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This paper describes the development of an instrument for radiological monitoring, identified as Gamma Alarm (GAMAL01). The instrument monitors the increment of radiation count rate and produces an alarm signal, when the count rate becomes superior to a fixed threshold value. The threshold is fixed to assure that the signal emission will start when the value of the radiation count rate may cause a non acceptable radiological exposition of the personnel, according to the radiological safety regulations existing in the country. Following the signal the personnel must be evacuated from the affected place. The instrument consists of two sections, an analogical section and a digital one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A summary of the fundamental lines of medical equipment for Cuban public health developed by the Center for Technological Applications and Nuclear Development (CEADEN) is made. These lines are grouped in two fundamental directions: optical instrumentation and nuclear instrumentation for medical diagnosis, quality control and dosimetry. The main developments and impacts achieved in these two directions in the National Health System are exposed, as well as their perspectives for present and future developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection and measurement of nuclear radiation have turn into an important aspect in the application of nuclear detectors and specifically, the Geiger Muller tubes. Endowed with high detection sensibility, robust construction and a relative simplicity of the associated circuit, the Geiger Tubes are still one of the most widely used detectors in all areas of application in physics and nuclear research. A new design of the instrument enables measurements of the environmental external dose rate of g (gamma) radiation from 0.05 μSv/h to 10 mSv/h. It consists of three elements: Geiger-Muller detector, a data acquisition and control card and the application software. The instrument is connected to the computer through a USB interface only to vary and adjust the calibration parameters. The software was developed in C programming language using the PICC4.08 compiler. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research presents the contents of Ca, Fe, Zn, Br, Rb, Sr and Pb in lichen samples used as biomonitors of air pollution collected in Havana. Statistical comparisons were made among the results obtained in three campaigns during three years. Two X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) methods were used, employing for excitation an annular 109Cd source and a Mo X-ray tube with a molybdenum secondary target. In both cases, matrix effects were corrected by the use of normalization for the Compton scattered peak; in this way the determination is more efficient. For quality control of the results, biological Certified Reference Materials were analyzed and were made comparisons between XRF, Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry and Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. No significant differences were found between the different techniques. The elemental distribution patterns obtained for each metal were associated with different pollution sources, thus contributing to the assessment of air pollution in Havana. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]