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Electrical Properties of Biopolymers and Membranes.
.
:
377
Electromagnetic Biointeraction with Biological Systems (Mechanisms, Safety stan, dards, Protection Guides). G. Franceschetti, O. Gandhi and M. Grandolfo (Editors). Plenum Press, New York, 1989, ISBN 0,306-43328..1, xii + 223 pp,, US$49.50. These proceedings of the International Course on Worldwide Non-ionizing Radiation Safety Standards: Their Rationale and Problems, held at Capri~ Italy, 2-6 May 1988, contains the following chapters: Basic definition and Concepts; advances in R F dosimetry; interaction mechanisms; biological RF effects, E M F and neoplasms, public and occupational R F and MW protection guides; safety standards for high voltage; instrumentation for EM'exposure evaluation; numerical methods. Experimental evidence for EMF-effects on cells and animals on the one hand, and the results of epidemic studies in several countries on the other, are the reasons why frequency dependent safety standards were stipulated under public or occupational conditions. These safety guidelines are nearly three orders of magnitude higher in western countries than in eastern European countries! W i t h increasing use of EM energy, e.g. high power transmission lines, household appliances, etc., t h e public is becoming aware of and concerned about potential biohazards of EM,fields (mainly the nonthermal mechanisms of interaction). According to the model of changes of transmembrane voltage and conformational transitions of enzymes caused by field strengths < 10 m V / c m in tissues, leading to changes in transport, proliferation and metabolism, it is not unreasonable to assume that high power E M - s o u r c e s - also generating < 10 m V / c m in the human b o d y - - are dangerous too.
This book is a milestone in understanding "electromagnetic pollution" in industrialized nations. It should be taken note of not only by medical doctors and biologists but also by electrical energy authorities and politicians! H. BERO Jena
Electrical Properties of Biopolymers and Membranes. S. Takashima. Adam Hilger, Bristol, Philadelphia, 1989, I S B N 0-85274-136-7, xi + 396 pp., £55.00. This broad field is covered in 10 chapters: (1) The origin of dipole moment; (2) Polarization of groups of polar molecules; (3) Dynamic aspects of electrical polarization; (4) Dielectric properties of polymer molecules; (5) dielectric properties of proteins, peptides and amino acids; (6) Theory of interracial polarization; (7) Dielectric properties of nucleic acids; (8) Water in biological systems; (9) Non-linear dielectric properties; (10) Electrical properties of biological membranes. Appendices: H M O theory, calculation of MO of butadiene, determination of t h e distribution function, four-electrode technique, use of pseudo-random noise for dielectric measurement.
378 .
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Basic principles of theories and properties of biopolymers are presented in 9 chapters from the point of view of dielectric polarization. The first 3 chapters, starting with the definition of dipole moments, the O n s a g e r and Kirkwood theory and the polarization and relaxation of dipoles in alternating fields, may be taken as ^-. ;.,0~,,,4,,,-,i,~n. with some redundancy for biophysicists. Chapter 4 collects theories on the dipole moment of synthetic polymer chains and the influence of an electric field; these same properties of more complicated biopolymers such as proteins and nucleic acids are described in Chapters 5 and 7, starting with their stereochemical structure (configuration) and helic-ceil transition measured by their dielectric dispersion behavior. However, the effect of b o u n d water on the structure of macromolecules, and their dielectric relaxation curves (non linear dielectric properties at higher fields) are the contents of Chapters 8 and 9, respectively. Chapter 6 is devoted to polarization of suspended particles including the shell model based on the theory of Maxwell-Wagner and followers (SiUars, Schwarz, Mandel, Oosawa, Schwan). In contrast to the comprehensive description of biopolymers for membranes themselves, only 50 pages are reserved for special models, e.g. the consequences of the G o l d m a n - H o d g l d n - K a t z equation and muscle impedance determinations, presented, however, without impedance changes by electroporation. A relation between field induced transmembrane voltage changes and protein conformation called "eleetroeonformational coupling" by T. Tsong and D. Astumian-is also missing, in spite of its importance for electrostimulation of cell processes by pulsating electromagnetic induced currents. The authors presents basic knowledge in an impressive didactic manner, like in an introductory textbook suitable for bioscientists in general. H. BERG Jena
?:
:
377
Electromagnetic Biointeraction with Biological Systems (Mechanisms, Safety stan, dards, Protection Guides). G. Franceschetti, O. Gandhi and M. Grandolfo (Editors). Plenum Press, New York, 1989, ISBN 0,306-43328..1, xii + 223 pp,, US$49.50. These proceedings of the International Course on Worldwide Non-ionizing Radiation Safety Standards: Their Rationale and Problems, held at Capri~ Italy, 2-6 May 1988, contains the following chapters: Basic definition and Concepts; advances in R F dosimetry; interaction mechanisms; biological RF effects, E M F and neoplasms, public and occupational R F and MW protection guides; safety standards for high voltage; instrumentation for EM'exposure evaluation; numerical methods. Experimental evidence for EMF-effects on cells and animals on the one hand, and the results of epidemic studies in several countries on the other, are the reasons why frequency dependent safety standards were stipulated under public or occupational conditions. These safety guidelines are nearly three orders of magnitude higher in western countries than in eastern European countries! W i t h increasing use of EM energy, e.g. high power transmission lines, household appliances, etc., t h e public is becoming aware of and concerned about potential biohazards of EM,fields (mainly the nonthermal mechanisms of interaction). According to the model of changes of transmembrane voltage and conformational transitions of enzymes caused by field strengths < 10 m V / c m in tissues, leading to changes in transport, proliferation and metabolism, it is not unreasonable to assume that high power E M - s o u r c e s - also generating < 10 m V / c m in the human b o d y - - are dangerous too.
This book is a milestone in understanding "electromagnetic pollution" in industrialized nations. It should be taken note of not only by medical doctors and biologists but also by electrical energy authorities and politicians! H. BERO Jena
Electrical Properties of Biopolymers and Membranes. S. Takashima. Adam Hilger, Bristol, Philadelphia, 1989, I S B N 0-85274-136-7, xi + 396 pp., £55.00. This broad field is covered in 10 chapters: (1) The origin of dipole moment; (2) Polarization of groups of polar molecules; (3) Dynamic aspects of electrical polarization; (4) Dielectric properties of polymer molecules; (5) dielectric properties of proteins, peptides and amino acids; (6) Theory of interracial polarization; (7) Dielectric properties of nucleic acids; (8) Water in biological systems; (9) Non-linear dielectric properties; (10) Electrical properties of biological membranes. Appendices: H M O theory, calculation of MO of butadiene, determination of t h e distribution function, four-electrode technique, use of pseudo-random noise for dielectric measurement.
378 .
.
.
•
.
Basic principles of theories and properties of biopolymers are presented in 9 chapters from the point of view of dielectric polarization. The first 3 chapters, starting with the definition of dipole moments, the O n s a g e r and Kirkwood theory and the polarization and relaxation of dipoles in alternating fields, may be taken as ^-. ;.,0~,,,4,,,-,i,~n. with some redundancy for biophysicists. Chapter 4 collects theories on the dipole moment of synthetic polymer chains and the influence of an electric field; these same properties of more complicated biopolymers such as proteins and nucleic acids are described in Chapters 5 and 7, starting with their stereochemical structure (configuration) and helic-ceil transition measured by their dielectric dispersion behavior. However, the effect of b o u n d water on the structure of macromolecules, and their dielectric relaxation curves (non linear dielectric properties at higher fields) are the contents of Chapters 8 and 9, respectively. Chapter 6 is devoted to polarization of suspended particles including the shell model based on the theory of Maxwell-Wagner and followers (SiUars, Schwarz, Mandel, Oosawa, Schwan). In contrast to the comprehensive description of biopolymers for membranes themselves, only 50 pages are reserved for special models, e.g. the consequences of the G o l d m a n - H o d g l d n - K a t z equation and muscle impedance determinations, presented, however, without impedance changes by electroporation. A relation between field induced transmembrane voltage changes and protein conformation called "eleetroeonformational coupling" by T. Tsong and D. Astumian-is also missing, in spite of its importance for electrostimulation of cell processes by pulsating electromagnetic induced currents. The authors presents basic knowledge in an impressive didactic manner, like in an introductory textbook suitable for bioscientists in general. H. BERG Jena
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