a nonsystematic unit of the equivalent dose of ionizing radiation (the international designation is the rem); 1 ber = 0.01 joules per kg (unit of an equivalent dose of radiation in the International System of Units). Prior to the adoption of GOST (All-Union State Standard) 8848-63, the ber was understood to be the biological equivalent of a roentgen (hence the name). In this case 1 ber is equivalent to that irradiation of a living organism by a given type of radiation for which the same biological effect is observed after exposure to a 1-roentgen dose of gamma radiation. The ber is not included in GOST 8848-63.