Molecular Signal Transfer of Highly Diluted Antibodies to Interferon-Gamma Regarding Kind, Time, and Distance of Exposition.

Physicochemical examinations of very high dilution (UHD) solutions subjected to certain physical factors (such as shaking) are becoming more frequent and are increasingly producing conclusive results. A much less studied phenomenon is the transfer of molecular information (i.e., UHD signals of dilute substances) from one liquid to another without an intermediate liquid phase. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of such a transfer of the UHD signal from the UHD solutions to the receiver solution, in particular, if the molecular source used in the donor solutions was the biologically active antibodies to interferon-gamma molecule. We were especially interested in how the transfer of the UHD signal is affected by the time of exposure of the receiver to the donor, the distance between the two, and how the transfer is affected by activation (striking) versus exposure alone. Signal transfer was evaluated by differential measurements of electrical conductivity, ORP, pH, and UV/VIS spectroscopy of the exposed liquid. The results showed that activation strongly influences signal transfer and that this can be compensated to some extent by prolonged direct exposure. In principle, exposure time has a positive effect on signal transfer. Interestingly, the results of different distances between the donor and receiver showed similar changes in the parameters in the range of 0-4 cm, as estimated in this study. While the study mainly confirms the two hypotheses, it also raises a number of new questions and provides clues for further research.

Physicochemical Study of the Molecular Signal Transfer of Ultra-High Diluted Antibodies to Interferon-Gamma.

Physicochemical investigations of (UHD) solutions subjected to certain physical factors (like shaking) are becoming more frequent and increasingly yielding convincing results. A much less studied phenomenon is the transfer of molecular information (UHD signals) from one fluid to another without an intermediate liquid phase. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of such a UHD signal transfer from UHD solutions into the receiver fluid, especially when the molecular source used in solutions was a biologically active molecule of antibodies to interferon-gamma. We used physicochemical measurements and UV spectroscopy for this purpose. The results of this large pilot study confirm the possibility of such a transfer and a rough similarity to the original UHD signal donors, the weaker signal detection relative to the original donor fluids, and that exposure time improves the effect.

Highly Diluted Glyphosate Mitigates Its Effects on Artemia salina: Physicochemical Implications.

Glyphosate is an herbicide widely used in agriculture but can present chronic toxicity in low concentrations. Artemia salina is a common bio-indicator of ecotoxicity; it was used herein as a model to evaluate the effect of highly diluted-succussed glyphosate (potentized glyphosate) in glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH) exposed living systems. Artemia salina cysts were kept in artificial seawater with 0.02% glyphosate (corresponding to 10% lethal concentration or LC10) under constant oxygenation, luminosity, and controlled temperature, to promote hatching in 48 h. Cysts were treated with 1% (v/v) potentized glyphosate in different dilution levels (Gly 6 cH, 30 cH, 200 cH) prepared the day before according to homeopathic techniques, using GBH from the same batch. Controls were unchallenged cysts, and cysts treated with succussed water or potentized vehicle. After 48 h, the number of born nauplii per 100 µL, nauplii vitality, and morphology were evaluated. The remaining seawater was used for physicochemical analyses using solvatochromic dyes. In a second set of experiments, Gly 6 cH treated cysts were observed under different degrees of salinity (50 to 100% seawater) and GBH concentrations (zero to LC 50); hatching and nauplii activity were recorded and analyzed using the ImageJ 1.52, plug-in Trackmate. The treatments were performed blind, and the codes were revealed after statistical analysis. Gly 6 cH increased nauplii vitality (p = 0.01) and improved the healthy/defective nauplii ratio (p = 0.005) but delayed hatching (p = 0.02). Overall, these results suggest Gly 6cH treatment promotes the emergence of the more GBH-resistant phenotype in the nauplii population. Also, Gly 6cH delays hatching, another useful survival mechanism in the presence of stress. Hatching arrest was most marked in 80% seawater when exposed to glyphosate at LC10. Water samples treated with Gly 6 cH showed specific interactions with solvatochromic dyes, mainly Coumarin 7, such that it appears to be a potential physicochemical marker for Gly 6 cH. In short, Gly 6 cH treatment appears to protect the Artemia salina population exposed to GBH at low concentrations.

Physicochemical and UV/VIS measurements of UHD solutionsof water, potentized water,and different potencies of organic substance

Conventional science regards the study of UHD (highly homeopathically potentized) solutions as pseudo-science. However, an increasing number of rigorous scientific investigations demonstrate differences in physicochemical and physical characteristics of such solutions. Strictly chemically regarded, they correspond to highly distilled water. Our research team developed a system of physicochemical and UV spectrographic measurements, whereby the differences may be consistently confirmed with high statistical significance.Methods:For measurement of the physicochemical parameters,we usedpH,electrical conductivity,and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP)sensors.For UV/VIS spectroscopymeasurements,we useda Macherey-Nagelspectrophotometer.For UHD research, we used two batches of substances: Russian (R) and Brazilian (B). In R, distilled water (W) was used for dilutions and potencies as follows: potentized water (W cH9), potentized dilution of antibodies to interferon-gamma (Abs IFNγ cH9), the same original substance in the form of a mixture of potencies (Abs IFNγ cH12, cH30, cH50, shortly Abs IFNγ mix). Furthermore, we prepared higher potencies of the substances (supplementary potentiation) in a specially prepared solution and measured their characteristics. In B, the solution was used for further dilutions and potencies as follows: potentized water (W cH1) and Glyphosate potencies (Gly cH6 => cH8, cH30 => cH 32, and cH200 => cH 202).For direct or post-hoc analysis, we used Wilcoxon signed-rank test, two-tailed.Results:UV-VIS spectroscopy (R): measurements of received liquids potentized for further cH1 show statistically significant differences between all substances, except between water W and W cH9 at 260 nm. Significant differences (p-values) were as follows: Abs IFNγ mixvs. W= 0.007; Abs IFNγ mixvs.W cH9=0.008; Abs IFNγ cH9vs. W=0.044; Abs IFNγ cH9vs.W cH9= 0.026; Abs IFNγ mixvs.W cH9= 0.007; W vs.W cH9= 0.506.Physicochemical measurements:R: measurementsdemonstrated statistical difference only in pH (Abs IFNγ mix towards all others). Significant differences (p-values) were as follows: Abs IFNγ mixvs. W=0.022; Abs IFNγ mixvs.W cH9=0.005; Abs IFNγ mixvs.Abs IFNγ cH9=0.025. After supplementarypotentiation, we obtained a more conspicuous picture with many statistical differences in conductivity and ORP, ranging from p= 0.001 to 0.046.A difference between water and potentized water has also been demonstrated.B: the measurements demonstrated statistical differences mainly in pH between Gly cH8 and the rest and between Gly cH202 and W cH1.Significant differences (p-values) were as follows:Gly cH8vs. Gly cH32 =0.027; Gly cH8vs. Gly cH202 = 0.011; Gly cH8vs. W cH1= 0.014; Gly cH202vs. W cH1= 0.034.Conclusion:UV/VIS at wavelength 260 nm Abs IFNγ mix discloses a pattern similar to exclusion zone (EZ)water at 270 nm.By additional potentiation and with physicochemical measurements, we obtained higher statistical differences than in the original dilutions.In contrast, UV/VIS spectroscopy showed more conspicuous results without additional potentiation. However, the very act of succussion becomes very distinct

Geomagnetic and strong static magnetic field effects on growth and chlorophyll a fluorescence in Lemna minor.

The geomagnetic field (GMF) varies over Earth's surface and changes over time, but it is generally not considered as a factor that could influence plant growth. The effects of reduced and enhanced GMFs and a strong static magnetic field on growth and chlorophyll a (Chl a) fluorescence of Lemna minor plants were investigated under controlled conditions. A standard 7 day test was conducted in extreme geomagnetic environments of 4 µT and 100 µT as well as in a strong static magnetic field environment of 150 mT. Specific growth rates as well as slow and fast Chl a fluorescence kinetics were measured after 7 days incubation. The results, compared to those of controls, showed that the reduced GMF significantly stimulated growth rate of the total frond area in the magnetically treated plants. However, the enhanced GMF pointed towards inhibition of growth rate in exposed plants in comparison to control, but the difference was not statistically significant. This trend was not observed in the case of treatments with strong static magnetic fields. Our measurements suggest that the efficiency of photosystem II is not affected by variations in GMF. In contrast, the strong static magnetic field seems to have the potential to increase initial Chl a fluorescence and energy dissipation in Lemna minor plants.

The principle of coherence in multi-level brain information processing.

Synchronisation has become one of the major scientific tools to explain biological order at many levels of organisation. In systems neuroscience, synchronised subthreshold and suprathreshold oscillatory neuronal activity within and between distributed neuronal assemblies is acknowledged as a fundamental mode of neuronal information processing. Coherent neuronal oscillations correlate with all basic cognitive functions, mediate local and long-range neuronal communication and affect synaptic plasticity. However, it remains unclear how the very fast and complex changes of functional neuronal connectivity necessary for cognition, as mediated by dynamic patterns of neuronal synchrony, could be explained exclusively based on the well-established synaptic mechanisms. A growing body of research indicates that the intraneuronal matrix, composed of cytoskeletal elements and their binding proteins, structurally and functionally connects the synapses within a neuron, modulates neurotransmission and memory consolidation, and is hypothesised to be involved in signal integration via electric signalling due to its charged surface. Theoretical modelling, as well as emerging experimental evidence indicate that neuronal cytoskeleton supports highly cooperative energy transport and information processing based on molecular coherence. We suggest that long-range coherent dynamics within the intra- and extracellular filamentous matrices could establish dynamic ordered states, capable of rapid modulations of functional neuronal connectivity via their interactions with neuronal membranes and synapses. Coherence may thus represent a common denominator of neurophysiological and biophysical approaches to brain information processing, operating at multiple levels of neuronal organisation, from which cognition may emerge as its cardinal manifestation.

Possible time-dependent effect of ions and hydrophilic surfaces on the electrical conductivity of aqueous solutions.

The purpose of this work was to determine the influence of mechanical and electrical treatment on the electrical conductivity of aqueous solutions. Solutions were treated mechanically by iteration of two steps: 1:100 dilution and vigorous shaking. These two processes were repeated until extremely dilute solutions were obtained. For electrical treatment the solutions were exposed to strong electrical impulses. Effects of mechanical (as well as electrical) treatment could not be demonstrated using electrical conductivity measurements. However, significantly higher conductivity than those of the freshly prepared chemically analogous solutions was found in all aged solutions except for those samples stored frozen. The results surprisingly resemble a previously observed weak gel-like behavior in water stored in closed flasks. We suggest that ions and contact with hydrophilic glass surfaces could be the determinative conditions for the occurrence of this phenomenon.

The role of coherence in a systems view of cancer development.

Theories of cancer origin are going through a paradigm shift, opening cancer research to new hypotheses. Accumulating evidence from the tissue microenvironment research, from bioenergetics, epigenetics, systems biology and thermodynamics tends to converge in characterising cancer as essentially a genetically non-deterministic disease. Instead, it is characterised by progressive disorganisation at a variety of organisational levels, from the genome and metabolic networks, to tissue integrity. As biological self-organisation is fuelled by the continuous supply of energy and infdrmation, these represent systemic roots of cancer origin, when compromised. The coherence of molecular dynamics has been recognised as an organising principle behind the long-range coordination of biological processes which can explain the remarkable efficiency of biological systems. Recent methodological advances have enabled the rapid accumulation of experimental evidence pointing to coherence as indeed playing an active role in mediating the flow of energy and information in diverse molecular systems, which is sufficient reason to apply it to a systems view on cancer development. We review theoretical models of how impaired coherence dynamics could lead to cancer as well as propose a new hypothesis based on the quantum electrodynamic theory of coherence. We discuss how the concept of coherence could connect different aspects of cancer and possibly represent their underlying theoretical framework, thus combining biological and physical approaches to understanding this complex pathology.

The "autothixotropic" phenomenon of water and its role in proton transfer.

In an experimental study, significantly higher conductivity values than those of freshly prepared chemically analogous solutions were found in aged (~one year old) aqueous solutions, except for those stored frozen. The results surprisingly resemble a previously noticed phenomenon in liquid water, which develops when water is stored in closed vessels. This was observed as a disturbing phenomenon in gravimetric measurements and in luminescence spectroscopy measurements. The phenomenon was termed "autothixotropy of water" due to the weak gel-like behavior which develops spontaneously over time, in which ions seem to play an important role. Here, according to experimental results we propose that contact with hydrophilic surfaces also plays an important role. The role of the "autothixotropy of water" in proton transfer is also discussed.

On the origin of cancer: can we ignore coherence?

A growing number of inconsistencies have accumulated within the genetically deterministic paradigm of the origin of cancer. Among them the most important are the nonspecific nature of cancer mutations and the non-cell-autonomous factors of cancer initiation and progression. Epigenetic aspects of cancer and cancer systems biology represent novel approaches to cancer aetiology and converge in the notion that cancer is characterized by a nonspecific progressive destabilization of multiple molecular pathways. The coherent behaviour of certain cellular subsystems has been theoretically predicted for a long time to have a general role in coordinating biological processes. However, it has only recently gained major scientific interest when it was measured on photosynthetic complexes at physiological temperatures and confirmed to have a direct effect over the dynamics of the energy transfer. Several theoretical and experimental considerations suggest that cancer might be associated with the absence or impairment of the proper coherent dynamics in certain biological structures, most notably in the microtubules. We review those models and suggest that impaired coherence might largely contribute to the progressive destabilization of the molecular and gene regulatory networks, thus connecting different non-genetic aspects of cancer.

Deep significance of the field concept in contemporary biomedical sciences.

Since antiquity, biology has had two opposing views of life and organisms: holistic (organismic) and reductionist. In contemporary biology, the molecular reductionist approach prevails--its central entity being the gene. Organicism lingers on the margin of biology, having well-elaborated ideas but no empirical confirmation for the integrative biological entity. The latter could be found in the endogenous coherent EM field (ECEMF), since it organizes countless cellular processes, including cell's division, and through the coupling of coherence domains integrates the whole organism. A serious and thorough reconsideration of life and organisms in light of this new biological entity would have far-reaching consequences in all areas of biological science, i.e., in ontogeny, the theory of evolution, understanding and combating serious illnesses, and above all, cancer.

Electric field absorption and emission as an indicator of active electromagnetic nature of organisms--preliminary report.

Measurements of the response of organisms to the near field exposure show that this response, i.e., its absorption, transmission, and emission (ATE) of the organism, markedly differs from the behavior expected if one treats the organism as a simple dissipative conductive body. The results point to the at least partial active response of the organism. This active electrical response can be attributed at least partially to the response of the endogenous electromagnetic field of organisms, first postulated by Frohlich, and to the material structures that form an inseparable whole with this field. The near electric field influence, both on the organism and of the organism on the sensors, can be established either through the vicinity or through a direct nonconductive contact. This response correlates with the physiological state of an organism. Measurements performed with mealworm beetles indicated that the normal living organisms absorb and use some energy of the near electric field and therefore the transmitted (re-emitted) signal is weaker. The inactivated or the dead organisms are more passive electrical absorbers.

On the structure of theoretical evolutionary space in relation to biological laws.

According to neo-Darwinian evolutionary theory, the dominant causal role in biological evolution is played by historical contingencies, both at the level of spontaneous variation and at the level of limited environmental resources. The natural selection, as well as evolution based on it, are thus supposed to be of essentially historical nature. The omnipresence of biological convergences challenges this view. We propose that law-like universal constraints on internal organismic organization as well as on their environment, originating from universal characteristics of nonlinear and complex dynamical systems, may confer some of the observed regularity and repeatability of evolutionary patterns. The testing of this general hypothesis requires the development of a new field of theoretical and empirical research procedures.

Effects of electrically transferred molecular information on the germination of garden cress / Efeitos de informação molecular transferida eletricamente sobre a germinação do agrião

We followed a hypothesis that biologically relevant information from various substances can be non-chemically transferred to organisms through a combination of a high voltage electric field that can stably imprint information into water or a water solution. A special device was constructed, and a thoroughly tested biological sensor system (i.e. cress seedlings exposed to a defined heat stress), was used. The results demonstrate a clear evidence of biological effects of electrically imprinted information of biologically active substances into water solution, however not necessarily with an obvious connection to the effects of the original (donor) substance. The growth reaction of cress seedlings was either stimulatory or inhibitory, depending on the time of the application.(AU)

Seguimos a hipótese de que informação biologicamente relevante de várias substâncias pode ser transferida de maneira não química a organismos, através da combinação de um campo elétrico de alta intensidade, que pode imprimir estavelmente informação na água ou sistemas aquosos. Foi construído um aparelho especial e foi utilizado um sistema sensor especial, amplamente provado (plantas de agrião expostas a estresse térmico definido). Os resultados demonstram evidência dos efeitos de informação eletricamente impressa de substâncias biologicamente ativas em soluções aquosas. No entanto, estes efeitos não estão necessariamente ligados aos próprios da substância original (doadora). A reação de crescimento das plantas de agrião foi ora estimulatória ou inibidora, dependendo do momento da aplicação.(AU)

Effects of electrically transferred molecular information on the germination of garden cress / Efeitos de informação molecular transferida eletricamente sobre a germinação do agrião

We followed a hypothesis that biologically relevant information from various substances can be non-chemically transferred to organisms through a combination of a high voltage electric field that can stably imprint information into water or a water solution. A special device was constructed, and a thoroughly tested biological sensor system (i.e. cress seedlings exposed to a defined heat stress), was used. The results demonstrate a clear evidence of biological effects of electrically imprinted information of biologically active substances into water solution, however not necessarily with an obvious connection to the effects of the original (donor) substance. The growth reaction of cress seedlings was either stimulatory or inhibitory, depending on the time of the application.

Seguimos a hipótese de que informação biologicamente relevante de várias substâncias pode ser transferida de maneira não química a organismos, através da combinação de um campo elétrico de alta intensidade, que pode imprimir estavelmente informação na água ou sistemas aquosos. Foi construído um aparelho especial e foi utilizado um sistema sensor especial, amplamente provado (plantas de agrião expostas a estresse térmico definido). Os resultados demonstram evidência dos efeitos de informação eletricamente impressa de substâncias biologicamente ativas em soluções aquosas. No entanto, estes efeitos não estão necessariamente ligados aos próprios da substância original (doadora). A reação de crescimento das plantas de agrião foi ora estimulatória ou inibidora, dependendo do momento da aplicação.

Boolean networks with variable number of inputs (K).

We studied a random Boolean network model with a variable number of inputs K per element. An interesting feature of this model, compared to the well-known fixed-K networks, is its higher orderliness. It seems that the distribution of connectivity alone contributes to a certain amount of order. In the present research, we tried to disentangle some of the reasons for this unexpected order. We also studied the influence of different numbers of source elements (elements with no inputs) on the network's dynamics. An analysis carried out on the networks with an average value of K=2 revealed a correlation between the number of source elements and the dynamic diversity of the network. As a diversity measure we used the number of attractors, their lengths and similarity. As a quantitative measure of the attractors' similarity, we developed two methods, one taking into account the size and the overlapping of the frozen areas, and the other in which active elements are also taken into account. As the number of source elements increases, the dynamic diversity of the networks does likewise: the number of attractors increases exponentially, while their similarity diminishes linearly. The length of attractors remains approximately the same, which indicates that the orderliness of the networks remains the same. We also determined the level of order that originates from the canalizing properties of Boolean functions and the propagation of this influence through the network. This source of order can account only for one-half of the frozen elements; the other half presumably freezes due to the complex dynamics of the network. Our work also demonstrates that different ways of assigning and redirecting connections between elements may influence the results significantly. Studying such systems can also help with modeling and understanding a complex organization and self-ordering in biological systems, especially the genetic ones.

Alternating electric fields stimulate ATP synthesis in Escherichia coli.

External alternating electric fields of low intensity stimulated membrane bound ATP synthesis in starving Escherichia coli cells with electric field amplitudes of 2.5-50 V/cm and a frequency optimum at 100 Hz. The model of electrocon-formational coupling was used to analyze the frequency and amplitude responses of ATP synthesis. Two relaxation frequencies of the system were obtained at 44 Hz and 220 Hz, and an estimate of roughly 12 was obtained as the effective charge displacement for the catalytic cycle of ATP synthesis.