Hz Magnetic Fields Research Articles

Exposure to a 50 Hz magnetic field at 100 µT exerts no DNA damage in cardiomyocytes.

ABSTRACTThe effects of exposure to magnetic fields (MFs) at electric frequencies (50–60 Hz) on carcinogenicity are still in debate. Whether exposure to MFs affects the heart is also a debated issue. This study aimed to determine whether exposure to extremely low frequency MFs (ELF-MFs) induced DNA damage in cardiomyocytes both in vitro and in vivo. Human ventricular cardiomyocytes were exposed to 50 Hz ELF-MF at 100 µT for 1 h continuously or 75 min intermittently. The effects of the treatments were evaluated by DNA damage, redox status changes and relative signal molecular expression. Moreover, ten male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to a 50 Hz MF at 100 µT for 7 days, while another 10 rats were sham exposed. The protein levels of p53 and Hsp70 in heart tissue were analyzed by western blot. The results showed that exposure to ELF-MF did not induce DNA damage, changes to cell cycle distribution or increased reactive oxygen species level. No significant differences were detected in p53 and Hsp70 expression level between the ELF-MF and sham-exposure groups both in vitro and in vivo. All these data indicate that MFs at power-frequency may not cause DNA damage in cardiomyocytes.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

EXTREMELY LOW FREQUENCY (50Hz) MAGNETIC FIELD INFLUENCES PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF WATER

The influence of 50 Hz sinusoidal magnetic field on physico-chemical properties of water was studied. Tanks with distilled water (120 mL) were individually exposed to action of homogenous 50 Hz magnetic fields, using a Helmholtz coils system. For magnetically exposure have been used different values of magnetic flux density (between 1 and 5 mT) and different durations of exposure (between 5 and 240 minutes). By means of this experimental study the physico-chemical properties of exposed water samples compared with the control ones have explored. Density, viscosity, surface tension, pH, oxygen concentration and electrical conductivity were recorded. Some physico-chemical parameters analyzed in this experimental study were found changed. The electrical conductivity, viscosity, surface tension and dissolved oxygen rate have been increased when the water samples were under the 50 Hz magnetic field influences. After exposure, the density results no statistically significant changes revealed. The intensity of absorbance peaks had slight increases with enhancing of magnetic flux density.

Evaluation of the simultaneous presence of aluminum chloride and 50 Hz magnetic field on the antioxidant capacity of blood hemoglobin and plasma in rat’s protective role of Myrtus plant

Introduction: Physical factors such as electromagnetic fields and chemical agents such as aluminum compounds can act as oxidative stress inducer. In the present study synergistic and toxic effects of aluminum in the presence of an alternating electromagnetic field is investigated. In order to make the protection the extract of Myrtus Communis was used Materials and Methods: In this experiment, there were 6 groups as follows: 1) control group 2) Aluminum chloride (8mg / kg) 3) the magnetic field (50 Hz and 1mT) 4) Aluminum chloride + magnetic field 5) Aluminum chloride + extract (1.5 mg/ kg) 6) A group that only receives the extract.7) magnetic field + aluminum chloride + extract. aluminum choloride was given intraperitoneally. The extract of Myrtus Communis (1.5 mg / kg) 2 hours before the injection by gavage was given to them. After experiments the blood samples were collected then Changes in the structure of hemoglobin, FRAP and MDA tests were performed Results: Exposure to electromagnetic field and aluminum chloride individually can reduce FRAP values (90.47±2.39, 73.36±1.89, 76.45±1.36, 68.27±1.32, 82.52±1.01, 80.22±1.44) (P <0.01) and increase in the amount of MDA(18.13±0.67, 12.25±0.19, 14.62±0.37, 8.54±0.57, 13.51±0.75, 12.38±0.35) (P <0.01). in case of aluminum chloride and magnetic field the synergistic effects of oxidative stress was enhanced (P <0.01). In all the above cases, the herbal extract can improve significantly the harmful effects (P <0.01) Conclusion: Each of Electromagnetic Fields and aluminum chloride can act as oxidizing agents, The combined effect of these two physical and chemical factors can act synergical and Cause biological damage.Treatment with extract Myrtus Communis can provide the protection against oxidative damage.

Weak power frequency magnetic fields induce microtubule cytoskeleton reorganization depending on the epidermal growth factor receptor and the calcium related signaling

We have shown previously that a weak 50 Hz magnetic field (MF) invoked the actin-cytoskeleton, and provoked cell migration at the cell level, probably through activating the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) related motility pathways. However, whether the MF also affects the microtubule (MT)-cytoskeleton is still unknown. In this article, we continuously investigate the effects of 0.4 mT, 50 Hz MF on the MT, and try to understand if the MT effects are also associated with the EGFR pathway as the actin-cytoskeleton effects were. Our results strongly suggest that the MF effects are similar to that of EGF stimulation on the MT cytoskeleton, showing that 1) the MF suppressed MT in multiple cell types including PC12 and FL; 2) the MF promoted the clustering of the EGFR at the protein and the cell levels, in a similar way of that EGF did but with higher sensitivity to PD153035 inhibition, and triggered EGFR phosphorylation on sites of Y1173 and S1046/1047; 3) these effects were strongly depending on the Ca2+ signaling through the L-type calcium channel (LTCC) phosphorylation and elevation of the intracellular Ca2+ level. Strong associations were observed between EGFR and the Ca2+ signaling to regulate the MF-induced-reorganization of the cytoskeleton network, via phosphorylating the signaling proteins in the two pathways, including a significant MT protein, tau. These results strongly suggest that the MF activates the overall cytoskeleton in the absence of EGF, through a mechanism related to both the EGFR and the LTCC/Ca2+ signaling pathways.

Correlation between hydrogen/deuterium exchange and Amide I band intensity in hemoglobin aqueous solution under static or 50 Hz magnetic field

Samples of hemoglobin in deuterium oxide solution (D2O) and in bidistilled H2O water solution, both at the concentration of 100 mg/ml, were exposed to a static magnetic field at 100 mT; analogous samples were exposed to 50 Hz magnetic field at 1 mT. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy was used to analyze separately the response of the secondary structure of this protein (diluted in both aqueous solutions) to separated exposure to both magnetic fields. The most relevant result which was observed after exposures was the significant increasing in intensity of the Amide I band, which was already explained in previous studies assuming that proteins α-helix aligned along the direction of the applied magnetic field due to its large dipole moment. In particular, in this study it was shown that hydrogen/deuterium exchange induced a reduction of the increasing of Amide I vibration band. This result can be explained assuming that Amide hydrogens of hemoglobin exchange with solvent deuterium atoms, causing an increase in mass of the protein and a correlated increasing in inertia of the α-helix, reducing significantly the torque effect of the applied magnetic field.

The effect of 20-week continuous 60 Hz magnetic field exposure on testicular function in sprague-dawley rats.

Accumulating evidence does not yet confirm the effect of power line frequency magnetic field (MF) on human health and fertility. We recently reported that, at continuous 60 Hz MF exposure in mice, the dose given as magnetic flux density (tesla; T) and duration of exposure was related to induce testicular germ cell apoptosis. We aimed to characterize the effect of a 20-week continuous exposure to 60 Hz MF on the motility, morphology, and number of sperm as well as the apoptosis of testicular germ cell in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed for 20 weeks to 60 Hz MF of 2, 20, or 200 μT for 24 h/day with rats exposed to sham conditions, serving as the control. The exposure to 60 Hz MF of 2 and 20 μT had no effects on testicular in this study. The exposure to 60 Hz MF of 200 μT for 20 weeks induced increases of the apoptotic cells (P < 0.001) in germ cells and decreases of sperm numbers (P < 0.05). However, the MF did not significantly affect the body or testis mass, seminiferous tubule diameter, or the motility or morphology of sperm. This study concluded that exposure to 60 Hz MF of 200 μT can increase testicular germ cell apoptosis, especially spermatogonia, and reduce sperm count. Also compared to previous mice studies, rats are less sensitive than mice to exposure to 60 Hz MF. Bioelectromagnetics. 39:539-546, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Ataxia telangiectasia mutated deficiency does not result in genetic susceptibility to 50 Hz magnetic fields exposure in mouse embryonic fibroblasts.

Extremely low frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF) has been classified as a possible carcinogen to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer [2002]. However, debate on the genotoxic effects of ELF-MF has continued due to lack of sufficient experimental evidence. Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) plays a central role in DNA damage repair; its deficiency can result in cellular sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents. To evaluate the genotoxicity of ELF-MF, we investigated the effects of 50 Hz MF on DNA damage in ATM-proficient (Atm+/+ ) mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and ATM-deficient (Atm-/- ) MEFs, a radiosensitive cell line. Results showed no significant difference in average number of γH2AX foci per cell (9.37 ± 0.44 vs. 9.08 ± 0.28, P = 0.58) or percentage of γH2AX foci positive cells (49.22 ± 1.86% vs. 49.74 ± 1.44%, P = 0.83) between sham and exposure groups when Atm+/+ MEFs were exposed to 50 Hz MF at 2.0 mT for 15 min. Extending exposure duration to 1 or 24 h did not significantly change γH2AX foci formation in Atm+/+ MEFs. Similarly, the exposure did not significantly affect γH2AX foci formation in Atm-/- MEFs. Furthermore, 50 Hz MF exposure also did not significantly influence DNA fragmentation, cell viability, or cell cycle progression in either cell types. In conclusion, exposure to 50 Hz MF did not induce significant DNA damage in either Atm+/+ or Atm-/- MEFs under the reported experimental conditions. Bioelectromagnetics. 39:476-484, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

6-mT 0-120-Hz magnetic fields differentially affect cellular ATP levels.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), an indispensable molecule that provides energy for essentially all cellular processes, has been shown to be affected by some magnetic fields (MFs). Although people are frequently exposed to various static and power frequency MFs in their daily lives, the exact effects of these MFs of different frequencies have not been systematically investigated. Here, we tested 6-mT MFs with 0, 50, and 120Hz for their effects on cellular ATP levels in 11 different cell lines. We found that the 6-mT static magnetic field (SMF) either does not affect or increase cellular ATP levels, while 6-mT 50-Hz MF either does not affect or decrease cellular ATP levels. In contrast, 6-mT 120-Hz MF has variable effects. We examined the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS) in four different cell lines, but did not find their direct correlation with ATP levels. Although none of the ATP level changes induced by these three different frequencies of 6-mT MFs are dramatic, these results may be used to explain some differential cellular responses of various cell lines to different frequency MFs.

Exposure to 50 Hz Magnetic Fields in Homes and Areas Surrounding Urban Transformer Stations in Silla (Spain): Environmental Impact Assessment

Exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELFs) is almost inevitable almost anywhere in the world. An ELF magnetic field (ELF-MF) of around 1 mG = 0.1 μT is typically measured in any home of the world with a certain degree of development and well-being. There is fear and concern about exposure to electromagnetic fields from high- and medium-voltage wiring and transformer stations, especially internal transformer stations (TSs), which in Spain are commonly located inside residential buildings on the ground floor. It is common for neighbors living near these stations to ask for stations to be moved away from their homes, and to ask for information about exposure levels and their effects. Municipality is the closest administration to the citizens that must solve this situation, mediating between the citizens, the utility companies and the national administration. In this case, the municipality of Silla (València, Spain) wanted to know the levels of exposure in the dwellings annexed to the TSs, to compare them with Spanish legislation and the recommendations coming from epidemiological studies. This article presents the first systematic campaign of ELF-MF measurements from TSs carried out in a Spanish city. Many measurements were carried out in the rooms of the apartments doing spatial averages of spatial grid measurements. Measurements are made in the bed and bedrooms and a weighted average and an environmental impact indicator were obtained for each location. We found that old TSs usually provide the highest peak exposure levels. A notable result of this work is that approximately one quarter of the population living above or next to a TS would be exposed to a weighted MF level greater than 0.3 μT, and that about a 10% of this population would not be able to relocate their bedroom or living room to minimize the level of exposure.

Reactive oxygen species mediates 50-Hz magnetic field-induced EGF receptor clustering via acid sphingomyelinase activation

Purpose: Exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) could elicit biological effects including carcinogenesis. However, the detailed mechanisms by which these ELF-EMFs interact with biological system are currently unclear. Previously, we found that a 50-Hz magnetic field (MF) exposure could induce epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) clustering and phosphorylation on cell membranes. In the present experiment, the possible roles of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in MF-induced EGFR clustering were investigated.Materials and methods: Human amnion epithelial (FL) cells were exposed to a 50-Hz MF with or without N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) or pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC). EGFR clustering on cellular membrane surface was analyzed using confocal microscopy after indirect immunofluorescence staining. The intracellular ROS level and acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) activity were detected using an ROS assay kit and an Amplex® Red Sphingomyelinase Assay Kit, respectively.Results: Results showed that exposure of FL cells to a 50-Hz MF at 0.4 mT for 15 min significantly enhanced the ROS level, induced EGFR clustering and increased ASMase activity. However, pretreatment with NAC or PDTC, the scavenger of ROS, not only counteracted the effects of a 50-Hz MF on ROS level and AMS activity, but also inhibited the EGFR clustering induced by MF exposure.Conclusions: The present and previous data suggest that ROS mediates the MF-induced EGFR clustering via ASMase activation.

Magnetocarcinogenesis: is there a mechanism for carcinogenic effects of weak magnetic fields?

Extremely low-frequency (ELF) magnetic fields have been classified as possibly carcinogenic, mainly based on rather consistent epidemiological findings suggesting a link between childhood leukaemia and 50-60 Hz magnetic fields from power lines. However, causality is not the only possible explanation for the epidemiological associations, as animal and in vitro experiments have provided only limited support for carcinogenic effects of ELF magnetic fields. Importantly, there is no generally accepted biophysical mechanism that could explain such effects. In this review, we discuss the possibility that carcinogenic effects are based on the radical pair mechanism (RPM), which seems to be involved in magnetoreception in birds and certain other animals, allowing navigation in the geomagnetic field. We review the current understanding of the RPM in magnetoreception, and discuss cryptochromes as the putative magnetosensitive molecules and their possible links to cancer-relevant biological processes. We then propose a hypothesis for explaining the link between ELF fields and childhood leukaemia, discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the current evidence, and make proposals for further research.

Decrease of motor cortex excitability following exposure to a 20 Hz magnetic field as generated by a rotating permanent magnet

ObjectivesRotation of a static magnet over the motor cortex (MC) generates a transcranial alternating magnetic field (tAMF), and a linked alternating electrical field. The aim of this transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) study is to investigate whether such fields are able to influence MC excitability, and whether there are parallels to tACS induced effects. MethodsFourteen healthy volunteers received 20 Hz tAMF stimulation over the MC, over the vertex, and 20 Hz tACS over the MC, each with a duration of 15 min. TMS assessments were performed before and after the interventions. Changes in motor evoked potentials (MEP), short interval intra-cortical inhibition (SICI) and intra-cortical facilitation (ICF) were evaluated. ResultsThe tACS and the tAMF stimulation over the MC affected cortical excitability in a different way. After tAMF stimulation MEP amplitudes and ICF decreased and the effect of SICI increased. After tACS MEP amplitudes increased and there were no effects on SICI and ICF. ConclusionsThe recorded single and paired pulse MEPs indicate a general decrease of MC excitability following 15 min of tAMF stimulation. SignificanceThe effects demonstrate that devices based on rotating magnets are potentially suited to become a novel brain stimulation tool in clinical neurophysiology.

Results of lifespan exposure to continuous and intermittent extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELFEMF) administered alone to Sprague Dawley rats

BackgroundUp to now, experimental studies on rodents have failed to provide definitive confirmation of the carcinogenicity of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELFEMF). Two recent studies performed in our laboratory on Sprague-Dawley rats reported a statistically significant increase in malignant tumors of different sites (mammary gland, C-cells carcinoma, hemolymphoreticular neoplasia, and malignant heart Schwannoma) when ELFEMF exposure was associated with exposure to formaldehyde (50 mg/l) or acute low dose of γ-radiation (0.1 Gy) (Soffritti et al., 2016a) (Soffritti et al., 2016b). The same doses of known carcinogenic agents (50 mg/l formaldehyde, or acute 0.1 Gy γ-radiation), when administered alone, previously failed to induce any statistically significant increase in the incidence of total and specific malignant tumors in rats of the same colony. ObjectivesA lifespan whole-body exposure study was conducted to evaluate the possible carcinogenic effects of ELFEMF exposure administered alone to Sprague-Dawley rats, as part of the integrated project of the Ramazzini Institute (RI) for studying the effects on health of ELFEMF alone or in combination with other known carcinogens. MethodsMale and female Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed 19 h/day to continuous sinusoidal-50 Hz magnetic fields (S-50 Hz MF) at flux densities of 0 (control group), 2, 20, 100 or 1000µT, and to intermittent (30 min on/30 min off) S-50 Hz MF at 1000 µT, from prenatal life until natural death. ResultsSurvival and body weight trends in all groups of rats exposed to ELFEMF were comparable to those found in sex-matched controls. The incidence and number of malignant and benign tumors was similar in all groups. Magnetic field exposure did not significantly increase the incidence of neoplasias in any organ, including those sites that have been identified as possible targets in epidemiological studies (leukemia, breast cancer, and brain cancer). ConclusionsLife-span exposures to continuous and intermittent sinusoidal-50 Hz ELFEMFs, when administered alone, did not represent a significant risk factor for neoplastic development in our experimental rat model. In light of our previous results on the carcinogenic effects of ELFEMF in combination with formaldehyde and γ-radiation, further experiments are necessary to elucidate the possible role of ELFEMF as cancer enhancer in presence of other chemical and physical carcinogens.

A Dynamic Hysteresis Model Based on Vector-Play Model for Iron Loss Calculation Taking the Rotating Magnetic Fields Into Account

This paper presents a simple dynamic vector-play model to calculate the iron loss and describe the vector hysteresis behavior of a non-oriented (NO) electrical steel sheet (ESS) under 50 Hz rotating magnetic fields. Based on the iron loss separation theory, the proposed model is separated to the static hysteresis component and eddy current component. The static hysteresis component is constructed by vector play model, which is identified by using 1 Hz minor $B$ – $H$ loops. And two coefficients $\omega _{x}$ and $\omega _{y}$ are introduced to consider the anisotropic property of NO ESS and the excess loss of eddy-current component under 50 Hz magnetic field. The validity of the proposed dynamic vector hysteresis model is verified by comparing it with the experimental results under various 50 Hz magnetic field conditions.

Effects of A 60 Hz Magnetic Field of Up to 50 milliTesla on Human Tremor and EEG: A Pilot Study.

Humans are surrounded by sources of daily exposure to power-frequency (60 Hz in North America) magnetic fields (MFs). Such time-varying MFs induce electric fields and currents in living structures which possibly lead to biological effects. The present pilot study examined possible extremely low frequency (ELF) MF effects on human neuromotor control in general, and physiological postural tremor and electroencephalography (EEG) in particular. Since the EEG cortical mu-rhythm (8–12 Hz) from the primary motor cortex and physiological tremor are related, it was hypothesized that a 60 Hz MF exposure focused on this cortical region could acutely modulate human physiological tremor. Ten healthy volunteers (age: 23.8 ± 4 SD) were fitted with a MRI-compatible EEG cap while exposed to 11 MF conditions (60 Hz, 0 to 50 mTrms, 5 mTrms increments). Simultaneously, physiological tremor (recorded from the contralateral index finger) and EEG (from associated motor and somatosensory brain regions) were measured. Results showed no significant main effect of MF exposure conditions on any of the analyzed physiological tremor characteristics. In terms of EEG, no significant effects of the MF were observed for C1, C3, C5 and CP1 electrodes. However, a significant main effect was found for CP3 and CP5 electrodes, both suggesting a decreased mu-rhythm spectral power with increasing MF flux density. This is however not confirmed by Bonferroni corrected pairwise comparisons. Considering both EEG and tremor findings, no effect of the MF exposure on human motor control was observed. However, MF exposure had a subtle effect on the mu-rhythm amplitude in the brain region involved in tactile perception. Current findings are to be considered with caution due to the small size of this pilot work, but they provide preliminary insights to international agencies establishing guidelines regarding electromagnetic field exposure with new experimental data acquired in humans exposed to high mT-range MFs.

Fifty-Hertz Magnetic Field Affects the Epigenetic Modulation of the miR-34b/c in Neuronal Cells.

The exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs) has been associated to increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases, although the underlying molecular mechanisms are still undefined. Since epigenetic modulation has been recently encountered among the key events leading to neuronal degeneration, we here aimed at assessing if the control of gene expression mediated by miRNAs, namely miRs-34, has any roles in driving neuronal cell response to 50-Hz (1mT) magnetic field in vitro. We demonstrate that ELF-MFs drive an early reduction of the expression level of miR-34b and miR-34c in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells, as well as in mouse primary cortical neurons, by affecting the transcription of the common pri-miR-34. This modulation is not p53 dependent, but attributable to the hyper-methylation of the CpG island mapping within the miR-34b/c promoter. Incubation with N-acetyl-l-cysteine or glutathione ethyl-ester fails to restore miR-34b/c expression, suggesting that miRs-34 are not responsive to ELF-MF-induced oxidative stress. By contrast, we show that miRs-34 control reactive oxygen species production and affect mitochondrial oxidative stress triggered by ELF-MFs, likely by modulating mitochondria-related miR-34 targets identified by in silico analysis. We finally demonstrate that ELF-MFs alter the expression of the α-synuclein, which is specifically stimulated upon ELF-MFs exposure via both direct miR-34 targeting and oxidative stress. Altogether, our data highlight the potential of the ELF-MFs to tune redox homeostasis and epigenetic control of gene expression in vitro and shed light on the possible mechanism(s) producing detrimental effects and predisposing neurons to degeneration.

Self-Powered RFID Sensor Tag for Fault Diagnosis and Prognosis of Transformer Winding

This paper presents a transformer winding fault diagnosis and prognosis method based on self-powered radio frequency identification (RFID) sensor tag. The proposed RFID sensor tag, which consists of RFID tag, power management circuit, MCU, and accelerometer, can acquire the vibration signals of transformer winding from the tank by accelerometer, and then wirelessly transmit the signals to the RFID reader. An inductive energy harvester utilizing surrounding magnetic field is optimized as power supply for the proposed sensor tag, including the MCU and the accelerometer. A customized ac–dc converter together with a low-dropout voltage regulator is designed to provide stable dc voltage for the proposed sensor tag. The RFID reader compiles the data from all the RFID sensor tags and then transmits them to the remote monitoring software which is developed to display the diagnosis results and alert messages. The experimental results show that the proposed energy harvester can provide 197- $\mu \text{w}$ power in a 50-Hz magnetic field, and the ac–dc converter is capable of providing 2.5-V dc voltage to power the circuitry. The measured maximum power consumption of the proposed sensor tag is 147 $\mu \text{w}$ . Furthermore, the achieved reliable communication distance is 13 m in the test scenario. The experimental results show that the proposed method is effective in term of the diagnosis and prognosis of transformer winding.

Magnetic properties of Cd1–x Fe x Cr2S4 (x = 0.5–0.8) solid solutions

Cd1–x Fe x Cr2S4 (x = 0.5–0.8) spinel solid solutions have been synthesized and their magnetic properties have been measured using a Quantum Design PMS-9 instrument at temperatures from 5 to 300 K in a static (7960 A/m) and an ac (100, 1000, and 10000 Hz) magnetic field (79.6 A/m peak) at an external field H = 0. At low temperatures, all of the solid solutions have extended ranges where their dynamic magnetic susceptibility around their ferrimagnetic transition is frequency-dependent. The obtained results are discussed in terms of models that take into account the instability of the long-range magnetic order in the endmembers of the solid solution system: FeCr2S4 and CdCr2S4.

Environmental Noise Cancellation for High-TC SQUID-Based Magnetocardiography Systems Using a Bistage Active Shield

An active noise cancellation method is proposed for superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUID)-based magnetocardiography systems working out of magnetically shielded rooms. Using YBCO high-Tc rf-SQUID magnetometers as magnetic field sensors, an active shielding system was implemented based on this method. This method incorporates two different shielding frequency regimes of operation simultaneously. This is because the unwanted background magnetic field signals range from very low frequencies up to high frequencies with a wide range of amplitudes at the upper and lower frequency spectra. Therefore, the shielding system is designed in a bistage configuration, and each stage covers one part of the frequency spectrum. Each shielding stage is based on a coil designed and optimized by finite element method calculations. One of the coils is used for compensating high amplitude and very low frequency (0–0.1 Hz) far-field environmental magnetic field noise, and the second one is used for relatively low amplitude and higher frequency (0.1–100 Hz) magnetic field noise. Because of these frequency and amplitude characteristics, each coil uses independent control circuit. For designing the controllers, methods based on the dynamic model approximation of the first and second orders were examined, which led to optimized proportional-integral-derivative controllers. The shielding efficiency of the proposed bistage active shielding system shows a significant improved effectiveness compared to that of the conventional one stage active shielding systems.

Effect of a 50-Hz Magnetic Field on the Degradation of Plasmid in the Presence of Cu(II) Ions and Hydrogen Peroxide

Power-line frequency (50/60 Hz) magnetic fields enhance DNA strand breaks in the cell. In order to understand the molecular mechanism underlying this phenomenon, we analyzed the conversion of plasmid from the supercoiled to the linear form. This conversion is promoted by hydroxyl radical generated by the reaction between Cu2+ and H2O2. The plasmid pHSG298 was incubated with 1 mM Cu2+ and 1 mM H2O2 and exposed to a 1.2 mT, 50-Hz magnetic field for 30, 60, and 90 min. The conversion of supercoiled DNA to linear DNA was analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis. We found that exposure to the magnetic field for 90 min significantly enhanced the degree of conversion.