One of the authors (MM) would like to dedicate this paper to the late Miche
le Costato (1940-1997). He was a real teacher and a restless researcher. Hi
s scientific curiosity together with his respect for everybody's ideas and
his deep interest for discussion made him the perfect participant in a rese
arch team and not only. NC could spend hours in elucidating the many facets
of a problem with a student or showing the way in the delicate and intrica
te field of bibliographical investigations in such complex areas of biophys
ics (or physical biology, or biological physics or any of Me fields that co
ver part of the boundary between physics and biology). For this and other r
easons the authors of the paper are deeeply indebted to the teaching skill
of Michele and his utmost care. I wish moreover to acknowledge the patient
and at the same time far-reaching activity of Michele in investigating and
exploring the area of electromagnetic-field interaction with biological sys
tems and in establishing scientific and personal relationships with researc
hers in related fields and disciplines. Finally I would like to say that mo
stly Michele was a friend.