M., Marinelli F. et al. (2017), Il complesso NRTF-MUOS: un rischio per l’ambiente e la salute della popolazione, Techn. Report  Dip. Energetica POLITO; 1 – 34
• Angeloni L., Barteri M., Passeri D. Rossi M. et al (2016), “Measurement of the nonmagnetic coating thickness of core-shell magnetic nanoparticles by controlled magnetization magnetic force microscopy”, AIP Conference Proceedings 1749, 020006, http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4954489
• De Angelis F., Berardi G., Scaramuzzo F., Barteri M. et al. (2016), “Internalization of core-shell super-paramagnetic nanoparticles into human granulocytes”,  International J. of Nanotechnology, 13, 8/9; 659 – 66
• Coraddu M., Zucchetti M., Marinelli F. et al. (2016), “Rischi connessi all’esposizione a emissioni elettromagnetiche per la salute umana in ambito militare”,  Documento per la Commissione d’Inchiesta, Camera dei Deputati, audizione 21 aprile 2016
• Coraddu M., Cottone E., Marinelli F., Zucchetti M. et al. (2016), “A new trend on electromagnetic fields (EMF) risk assessment”, International J. of Ecosystems and Ecology Science, 6, 2; 177 – 83
• Barteri M., De Carolis R., Marinelli F. (2016), “Effects of microwaves (900 MHz) on peroxidase systems: a comparison between lactoperoxidase and horseradish peroxidase”, J. of Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine, 35, 2; 126 – 33; online 12 Jan. 2015
• Scalia M., Sperini M. and Pulcini F. (2015), Campi elettromagnetici e sistemi viventi. Fascino 2, Ed. Andromeda, Roma
• Liberatore M., Barteri M., Megna V., D’Elia P., Rebonato S. et al. (2015), “Effect of External Magnetic Field on IV Tc-99m-Labeled Aminosilane-Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles: Demonstration in a Rat Model Special Report”, Clinical Nuclear Medicine, 40, 2; 104 – 10
• Scalia M., Sperini M., Valeri G. and Valenzi V. I. (2015), “Air Ionization and its effects on the health. An outline of a research project”, J. of Earth and Environmental Science, 5, 5; 306 – 11
• Doro T., Pulcini F., Scalia M. and Sperini M. (2015), Elettrosensibilità e omeopatia, Ed. Andromeda, Roma
• Scalia M., Sperini M., Marinelli F., Valenzi V.I. et al. (2014), Ioni aerei e salute umana, Ed. Andromeda
• Passeri D.,  Chunhua D., Reggente M., Barteri M., Marinelli F. et al (2014), “ Magnetic force microscopy”, Biomatter, 4; DOI: 10.4161
• Valenzi V.I., Sperini M., Scalia M. et al. (2014): “Some Consideration On The Mechanism Of Climate Effects On Health”. Proceedings VIII International Symposium “Modern Problems of biophysical medicine”, Kiev 14-17 May 2014
• Scalia M., Sperini M. and Guidi F. (2014), Effetti biologici degli ioni aerei. Misure e modelli, Ed. Andromeda, Roma
• Scalia M. and  Sperini M. (2014), Il campo elettromagnetico e dosi omeopatiche di fisica, Ed. Andromeda “Le Chiavi”, Roma
• Valenzi V.I., Widom A., Swain J., Sivasubramanian S. and Srivastava Y.N (2013), “Biological Aharonov- Bohm Effects and Electromagnetic Communication Signals from Bacterial DNA”
  Proceedings X Intern. Conf. COMOS AND BIOSPHERE 2013 http://www.biospace.crimea.edu/en/node/44
• Biggiero L., “La «rivincita» (o almeno la «rinascita») del bioelettromagnetismo (BEM)?”, Seminario Cirps sul Bioelettromagnetismo, 7 giugno 2013
• Valenzi V.I. (2013), “Coherent and Incoherent Medical treatments”, Proceedings of XII International Conference of Biophysics and Bionics, Kiev 28-29 March 2013
• Scalia M., Mazzi M.C., Sacco G., Sperini M. et al. (2012), Il fascino discreto dell’elettromagnetismo, Ed. Andromeda
• Scalia M., Sperini M. and Guidi F. (2012), “The Johnson noise in biogical matter”, Mathematical Problems in Engineering 2012, Article ID 582126; 11 pages, Hindawi Publishing Corporation
• Biava P.M., Basevi M., Biggiero L., et al. (2011), “Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Stem Cell Differentiation Stage Factors and An Agent Based Model to Optimize Cancer Treatment”, Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, 12; 1 – 12