Air Ions: Physical and Biological Aspects fully develops two areas that are important for a comprehensive understanding of the subject of air ions: (1) the physical/chemical nature of ions, and (2) their potential interaction with biological systems. The reader is led through a series of none chapter, the first five of which lay the basis for understanding ions in the context of naturally and artificially created environments. The final four chapters are well situated to discuss the literature and history connected with the search for ion-induced biological effects.

This latest addition to the Studies in Geophysics series explores in scientific detail the phenomenon of lightning, cloud, and thunderstorm electricity, and global and regional electrical processes. Consisting of 16 papers by outstanding experts in a number of fields, this volume compiles and reviews many recent advances in such research areas as meteorology, chemistry, electrical engineering, and physics and projects how new knowledge could be applied to benefit mankind.

Specific ion effects are important in numerous fields of science and technology. This book summarizes the main ideas that came up over the years. It presents the efforts of theoreticians and supports it by the experimental results stemming from various techniques.

Projections for advances in medical and biological technology will transform medical care and treatment. This in great part is due to the result of the interaction and collaboration between medical sciences and engineering. These advances will result in substantial progress in health care and in the quality of life of the population. Frequently however, the implications of technologies in terms of increasing recurrent costs, additional required support services, change in medical practice and training needs are underestimated. As a result, the widespread irrational use of te- nologies leads to a wastage of scarce resources and weakens health systems performance. To avoid such problems, a syst- atic and effective Health Technology System must be developed and introduced, requiring the support and commitment of decision makers of all levels of the health system. The MediTech2009 conference aims to provide a special opportunity for the Romanian professionals involved in basic - search, R&D, industry and medical applications to exchange their know-how and build up collaboration in one of the most human field of science and techniques. The conference is intended to be an international forum for researchers and practit- ners interested in the advance in, and applications of biomedical engineering to exchange the latest research results and ideas in the areas covered by the topics (and not only!). We believe the reader will find the proceedings an impressive document of progress to date in this rapidly changing field.

This presentation describes various aspects of the regulation of tissue oxygenation, including the roles of the circulatory system, respiratory system, and blood, the carrier of oxygen within these components of the cardiorespiratory system. The respiratory system takes oxygen from the atmosphere and transports it by diffusion from the air in the alveoli to the blood flowing through the pulmonary capillaries. The cardiovascular system then moves the oxygenated blood from the heart to the microcirculation of the various organs by convection, where oxygen is released from hemoglobin in the red blood cells and moves to the parenchymal cells of each tissue by diffusion. Oxygen that has diffused into cells is then utilized in the mitochondria to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy currency of all cells. The mitochondria are able to produce ATP until the oxygen tension or PO2 on the cell surface falls to a critical level of about 4–5 mm Hg. Thus, in order to meet the energetic needs of cells, it is important to maintain a continuous supply of oxygen to the mitochondria at or above the critical PO2 . In order to accomplish this desired outcome, the cardiorespiratory system, including the blood, must be capable of regulation to ensure survival of all tissues under a wide range of circumstances. The purpose of this presentation is to provide basic information about the operation and regulation of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, as well as the properties of the blood and parenchymal cells, so that a fundamental understanding of the regulation of tissue oxygenation is achieved.