Effects of air ions on some aspects of learning and memory of rats and mice

When submitted to a single avoidance task male mice showed different behavioral responses if previously treated with opposite aeroionization polarities. Whereas negative air ions tend to improve learning, positive ions have disturbing effects. Male rats submitted to a single — trial inhibitory avoidance step-through task showed that retention processes may also be influenced by air ions. The positive air-ion-treated animals exhibit signs of impaired short and long term memory. The slightly impaired score of negative air-ion-treated animals seems only dependent upon the simultaneously increased locomotor activity. A separate experiment supported this hypothesis showing conspicuous differential effects of air ion polarity on spontaneous activity of male rats. On the basis of these findings and the results of other studies in biological air ion dependence field, the behavioral significance of aero-ionization in learning and memory processes is discussed in relation to serotonin metabolism and other neuroendocrine mechanisms.     

The action of air ions on bacteria. I. Protective and lethal effects on suspensions of Staphylococci in droplets

Techniques have been devised for studying quantitatively the effects of air ions on microorganisms suspended in small drops. In smog-contaminated atmospheres moderate concentrations of positive and negative air ions exerted a protective effect on staphylococci by delaying the drop in pH customarily observed and by diminishing the rate of evaporation. In clean air higher concentrations of positive and negative air ions accelerated the rate of death of staphylococci apparently by direct action on the cells and by increasing the rate of evaporation. Air ion action in these experiments did not involve cell agglutination or direct radiation from the radioactive isotopes employed.     

Air ion effect on respiration and photosynthesis of barley andAntirrhinum majus

Stem height increases of 13% and 15% for barley and snapdragon respectively were observed for plants maintained in an atmosphere of high concentrations of negative air ions compared to control plants. Dry weights of the exposed plant species to negative ions increased by approximately 18% compared to untreated plants. The effects of positive air ions were insignificant. The rates of photosynthesis and respiration measurements on continuously exposed plants to negative air ions conformed to these observations.     

Applications of artificial ionization

Summary The effects of positive and negative ions on man and on animals have been widely studied by numerous teams of researchers. It is well-known that negative ions have beeeficial effects on chronic and allergy-related bronchopathies in man; they stimulate the activity of the endocrine glands and psychomotor, muscular and cerebral functions. They have a beneficial effect on general circulation, and in particular on the microcirculatory system, such that they are suggested for use in prophylaxis and prevention of senescence, in acute, chronic and allergy-related pneumopathies, and in neuro-vegetative dystonia. The use of artificial negative ion producers may be a useful tool for both preventive and therapeutic purposes, as well as hygienic/domestic applications. Systematic measurements ere taken of negative ions artificially produced in a confined space. The spatial distribution of artificially-produced negative ions in a confined space is presented. Applications relative to artificial generators are also suggested in order to obtain repeatable experimental conditions.     

Influence of artificial air ionization on the electroencephalogram of the awake rat

Rats exposed during three weeks to high concentrations of positive air ions (80,000 ions/ml) exhibit signs of lowered brain arousal. Amplitude of electrocorticograms recorded with fronto-frontal and occipito-occipital derivations increases. Amplitude of theta hippocampic rhythm increases as the frequency decreases. Power spectrum analysis of theta hippocampic rhythm shows that the low frequency band (5.6 Hz) is the most enhanced one.Similar exposure to negative air ions induces modifications that are not so important. The frequency of theta hippocampic rhythm is, however, significantly increased. A slight increase in vigilance level is probable.These different effects of air ion polarity on vigilance level could explain some effects of air ions upon acquisition task.     

Growth and certain chemical constituents of tobacco plants exposed to air ions

Controlled experiments were performed in Faraday cages on the effects of positive and negative air ions on flue-cured tobacco plants. Continuous exposures for 15 days to air ions showed no significant differences in any plant growth characteristic between the treated and control plants. Standard errors in the measurement of the growth parameters for ion exposed plants were, however, consistently higher than those of control plants. Spatial variation in concentration gradients of air ions produced by corona discharge might have contributed to masking of the relatively small effects of air ions on biological organisms observed in previous experiments in this laboratory. No significant difference was observed between the experimental and control plants in nicotine, total alkaloid, and reducing sugar contents. Total nitrogen content was slightly higher for treated than control plants.     

Space charge drift from a +/- 400-kV direct current transmission line

The Minnesota Environmental Quality Board completed a 3-year study of the space charge plume outside the right of way of a bipolar (+/- 400 kV) direct current transmission line in rural west central Minnesota. The purpose of the study was to determine the levels of DC potential gradient and small airs ions in the downwind plume to which humans and animals may be exposed. Potential gradient measurements show that a space charge plume is detectable downwind at least 1600 m from the transmission line. Plume relaxation rates indicate that under certain conditions one could detect the plume at twice that distance or more. Net charge in the plume assumes the polarity of the downwind energized transmission line conductor. The bipolar DC line thus electrically bisects the land through which it passes; on one side of the line there is a net positive space charge, on the other side a net negative space charge. Electric charge in the plume resides on aerosols and small air ions. Polar conductivity data substantiate the fact that small air ions of one polarity in the plume are elevated while those of opposite polarity are suppressed compared to background concentrations found in the rural environment. The resulting charge imbalance persists downwind at least 1600 m, though the median small air ion concentrations of plume polarity have adjusted to within the background range by that time with perpendicular wind speed components between 1 and 6 m/sec.     

空气负离子浓度分布的影响因素研究综述

近年来随着生态旅游的日益兴起,空气负离子作为一种生态保健旅游资源越来越受到人们的关注。研究空气负离子浓度分布规律可以指导人们在合适的地点、合适的时间充分利用自然状态下产生的空气负离子调养身心。通过查阅国内近十多年有关空气负离子的文献资料,对空气负离子浓度分布规律及其影响因素的有关研究进展进行了综述。现有的研究表明,空气负离子浓度变化及其分布主要受到气象、时空、植物和水体等因素的影响。今后,应加强空气负离子的产生机制及其生态学效应等方面的研究,以便更好地为空气负离子资源的合理开发和生态环境保护提供理论依据。     

Thermometric titration studies of the interaction of block polypeptides with surfactants

The interactions between surfactants and block polypeptides were investigated by titration calorimetry and CD. The polypeptides exhibited signs of an interaction only with surfactants bearing a charge opposite to the charge on the polymer. The stoichiometry of the resulting complex was determined to be approximately equal to the polymer net charge. In general, a decrease in helical content accompanied the interaction between the block polypeptides and the surfactants. Both positive and negative enthalpy changes were noted, depending on the heat of micelle formation. None of the thermal effects noted were preceded by polymer unfolding, as is characteristic of the interaction between surfactants and typical globular proteins.     

Disturbances of sleep and wakefulness associated with the use of antihypertensive agents

Sleep disturbances are frequently associated with the use of antihypertensive drugs. They are observed mainly during the administration of drugs that affect central adrenergic mechanisms. Beta-adrenoceptor antagonists which readily penetrate into the brain (propranolol, pindolol) increase wakefulness and/or decrease REM sleep. Alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists (clonidine, guanfacine) markedly reduce the duration of REM sleep. The catecholamine depleting agent reserpine increases REM sleep during single or repeated-dose administration, while the MAOI phenelzine shows opposite effects. The 5-HT2 antagonist ritanserin, which is chemically related to the antihypertensive agent ketanserin, increases slow wave sleep while REM sleep is decreased. Sleep disturbances have not been reported during the administration of calcium entry antagonists. However, they seem to modify the effects of hypnotics and CNS stimulants. There are no formal studies on the effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and vasodilators on sleep in man.     

Molecular Dynamics Simulation Studies of the Limiting Conductances of CaCl2 using Extended Simple Point Charge and Revised Polarizable Models

We have carried out molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the limiting conductances of CaCl₂ in ambient and supercritical states as a function of water density using extended simple point charge (SPC/E) and revised polarizable (RPOL) models for ions and water molecules. Both models predict the limiting conductances of CaCl₂ in supercritical water that are a linear dependence on water density. The effect of the electronic polarization on the limiting conductances is too small to cause a deduction in the lower water density of 0.6?～?0.7?g/cc in this study. The most significant effect of the electronic polarization is appeared in a decrease in the ion–water potential energy and, as a result, an increase in the limiting conductances for both ions. Different charge distributions of water molecules in the first hydration shell around the ions lead the opposite behavior of the induced dipole moment with water density for a positive and a negative ion in supercritical water; the induced dipole moment of Ca²⁺ decreases with increasing water density but for Cl^-, the opposite is observed. The same kind of opposite behavior due to the structure of water molecules around the ions is also found in hydrogen-bond correlations of water around the ions and of bulk water; hydrogen bonding around Ca²⁺ persists longer than in bulk water whereas the opposite is observed for Cl^-.     

Influence of air ions on brain activity induced by electrical stimulation in the rat

The brain induced activity was studied in 18 rats wearing chronically skull implanted electrodes. The stimulating factor was various electrical stimulations of the mesencephalic reticular activating formation, given during the slow wave state of sleep. The results of 300 stimulations were measured by amplitude and frequency changes in the EEG simultaneously recorded. Animals previously exposed to positive air ions (3 weeks 80,000 ions/ml) exhibited lowered excitability of the reticulocortical system. Significantly higher stimulations were necessary to induce arousal. Negative air ions induced more intricate effects: brain excitability was lowered when tested with weak stimulations, but normal when evaluated with medium high level stimilations. Sleep seems first more stable but as stimulation increases, arousal is soon as effective as in controls. These results are in agreement with others findings in behavioral fields and partly explains them.     

Interaction of the inotropic effect of norepinephrine and acetylcholine on the guinea pig's myocardium]

The experiments on guinea pig myocardium slices have been carried out to study the interaction of inotropic effects of different doses of norepinephrine (NE, from 10(-7) to 10(-5) mol/l) and acetylcholine (AC, from 10(-8) to 10(-6) mol/l). With an increase of NE concentration the negative influence of AC on the inotropic action is replaced by positive one. It is shown that there are optimal concentrations of NE and AC to exert a negative influence of AC on adrenergic inotropic effect (in these experiments--3 x 10(-7) mol/l for both influences). A decrease in frequency of contractions of AC on NE effect and positive influence of adrenergic myocardium stimulation on inotropic effect of AC, respectively. Such a type of relation of cardial effects of choline- and adrenergic influences is suggested to be designated by term "negatively accentuative antagonism" unlike the opposite type of choline-adrenergic interaction--"positive accentuative antagonism", under which AC increases inotropic effect of adrenergic myocardium stimulation, while adrenergic positive inotropic influences decrease AC effect.     

Physical effects of negative air ions in a wet sauna

 The physical effects of negative air ions on humans were determined in an experimental sauna room equipped with an ionizer. Thirteen healthy persons took a wet sauna bath (dry bulb temperature 42° C, relative humidity 100%, 10 min exposure) with or without negative air ions. The subjects were not told when they were being exposed to negative air ions. There were no differences in the moods of these persons or changes in their blood pressures between the two saunas. The surface temperatures of the foreheads, hands, and legs in the sauna with negative ions were significantly higher than those in the sauna without ions. The pulse rates and sweat produced in the sauna with ions were singificantly higher than those in the sauna without ions. The results suggest that negative ions may amplify the effects on humans of the sauna. Received: 31 March 1995 / Revised: 25 July 1995 / Accepted: 26 July 1996     

大气气溶胶增加对作物的影响研究进展

大气气溶胶是指悬浮在大气中的固态和液态颗粒物总称。近年来空气污染带来了一些区域大气气溶胶浓度上升明显,一定程度上对作物生长环境带来影响。国内外关于大气气溶胶增加可能对作物产生的影响表现在:(1)大气气溶胶增加会导致直接辐射减少,而散射辐射可能会有一定程度增加;散射辐射增加有利于一些作物整个冠层光合能力的提高。(2)大气气溶胶带来辐射的改变也会影响近地面小气候环境,尤其是大气昼夜温度变化,从而影响作物干物质积累;而辐射与温度的改变同时也会影响农田蒸散和最终水分利用效率。(3)大气气溶胶形成的干沉降会停留在叶片表面,减少光合有效辐射到达叶片的量,同时对作物叶片结构和功能产生直接影响。在总结国内外研究进展基础上,提出未来关于大气气溶胶增加对作物影响需要进一步明确大气气溶胶带来的作物生长环境改变对作物碳同化、积累和消耗的影响以及直接和散射辐射比例改变如何影响作物光合和蒸腾的相互关系,通过全面系统的研究大气气溶胶对作物产量形成的影响机制,提出有针对性的田间应对技术。     

Evaporation rate enhancement of water with air ions from a corona discharge

Space charges (air ions) produced by a single point-to-plane corona electrode system were used to study the enhancement in the evaporation rates of water at three ion current levels. The maximum evaporation rates of 0.019 and 0.017 g·min^?1 were observed at a 1 cm electrode gap for negative and positive air ions, respectively. The cumulative evaporation rates were linear with time and an ion-enhanced rate was about 4 times greater than the control. The current density distribution measurements agreed fairly well with those predicted from the Warburg law. The principal driving force for the observed evaporation enhancement was an ion drag phenomenon which created vortex motions in water when air ions were subjected to an externally applied electric field. Theoretical considerations from derived relationships in fluid mechanics demonstrate that the mass transfer coefficient is higher for positive than negative ions of the same current strength because of the mobility difference between the charges in the medium.     

Enhancement of evaporation rates from thin layers of liquids exposed to air ions

A beta-ray gauge system was used to study evaporation rates and drying times of liquids exposed to relatively high fluxes of air ions of either polarity produced by a corona discharge. Evaporation rates from thin layers of water, ethyl alcohol, and carbon tetrachloride increased considerably when exposed to air ions, compared to untreated liquids under constant environmental conditions. Drying times of liquid layers exposed to air ions were shortened by a factor of at least two over liquids that had not been exposed to ions. The drying time of a liquid layer was found to increase with the decrease of ion fluxes at the liquid surface. Threshold values of 1.9×10¹¹ positive ions and 2.7×10¹¹ negative ions cm^–2 s^–1 were established below which no increase in the evaporation rates were observed for ethyl alcohol and carbon tetrachloride. The evaporation rate of water at these same ion fluxes was significantly higher than that of the control. The present experiments indicate that a stream of air ions could play a major role in the observed enhancement of evaporation rates.     

The effects of negative air ions on various physiological functions during work in a hot environment

The effects of negative air-ions on human physical performance has been investigated. Twenty-one healthy males, 20–25 years old (X=23.6±2.6) were exposed to two 180-min rest and exercise sessions two weeks apart. The subjects were randomly assigned into either an experimental group (n=12) or to a control group (n=9). The experimental group performed the first session in neutral air conditions and the second one in air containing 1.36 to 1.90×10⁵ negative air ions and 1.40 to 1.66×10² positive air ions/ml. The control group performed both sessions under neutral air conditions. All sessions were held at T_a=40±1C and 25±5% RH. Each session included one hour of resting under the respective ionization conditions, followed by 3 30-min cycle ergometer work bouts, separated by 7-min rest periods. The mechanical work-load during the bicycle exercise was 1.64±0.6 W/kg BW. The experimental group showed a significant reduction with negative air-ions in heart rate (HR), in rectal temperature, and in the rating of perceived exertion (RPE), all when compared with their own neutral session. The control group showed no significant changes between the first and the second exposure. Although not statistically significant, being exposed to negative air-ions seems also to reduce total sweat rate and minute ventilation (V_E), and to increase O₂ pulse. It is suggested that under the conditions of this study negative air ions canimprove various cardiovascular and thermoregulatory functions as well as subjective feelings during physical effort. It is felt that such positive influences may be augmented by increasing the exposure time to negative ionized air and/or prolonging the stressful conditions.With the technical assistance of M. Sheinovitz.     

Electrohydrodynamic mortality of insects: a plausible mechanism

 An electrohydrodynamic (EHD) system with a point-to-plane electrode, which produced air ions within a strong electric field, was used to study mortalities of pupae, larvae, and adults of Tribolium confusum (TC) and larvae of Plodia interpunctella (PI). The treatments included a neutral air stream, negative ions, positive ions, and the air stream superimposed with ions of either polarity. The negative ions caused the maximum mortality in TC pupae and PI larvae whereas the TC adults were least affected, but the negative ion flux was higher than the positive one at the constant high voltage of the power supply used in the present experiments. The differences in the mean mortalities of the treatment groups were highly significant (P<0.0001). Mortality was primarily attributed to the body fluid losses caused by the electric wind of the EHD system. Mortality and weight loss relationships were linear with negative slopes (r ²=0.52, and r ²=0.98 for TC and PI, respectively). The superimposition of the air stream with either positive or negative ion fluxes increased the survival fractions compared with those of the ion fluxes alone. Received: 27 May 1996 / Accepted: 9 September 1996     

Landscape-scale habitat fragmentation is positively related to biodiversity,despite patch-scale ecosystem decay

Positive effects of habitat patch size on biodiversity are often extrapolated to infer negative effects of habitat fragmentation on biodiversity at landscape scales. However, such cross-scale extrapolations typically fail. A recent, landmark, patch-scale analysis (Chase et al., 2020, Nature 584, 238–243) demonstrates positive patch size effects on biodiversity, that is, ‘ecosystem decay’ in small patches. Other authors have already extrapolated this result to infer negative fragmentation effects, that is, higher biodiversity in a few large than many small patches of the same cumulative habitat area. We test whether this extrapolation is valid. We find that landscape-scale patterns are opposite to their analogous patch-scale patterns: for sets of patches with equal total habitat area, species richness and evenness decrease with increasing mean size of the patches comprising that area, even when considering only species of conservation concern. Preserving small habitat patches will, therefore, be key to sustain biodiversity amidst ongoing environmental crises.