Millimeter-Wave Effects on Candida Albicans Cells

In preliminary measurements, Candida albicans cultures exposed to 1 kHz square-wave-modulated microwaves at 72 GHz exhibited a significantly reduced number of colony-forming units in comparison with nonirradiated controls. To study whether the same effect could also be caused by continuous-wave (CW) irradiation, sedimented cells were exposed to either 1 kHz square-wave-modulated or CW microwaves at 72 GHz, with the same peak power. CW-exposed cells showed a higher growth rate (about 25%), whereas a reduction of about 15% was seen in cells exposed to square-wave-modulated microwaves in comparison with sham-exposed controls.

Microwave effects on isolated chick embryo hearts.

This study was designed to examine the effects of microwaves on the electric activity of hearts as a means of elucidating interactive mechanisms of nonionizing radiation with cardiac tissue. Experiments were performed on isolated hearts of 9-12-day-old chick embryos placed in small petri dishes. Oxygenated isotonic Ringer's solution at 37 degrees C permitted heart survival. Samples were irradiated at 2.45 GHz with a power density of 3 mW/cm2. The heart signal was detected with a glass micropipet inserted into the sinoatrial node and examined by means of a Berg-Fourier analyzer. Pulsed microwaves caused the locking of the heartbeat to the modulation frequency, whereas continuous wave irradia…

Permittivity Measurements of Lossy Liquids at Millimeter-Wave Frequencies

A measurement system is described which allows the determination of the complex permittivity of high-loss liquids at millimeter waves. Basically, the setup consists of a waveguide interferometer whose unknown arm embodies a liquid holder irradiated by an open-ended rectangular waveguide. The sample thickness is varied by means of a piston driven by a micrometer screw. The bridge output then is read as a function of the liquid thickness. Best fitting between experimental and computed data through a suitable model of the system enables the permittivity to be determined. The system can operate, with high sensitivity, over the whole frequency range of the dominant mode propagating in the wavegu…

Analysis of the effects of pulsed microwave on cardiac activity

Abstract The exposure of isolated chick embryo hearts to 2.45 GHz pulse modulated microwaves has identified certain phenomena: (1) when the heartbeat was irregular, an appropriate pulse repetition rate caused regularization; (2) during regular beating, an increase of pulse repetition rate similarly increased the heartbeat frequency, until an irregular heartbeat appeared; (3) by applying microwaves, when an arrhythmia occurs, a regular beat appeared after a few seconds. Time correlation between the heartbeat and the modulating pulses revealed that regularization occurs when the modulation pulses, at a frequency close to the natural unperturbed heartbeat, were applied in the ventricular diast…

Millimeter wave effects in Candida albicans cells

A Method to Measure the Characteristics of Biological Materials at Millimeter Waves

A new method of biological sample characterization at millimeter waves has been studied to verify and extend Webb's experimental results. This method, based on interferometric measurements, is suitable to obtain an absorption spectrum of a living bacterial sediment with a high sensitivity. It has been applied in the frequency range 66-73 GHz. Some experimental results are reported.