Relative Response Research Articles

Advanced Composite for sp3‐Carbon‐Based Gas Sensing Application from Gold Organometallic Single Nanolayering on Diamondoids

AbstractThe assembly of hybrid materials combining a pure sp3‐C platform from nano‐and microcrystals of molecularly‐defined nanometer‐sized functionalized diamondoids (nanodiamonds) coated with a gold transition metal nanolayer is conducted from the gas phase, following a two‐steps vapor phase dry construction process. By using first the controlled vapor phase self‐assembly of primary phosphine diamantane derivatives, followed by a chemical vapor decomposition of a suited gold organometallic complex the synthesis of the nanocomposite Au@H2P–DiamOH 2 is achieved. The gold deposit surface analysis reveals the formation of a Au–P covalent bonding, which excludes the formation of phosphine oxide, as confirmed at higher depth into the nanocomposite by Hard X‐ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy analysis (HaXPES). The thickness d of the gold layers deposited onto the surface of diamondoids is estimated to be around d = 0.8 ± 10% nm from XPS data, which allows combining the composite Au@H2P–DiamOH 2 with ITO interdigitated electrodes, to produce a long‐life, highly stable and reproducible, n‐type behavior sensor for ammonia detection. A relative response (RR) of 150% at 30 ppm and a limit of detection of 6 ppm are measured at room temperature (20 to 25 °C) and at 45% of relative humidity.

Bidimensional Engineered Amorphous a-SnO2 Interfaces: Synthesis and Gas Sensing Response to H2S and Humidity.

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and metal chalcogenides (MCs), despite their excellent gas sensing properties, are subjected to spontaneous oxidation in ambient air, negatively affecting the sensor’s signal reproducibility in the long run. Taking advantage of spontaneous oxidation, we synthesized fully amorphous a-SnO2 2D flakes (≈30 nm thick) by annealing in air 2D SnSe2 for two weeks at temperatures below the crystallization temperature of SnO2 (T < 280 °C). These engineered a-SnO2 interfaces, preserving all the precursor’s 2D surface-to-volume features, are stable in dry/wet air up to 250 °C, with excellent baseline and sensor’s signal reproducibility to H2S (400 ppb to 1.5 ppm) and humidity (10–80% relative humidity (RH)) at 100 °C for one year. Specifically, by combined density functional theory and ab initio molecular dynamics, we demonstrated that H2S and H2O compete by dissociative chemisorption over the same a-SnO2 adsorption sites, disclosing the humidity cross-response to H2S sensing. Tests confirmed that humidity decreases the baseline resistance, hampers the H2S sensor’s signal (i.e., relative response (RR) = Ra/Rg), and increases the limit of detection (LOD). At 1 ppm, the H2S sensor’s signal decreases from an RR of 2.4 ± 0.1 at 0% RH to 1.9 ± 0.1 at 80% RH, while the LOD increases from 210 to 380 ppb. Utilizing a suitable thermal treatment, here, we report an amorphization procedure that can be easily extended to a large variety of TMDs and MCs, opening extraordinary applications for 2D layered amorphous metal oxide gas sensors.

Correct and logical causal inference for binary and time-to-event outcomes in randomized controlled trials.

Targeted therapies tend to have biomarker defined subgroups that derive differential efficacy from treatments. This article corrects three prevailing oversights in stratified analyses comparing treatments in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with binary and time-to-event outcomes: 1.Using efficacy measures such as odds ratio (OR) and hazard ratio (HR) can make a prognostic biomarker appear predictive, targeting wrong patients, because the inference is affected by a confounding/covert factor even with ignorable treatment assignment in an RCT. As shown analytically and with real immunotherapy patient level data, OR and HR cannot meet the causal Estimand requirement of ICH E9R1. 2.Mixing efficacy in subgroups by prevalence, the prevailing practice, can give misleading results also, for any efficacy measured as a ratio. However, mixing relative response (RR) and ratio of median (RoM) survival times by the prognostic effect, the confounding/covert factor hiding in plain sight, will give causal inference in an RCT. 3.Effects in subgroups should not be mixed on the logarithmic scale, because it creates an artificial Estimand for the whole population which changes depending on how the population is divided into subgroups. Current computer package implementations contain all these oversights. Probabilities, including survival curve probabilities, naturally average within each treatment arm by prevalence. The subgroup mixable estimation (SME) principle fixes the oversights by first averaging probabilities (not their logarithms) within each treatment arm, then computing simultaneous confidence intervals for ratio efficacy in subgroups and their mixtures based on rigorous mathematical derivation, to finally provide causal inference in the form ofapps.

Light-Activated Chemoresistive and Plasmonic-Resonant Optical Sensors for NO2 and H2 Sensing Based on ZnO Doped Nanoparticles

Light-Activated Chemoresistive and Plasmonic-Resonant Optical Sensors for NO2 and H2 Sensing Based on ZnO Doped Nanoparticles

Comments on the 2013 ICNIRP Laser Guidelines.

Comments on the 2013 ICNIRP Laser Guidelines.

Light-Activated Chemoresistive and Plasmonic-Resonant Optical Sensors for NO2 and H2 Sensing Based on ZnO Doped Nanoparticles

Light-Activated Chemoresistive and Plasmonic-Resonant Optical Sensors for NO2 and H2 Sensing Based on ZnO Doped Nanoparticles

The Role of Soluble Corn Fiber on Glycemic and Insulin Response.

Increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Asia has prompted the exploration of dietary fibers as an ingredient to attenuate glycemic response (GR). This study aims to compare the effects of replacing 50% of total carbohydrate with soluble corn fiber (SCF) or maltodextrin on the GR and insulin response (IR). In this randomized cross-over study, twenty-two healthy Chinese males aged between 21–60 years were recruited. The participants consumed glucose beverages and four test meals comprising SCF or maltodextrin in glutinous rice or as a drink. Repeated-measure ANOVA was used to compare the incremental area under the curve values of glucose (iAUGC) and insulin (iAUIC) of all the foods. Relative response (RR) of the beverages were also calculated and compared using paired t-test. SCF treatments had significantly lower iAUGC (p-value < 0.05) and iAUIC (p-value < 0.001) as compared to all treatments. Both treatments (rice and beverage) of maltodextrin were not significantly different from glucose (p-value > 0.05). Maltodextrin beverage had significantly increased postprandial GR and insulin secretion by 20% and 40%, respectively, when compared to SCF beverage (p-value < 0.001). This study shows that the inclusion of SCF into the diet is beneficial in controlling the postprandial GR. Replacing total carbohydrates with SCF effectively lowers GR and IR.

Resistance to Abamectin in Field Population of Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) Associated with Cut Rose from State of Mexico, Mexico

Cut rose growers in the municipalities of Villa Guerrero, Tanancingo, Coatepec Harinas, and Ixtapan de la Sal, in the state of Mexico, Mexico, have reported low effectiveness of abamectin in the control of Tetranychus urticae, possibly due to development of resistance. The objective of this study was to determine the response of 4 field populations and 1 population susceptible to this acaricide. The values of the lethal concentration (LC) at 50% of mortality fluctuated between 0.0012 to 25.37 mg per L, while the relative response (RR) at 50% of mortality of the field populations varied from 2,226 to 21,141. The values of LC at 95% mortality varied from 0.008 to 81,218 mg per L, while the RR at 95% varied from 23,185 to 10,152,250. These results reflect the levels of resistance to abamectin, and therefore, implementation of other alternatives in the management of T. urticae are recommended.

Cascading influences of grassland degradation on nutrient limitation in a high mountain lake and its inflow streams

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are key growth-limiting nutrients for organisms and their absolute and relative supplies regulate the structure and function of ecosystems. Landcover changes lead to modifications of terrestrial biogeochemistry, consequently influencing aquatic nutrient conditions. This study sought to evaluate the potential impacts of grassland degradation on nutrient availability and nutrient limitation in the Qinghai Lake (China) and its inflow streams. We sampled nutrient concentrations and tested stream nutrient limitation by conducting nutrient diffusing substrata (NDS) bioassays in streams flowing through subbasins with different grassland status. To test nutrient limitation and the responses of lake phytoplankton to stream inflows, bioassays were conducted by adding different nutrients (N, P, and joint NP) as well as water from different streams to lake water with phytoplankton, respectively. In general, N concentrations as well as N:P ratios decreased while P concentrations increased with decreased normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI, an index of vegetation status), especially in September, suggesting that grassland degradation (low NDVI) has the potential to differentially decrease N availability and increase P availability in streams. Consistent with this, relative responses (RR) of stream periphyton to P and combined NP enrichments in the NDS bioassays decreased with stream P concentrations while increased with stream water N:P ratios. Lake phytoplankton responded strongly to P and combined NP addition indicating strong P-limitation of lake phytoplankton. RR of lake phytoplankton to stream water decreased with nitrate concentration and N:P ratios in stream water and increased with the concentrations of ammonium, total phosphorus, and soluble reactive phosphorus, indicating that stream water with higher P but lower N and N:P from degraded subcatchments is associated with increased impact on P-limited Lake phytoplankton. Overall, this study suggests that grassland degradation has the potential to differentially influence the nutrients delivered to streams with substantial increases in P but decreases in N and N:P, alleviating P limitation of stream periphyton and, ultimately, stimulating P-limited phytoplankton growth in the lake.

Highly selective and sensitive O2 plasma treated sputtered thin film sensor for sub-ppm level NH3 detection at room temperature

In this work, a SnO2 gas sensor with high specific surface area and hydroxylation property has shown enhanced sensitivity and selectivity for ammonia (NH3) detection at room temperature (RT). SnO2 thin film layer composed of nanograins of size ~ 8–24 nm is synthesized by dual step method including RF sputtering technique, followed by oxygen (O2) plasma treatment, intended to fabricate a high performance ammonia sensor operating at room temperature. The crystalline nature and surface morphology of the deposited layer have been investigated by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). A photoluminescence (PL) study is used to analyze the presence of oxygen vacancies in O2 plasma treated and untreated samples. The sensor is found suitable for extreme low ammonia concentration detection viz. 200 ppb with 20.2% response, with appreciable response/recovery time at RT. The sensing response of the fabricated sensor is analyzed in concentration range 200 ppb–500 ppm along with measuring the relative response (RR) of the sensor towards triethanolamine (TEA), 2-propanol, ethanol, acetone and methanol, in order to confirm the highly selective nature of the sensor towards target analyte. The response of the pure SnO2 (untreated O2 plasma) sensor is also investigated from RT to 250 °C, to identify the minimum (Tmin) and critical (Tc) operating temperature of the untreated sensor. Efforts in the present study are emphasized to achieve the response of the sputtered SnO2 thin film sensor at RT by significantly modifying the surface morphology through oxygen plasma treatment for selective ammonia detection.

Correct and logical inference on efficacy in subgroups and their mixture for binary outcomes.

Targeted therapies are becoming more common. In targeted therapy development, suppose its companion diagnostic test divides patients into a marker-positive subgroup and its complementary marker-negative subgroup. To find the right patient population for the therapy to target, inference on efficacy in the marker-positive and marker-negative subgroups as well as efficacy in the overall mixture population are all of interest. Depending on the type of clinical endpoints, inference on mixture population can be nontrivial and commonly used efficacy measures may not be suitable for a mixture population. Correlations among estimates of efficacy in the marker-positive, marker-negative, and overall mixture population play a crucial role in using an earlier phase study to inform on the design of a confirmatory study (e.g., determination of sample size). This article first shows that when the clinical endpoint is binary (such as respond or not), odds ratio is inappropriate as an efficacy measure in this setting, but relative response (RR) is appropriate. We show a safe way of calculating estimated correlations is to consider mixing subgroup response probabilities within each treatment arm first, and then derive the joint distribution of RR estimates. We also show, if one calculates RR within each subgroup first, how wrong the correlations can be if the Delta method derivation fails to take randomness of estimating the mixing coefficient into account.

Directionality of non-permissive HLA-DPB1 T-cell epitope group mismatches does not improve clinical risk stratification in 8/8 matched unrelated donor hematopoietic cell transplantation.

In 8/8 HLA-matched unrelated donor (UD) hematopoietic cell transplants (HCT), HLA-DPB1 mismatches between alleles from different T-cell epitope (TCE) groups (non-permissive mismatches) are associated with significantly higher risks of mortality compared with those between alleles from the same TCE group (permissive mismatches); however, the relevance of mismatch directionality, that is (host vs graft (uni-directional HvG), graft vs host (uni-directional GvH) or both (bi-directional) in the non-permissive setting is unknown. We show here significantly higher in vitro relative responses (RR) to bi-directional mismatches compared with uni-directional HvG or GvH mismatches in a total of 420 one-way mixed lymphocyte reactions between 10/10 matched pairs (RR 27.5 vs 7.5 vs 15.5, respectively, P<0.001). However, in 3281 8/8 matched UD HCT for leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome, the hazards of transplant-related mortality (TRM) were similar for uni-directional HvG or GvH mismatches and bi-directional mismatches (hazard ratio (HR) 1.32, P=0.001 vs HR 1.28, P=0.005 and HR 1.34, P=0.046), compared with permissive mismatches. Similar results were observed for overall survival. No statistical differences between the uni- and the bi-directional non-permissive groups were detected in pairwise comparisons for any of the outcomes tested. We conclude that consideration of directionality does not improve risk stratification by non-permissive HLA-DPB1 TCE mismatches in UD searches.

The influence of the absolute surface area on the NO2 and H2 gas responses of ZnO nanorods prepared by hydrothermal growth

In this paper we report the influence of the absolute surface area (ASA) and aspect ratio (L/D) of hydrothermally grown ZnO nanorods (NRs) on the NO2 and H2 gases relative responses (RRs) in the 20ppb −1ppm and 50ppm–1000ppm concentrations range. We used films of NRs characterized by different geometrical features, such as diameter, length, L/D and ASA, obtained using different growth times, but all showing a well-defined hexagonal shape and an alignment perpendicular to the substrate. Values of L/D up to 129 and NRs lengths up to 14μm have been obtained; one of the highest reported for quasi-one-dimensional ZnO nanostructures obtained through solution-based one-pot syntheses. Electrical tests at 150°C (NO2) and 200°C (H2) carried out using films of NRs presenting different L/D evidenced a direct relationship between the increase of the ASA and L/D and gas RRs. The influence of geometrical and chemical characteristics, such as diameter, size and surface-defects concentration is also discussed in light of the existing literature. Cross sensitivity, investigated measuring the H2 (target) response in the presence of NO2 (interfering) gases as well as dynamic and cumulative NO2 gas reproducibility test are also presented. Beside the considerable interference played by NO2 to the H2 response, our long NRs demonstrate an excellent reproducibility of the electrical signal and fast recovery of the base line, evidencing the absence of irreversible chemisorption or sample-surface “history-related” phenomena.

Arbuscular mycorrhizae, a tool to enhance the recovery and re-introduction of Juglans venezuelensis Manning, an endemic tree on the brink of extinction

A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), Dentiscutata heterogama and Rhizophagus manihotis on the growth and nutrition of Juglans venezuelensis Manning. This species is currently considered a threatened tree species and the successful restoration of its populations depends on an increased understanding of the ecological and physiological aspects of its response to inoculation with AMF. In general, shoot and total dry weight, and leaf area were significantly higher in seedlings inoculated with AMF than in non-inoculated ones. Differences in height and leaf number between the inoculated and non-inoculated treatments become apparent after 30 days of plant growth. Inoculated plants had a greater leaf area as the result of the higher allocation of resources to leaf biomass (leaf mass ratio, LMR). The fraction allocated to the roots (RMR) was not significantly different between treatments. Differences between vital stain (SDH) and non-vital trypan blue stain (TB) showed that the D. heterogama colonization was almost entirely active compared to the R. manihotis colonization. The relative responsiveness (RR) of J. venezuelensis to inoculation with D. heterogama and R. manihotis was 21.8 and 25.4 % respectively, but colonization values were never greater than 45 %, despite low P content in the soils used. The growth and physiological responses of J. venezuelensis to inoculation with two AMF species indicate that these microorganisms should be employed when propagating this threatened species for its subsequence reintroduction into its natural habitat.

Soil Factors Affecting Yield, Quality, and Response to Nitrogen of Sugar Beets Grown on Light-Textured Soils in Northern Greece

For 7 years (1997–2003), five nitrogen (N) rates (0, 60, 120, 180, and 240 kg N ha−1) were applied to sugar beets arranged in randomized complete block (RCB) design experiments with six replications and grown on light soils (sand content >50 g kg−1) in northern Greece. The aim of this work was to identify soil characteristics that affect yield, quality, and sugar beet response to N fertilization. Before sowing, soil analyses were conducted in control plots (0 kg N ha−1) at two depths (0–30 and 30–60 cm). Soils differed in their physical and chemical properties and especially in sand content, which ranged from 500 to 732 g kg−1. Quantitative (root number, RN; root yield, RY; and sugar yield, SY) and qualitative (percentage sucrose content in fresh root weight, SC; potassium, K; sodium, Na; and α-amino N) traits of control plots were used as soil fertility index. The RN was positively affected by clay content, and RY and SY were positively related with sand and negatively with silt content. The SC was negatively affected by soil (NO3)-N and sodium (Na) concentrations. Also, soil (NO3)-N concentration was positively related with root impurities (K, Na, α-amino N). In combined data over years, N rates had a negative effect on the RN. The RY was the only trait affected by years, N rates, and their interaction. The SC and SY differed significantly between years, and N rates affected significantly the former but not the latter. In combined data over years, N rates were curvilinearly related with Na concentration in roots, whereas a strong, linear relationship was found between α-amino N concentration and N rates. To study the significant years × N rates interaction evidenced for the RY, the relative response (RR) of the RY to N was introduced. Actually, the RR expresses the increase or decrease of the RY for a 150 kg N ha−1 rate compared to the control (0 kg N ha−1). The RR was strongly related with soil K concentration at the 0- to 30-cm depth (y = –0.00002x2 + 0.0082x + 0.5085, r2 = 0.92, P < 0.01, n = 7) and with total N concentration at the deeper layer (y = 1.8335x2 – 3.5312x + 2.6614, r2 = 0.88, P < 0.05, n = 6). Thus, the RY response to a rate of 150 kg N ha−1, which is the commonly applied to the sugar beet crop in Greece, can be predicted reliably by soil characteristics (K and total N concentration) determined before sowing. The strong relationship between soil K concentration and sugar beet response to N merits further research.

Dependence of thermoluminescent detectors relative response on the linear energy transfer; some examples of use

The relative response (RR) of the most thermoluminescent detectors (TLDs) decreases with increasing linear energy transfer (LET) of particles depositing energy in a TLD. Three TLDs have been mostly studied: Al–P glasses, Al 2 O 3 : C , and CaSO 4 : Dy . They have been exposed, since several years, to high energy charged particles with energies up to 1 GeV/amu, and LET up to 600 keV / μ m in water. The RR of TLDs as a function of LET is presented. In two cases, the sets of obtained data permitted us to regress them and obtain general LET dependences of RRs for Al–P glasses and Al 2 O 3 : C and for their ratios. These functions, in combination with LET spectra established by means of track etch based LET spectrometer were also used to appreciate their ability to establish total dosimetric characteristics in some high-energy radiation beams and fields, also those usable for hadron therapy.

Observable indicators of the sensitivity of PM 2.5 nitrate to emission reductions—Part II: Sensitivity to errors in total ammonia and total nitrate of the CMAQ-predicted non-linear effect of SO 2 emission reductions

The inorganic aerosol system of sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium can respond non-linearly to changes in precursor sulfur dioxide (SO 2) emissions. The potential increase in nitrate, when sulfate is reduced and the associated ammonia is released, can negate the sulfate mass reduction. Current regional-scale air quality models do not reproduce the present-day levels of total ammonia and total nitrate, leading to possible errors in the air quality model predictions of future nitrate concentrations. The objective of this study is to quantify the effects of errors in the total-ammonia and total-nitrate budgets on nitrate relative response (RR), defined as the percent change in particulate nitrate stemming from reductions in SO 2 emissions. This objective is addressed through three sensitivity studies using the Community Multiscale Air Quality model (CMAQ). These studies assess the sensitivity of the nitrate RR (%) to (1) errors in ammonia emissions, (2) errors in the heterogeneous production of nitrate from N 2O 5, and (3) errors in the NO X emissions. The results indicate that nitrate RRs due to SO 2 emission reductions are much more sensitive to errors in the total-ammonia budget than to errors in the total-nitrate budget. The sensitivity of the nitrate RR to NO X emissions is only moderate and is due primarily to the effect of NO X changes on sulfate production, rather than on total nitrate. Also, a strong relationship was found between the nitrate RR and the Adjusted Gas Ratio (free ammonia adjusted for the degree of sulfate neutralization divided by total nitrate).

Towards functional transplant donor matching by measurement of granzyme A and granzyme B production levels

Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) can be a major complication after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) especially when donor and recipient are unrelated. The latter serious complication, together with the growing number of available unrelated stem cell donors, demand a simple in vitro assay for functional stem cell donor selection. Activated donor cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and natural killer cells produce granzymes (Gr) that are involved in the pathogenesis of GvHD. We measured granzymes A and B (GrA and GrB) production levels in the supernatants of 96 h pretransplant mixed lymphocyte cultures (MLC) of 26 sibling and 31 unrelated patient/donor pairs by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In detail, the GrA and GrB production levels from a selected cohort of 37 potential patient/donor pairs were correlated with relative responses (RR) of MLC and with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II mismatches and with the development of acute GvHD in a second, consecutive cohort of 20 sibling SCT recipients. In vitro measurement of GrA and GrB production levels significantly correlated with the RR of pretransplant MLC ( r=0.492, p≤0.01 and r=0.853, p≤0.01, respectively) and increased with the number of HLA class II mismatches between patient and donor. Pretransplant GrA production levels were significantly associated with the in vivo development of acute GvHD grades II–IV in patients transplanted with an HLA-identical sibling donor ( p≤0.001). In conclusion, in vitro GrA and GrB production levels can be measured by a quantitative and sensitive ELISA. This novel and simple method may be used for functional selection of unrelated stem cell donors and for the identification of patients who are at risk for acute GvHD grades II–IV.

Pretransplant Mixed Lymphocyte Culture Still Has an Impact on Graft Survival

Background/Aim: Mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) is an important in vitro test for studying allograft reaction. The recipient-donor MLC reflects donor specific hypo- or hyperimmune response. The various studies have been correlated donor-specific MLC reactivity with graft survival in cadaver kidney transplantation. This retrospective study reports the relationship between of MLC hyper-responsiveness and graft survival in living-donor kidney transplantation. Methods: The study included 477 patients who underwent live-donor kidney transplantation between Marsh 1976 and January 2002. They were divided according to the relative response (RR) of pre transplant one way MLC into hypo responders (RR <4) and hyper responders (RR >4). The demographic and follow-up data for both groups were recorded. The duration of follow-up ranged from 44 to 84 months. Results: The two groups were homogenous regarding age, sex, donor source, HLA-A, B-and -DR mismatches, number of blood transfusion and type of 3 primary immunosuppressions. Acute rejection (AR) episodes were seen in 182 (44.8%) patients in the hypo-responders group, of whom 10 were steroid resistant, while in the hyper-responder recipients, AR episodes occurred in 33 patients (46.5%) of whom 5 patients (15.2%) were steroid resistant (p < 0.05). Chronic allograft nephropathy occurred in 14.5% and 27.3% and the actuarial 5-year graft survival was 79% and 60% (p = 0.03).in the hypo- and hyper-responder groups, respectively. Conclusions: It is concluded that MLC reaction may predict high-risk patients for immunological graft failure and that more potent immunosuppression should be considered in MLC hyper-responders.

Response of thermoluminescent detectors to charged particles and to neutrons

Thermoluminescent detectors (TLDs) are widely used for the dosimetry of photons and electrons. They are less used for the radiation with higher linear energy transfer (LET). One of the reasons for that is that their TL relative efficiency η decreases for the most of them with increasing LET.The paper presents first a review of author's experimental results in which η was established for charged particles having LET of the order from 1 to 100keV/μm in tissue. Among TLDs studied were known materials like LiF:Mn; Ti; Al–P glass; CaSO4:Dy; Al2O3:Na; and Al2O3:C. It was found that the dependence of their η on LET is not the same for all TLDs studied.The response of the same materials to neutrons was also studied. It was found that both η as the relative response (RR) defined in terms of absorbed dose in tissue are different, they depend critically also on the composition. When a TLD contains nuclei like 6Li and 10B, their RR would be rather high. As far as η is concerned, the same tendencies were observed as for charged particles, i.e. when average LET of secondary particles formed in a TLD increases, their η generally decreases.