by Waldirene BiernathSource: Google imageThe UFSCars Portuguese Reference Center to foreigners receives enrollments until September 11. The courses of "Portuguese to Spanish Speakers" and "Portuguese to non-Hispanic speakers," levels, Basic 1 and "Basic 2" and also the course of "Portuguese to Foreigners intermediate level."The activities are geared toward undergraduates and postgraduates who are performing in Brazil and also for professionals from other countries who are acting in Brazil.The start of classes is scheduled for September 12. The courses are free for people who are enrolled at UFSCar and to the ones who are not it will be charged a fee of R$ 202.00 for the second term of 2011. Information about the courses, fee payment and procedures for registration must be accessed in a specific form Classes will be held at the Portuguese Reference Center to foreigners, located in the UFSCar Art Department in the campus south area. More information can be obtained by e-mail cenple@ufscar.br.Source: http://www2.ufscar.br/servicos/noticias.php?idNot=4074Vocabulary:(to) gear (verb): to prepare something or make it suitable for a particular situation, group, or use. (gear toward: The museum is geared toward children);scheduled (adjective): planned to happen at a particular time or day;enrolled (adjective): officially entered in a roll or list ("An enrolled student");term (noun): one of the periods of time into which the year is divided for students. In the U.S. a term can be, for example, a year, a semester, or a trimester: What classes are you taking this term?; You will be required to take an exam at the end of the term. by Waldirene BiernathSource: USP SiteIFSC Department, USP Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil develops a device for skin cancer diagnosis and treatmentA portable device developed at USP Sao Carlos is in the experimental phase in diagnosing and treating skin cancer. The technology consists of using fluorescence and light patterns to detect changes in the epithelium of patients and perform the treatment against the disease. It is effective against skin cancer at an early stage. The instrument is the result of a joint work of the School of Engineering (EESC) and the Institute of Physics (IFSC).Mardoqueu Martins da Costa, physicist and author of the research that resulted in the new unit, says that treatment for cancer detection may be accomplished in one day by aminolevulinic acid (ALA). The substance is applied as an ointment on the ill-looking area, and then, the device emits ultraviolet light in the region to make the diagnosis. Mardoqueu says that when the red light is emitted in the sick region, it oxidizes and kills cancer cells. The method is opposed to surgery that is currently done to remove the cancer.Source: Google imageImage of a melanomaAlthough it may seem a simple treatment without complications, Mardoqueu warns that there are many variables that ensure its effectiveness: "The intensity of light, the emitted wavelength, color and illumination time are decisive for the method to work. Also, it is necessary to specify on which types of injuries the treatment can be done, he explains.The equipment will be distributed to over 100 municipalities in the country until the end of the