Natural and CVD type diamond detectors as dosimeters in hadrontherapy applications

Abstract Diamond is potentially a suitable material for use as radiation dosimeter; the wide band gap results in low dark currents and low sensitivity to visible light, the high carrier mobility can give rapid response, the very high density of strong bonds in the crystal structure make diamond very resistent to radiation damage; moreover it is tissue equivalent. The more recent advances in the synthesis of polycrystalline diamond by chemical vapour deposition (CVD) techniques have allowed the synthesis of material with electronic properties suitable for dosimetric application. In this paper we will report the results obtained in the study of the response of a natural diamond dosimeter and a CVD one irradiated with 62 AMeV proton beams to demonstrate their possible application in protontherapy

ATIVIDADE DO EXTRATO, FRAÇÕES E SUBSTÂNCIAS ISOLADAS DAS CASCAS DE Geissospermum vellosii ALLEMÃO (APOCYNACEAE) SOBRE Artemia salina LEACH

O extrato, frações e substâncias isoladas das cascas de G. vellosii foram submetidos ao teste de bioatividade sobre A. salina. Os dados foram analisados pelo método Probitos e determinados os valores de DL50 e 95% de intervalos de confiança. As amostras foram consideradas ativas quando DL50 < 1000 µg.mL-1. Todas as amostras testadas demonstraram bioatividade contra A. salina, destacando-se F4 e F9, as quais apresentaram valores de DL50 de 7,60 e 29,48 µg.mL-1, respectivamente. Os resultados demonstram o potencial biotecnológico da espécie, pois segundo literatura este bioensaio pode ser utilizado como avaliação prévia de possível atividade antitumora

A large scale hearing loss screen reveals an extensive unexplored genetic landscape for auditory dysfunction

The developmental and physiological complexity of the auditory system is likely reflected in the underlying set of genes involved in auditory function. In humans, over 150 non-syndromic loci have been identified, and there are more than 400 human genetic syndromes with a hearing loss component. Over 100 non-syndromic hearing loss genes have been identified in mouse and human, but we remain ignorant of the full extent of the genetic landscape involved in auditory dysfunction. As part of the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium, we undertook a hearing loss screen in a cohort of 3006 mouse knockout strains. In total, we identify 67 candidate hearing loss genes. We detect known hearing loss genes, but the vast majority, 52, of the candidate genes were novel. Our analysis reveals a large and unexplored genetic landscape involved with auditory function

Controls over Ocean Mesopelagic Interior Carbon Storage (COMICS): Fieldwork, Synthesis, and Modeling Efforts

The ocean's biological carbon pump plays a central role in regulating atmospheric CO2 levels. In particular, the depth at which sinking organic carbon is broken down and respired in the mesopelagic zone is critical, with deeper remineralization resulting in greater carbon storage. Until recently, however, a balanced budget of the supply and consumption of organic carbon in the mesopelagic had not been constructed in any region of the ocean, and the processes controlling organic carbon turnover are still poorly understood. Large-scale data syntheses suggest that a wide range of factors can influence remineralization depth including upper-ocean ecological interactions, and interior dissolved oxygen concentration and temperature. However, these analyses do not provide a mechanistic understanding of remineralization, which increases the challenge of appropriately modeling the mesopelagic carbon dynamics. In light of this, the UK Natural Environment Research Council has funded a programme with this mechanistic understanding as its aim, drawing targeted fieldwork right through to implementation of a new parameterization for mesopelagic remineralization within an IPCC class global biogeochemical model. The Controls over Ocean Mesopelagic Interior Carbon Storage (COMICS) programme will deliver new insights into the processes of carbon cycling in the mesopelagic zone and how these influence ocean carbon storage. Here we outline the programme's rationale, its goals, planned fieldwork, and modeling activities, with the aim of stimulating international collaboration

Cognitive control and suppression of memories of an emotional film

Relatively weak cognitive control existing prior to a stressful event may be associated with intrusive memories of that stressor afterwards. To test this possibility, we tested participants under circumstances that putatively decrease cognitive control and explored how this affected the relation between indices of cognitive control and intrusive memories. Evening type participants (N = 80) were tested at either an optimal or a non-optimal time of day. Tests of working memory capacity and inhibitory control were administered. Subsequently, participants saw an emotional film fragment and engaged in thought suppression afterwards. Results show different correlational patterns in time-of-testing groups. At non-optimal times there were negative, but relatively weak correlations between working memory capacity and intrusions. Better inhibitory control was associated with fewer intrusions during the initial minute of the thought suppression period and with fewer self-reported intrusions. At optimal times however, these correlations were absent. Working memory capacity even showed robust correlations in the opposite direction. These findings cast doubts on the suitability of indices of working memory capacity for testing the idea that relatively weak cognitive control is linked to intrusive memory phenomena. Specific measures of inhibitory control may prove to be more appropriate for testing this idea. (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Memory transfer for emotionally valenced words between identities in dissociative identity disorder

The present study aimed to determine interidentity retrieval of emotionally valenced words in dissociative identity disorder (DID). Twenty-two DID patients participated together with 25 normal controls and 25 controls instructed to simulate DID. Two wordlists A and B were constructed including neutral, positive and negative material. List A was shown to one identity, while list B was shown to another identity claiming total amnesia for the words learned by the first identity. The identity claiming amnesia was tested for intrusions from list A words into the recall of words from list B and recognition of the words learned by both identities. Test results indicated no evidence of total interidentity amnesia for emotionally valenced material in DID. It is argued that dissociative amnesia in DID may more adequately be described as a disturbance in meta-memory functioning instead of an actual retrieval inability. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Signos e significado da religiosidade para o cuidador familiar de idosos

Introduction: In Brazil, the plurality of beliefs favors the search for spirituality as an emotional support to daily problems and limitations in the care process. Objectives: To analyse reports from family caregivers of elderly dependents about the meaning of religiosity in the care provided at home. Methods: A qualitative study based on symbolic interactionism was developed through semi-structured interviews and free observation with ten family caregivers of the elderly in their homes. Results: The analysis of the understanding of the signs and meanings of religiosity attributed by the caregiver were expressed in the following themes: Faith to face problems in caring for elderly dependents; Prayer to strengthen care and appeal to patience and Obedience to biblical and religious principles. It is noteworthy that the mechanism of religion promotes welcoming, bonding and social support, influencing habits and lifestyles in the context of caring for the dependent elderly. Conclusions: The study reveals religiosity and spirituality as support mechanism to face the difficulties of family caregivers.Introdução: No Brasil, a pluralidade de crenças favorece a procura da espiritualidade como sustentação emocional aos problemas diários e limitações no processo do cuidar. Objetivos: Analisar relatos de cuidadores familiares de idosos dependentes sobre o significado da religiosidade nos cuidados prestados no domicílio. Métodos: Desenvolveu-se um estudo qualitativo fundamentado no interacionismo simbólico, mediante entrevistas semiestruturadas e observação livre, com dez cuidadores familiares de idosos em seus domicílios. Resultados: A análise da compreensão dos signos e significados da religiosidade atribuídos pelo cuidador foram expressos nas seguintes temática: a fé para o enfrentamento dos problemas no cuidar do idoso dependente; a oração para fortalecer o cuidado e apelo à paciência e obediência aos princípios bíblicos e religiosos. Destaca-se que o mecanismo da religião é promotor de acolhimento, criação de vínculos e apoio social, influenciando os hábitos e estilos de vida no contexto do cuidar do idoso dependente. Conclusões: O estudo revela a religiosidade e a espiritualidade como mecanismo de apoio no enfrentamento das dificuldades de cuidadores familiares.Introducción: En Brasil, la pluralidad de creencias favorece la búsqueda de la espiritualidad como un apoyo emocional a los problemas diarios y las limitaciones en el proceso de atención. Objetivos: Analizar los informes de los cuidadores de ancianos dependientes sobre el significado de la religiosidad en la asistencia domiciliaria. Métodos: Se desarrolló un estudio cualitativo basado en el interaccionismo simbólico a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas y observación gratuita, con diez cuidadores familiares de ancianos en sus hogares. Resultados: El análisis de la comprensión de los signos y significados de la religiosidad atribuidos por el cuidador se expresó en los siguientes temas: Fe para enfrentar problemas en el cuidado de personas mayores dependientes; Oración para fortalecer el cuidado y apelar a la paciencia y la obediencia a los principios bíblicos y religiosos. Es de destacar que el mecanismo de la religión promueve la acogida, el vínculo y el apoyo social, influyendo en los hábitos y estilos de vida en el contexto del cuidado de las personas mayores dependientes. Conclusiones: El estudio revela que la religiosidad y la espiritualidad ayudan a enfrentar las dificultades de los cuidadores familiares