New article published in 12(4A) - ENAN / INAC 2024

Effects of Ionizing Radiation on the Color and Morphology Properties of Leather

Abstract: Effective conservation strategies for leather artifacts and art objects are essential for preserving cultural heritage, particularly given the inherent vulnerability of the material to biodegradation, as leather, an organic material, is especially susceptible to this process. Gamma radiation has emerged as a promising method for the disinfestation and disinfection of cultural heritage objects and archival materials. This study aimed to advance the understanding of gamma radiation as a conservation technique for vegetable-tanned snake and chrome-tanned bovine leather, specifically focusing on its effects on chromaticity, surface topology, fiber structure and thermal behavior. Gamma radiation was applied at controlled doses of 1 and 3 kGy, and its impact on the morphology of the leather was assessed using colorimetry within the CIELAB color space and field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEGSEM). The findings indicated that gamma radiation at these doses induced minimal alterations in the morphological properties of the leather. The color differences for irradiated and non-irradiated samples were negligible, with total color differences (ΔE) remaining within acceptable limits (ΔE < 3). Moreover, FEGSEM analysis demonstrated that the fiber structure and surface morphology were not significantly compromised by the irradiation process. Thermogravimetric analyses showed similar thermal decomposition between non-irradiated and irradiated samples for both bovine and snake leather, with detailed data analysis indicating thermal stability. The results supported the efficiency of gamma radiation as a conservation technique for both bovine and snake leather artifacts, preserving their aesthetic and structural integrity. Read full article

A Comparison of Planned Dose in TBI VMAT Treatment with Dosimetry Using Portal Dosimetry® and IBA MatriXX®

Abstract: Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) is an essential therapeutic intervention in the treatment of diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma, where Total Body Irradiation (TBI) plays a crucial role by eradicating residual diseases and inducing immunosuppression, thus facilitating cell transplantation and reducing the risk of graft rejection. Traditionally, TBI has used large radiation fields, which can lead to significant toxicities in organs at risk (OARs) due to challenges in dose optimization. Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) emerges as a promising technique, offering advantages such as the use of smaller treatment spaces and reduced doses to OARs, which may improve patient quality of life and reduce treatment costs. This study evaluates the effectiveness of VMAT in TBI by comparing the planned dose with the dose measured by quality control systems, such as the MatriXX FFF from IBA and the Portal Dosimetry from the VitalBeam linear accelerator, demonstrating that VMAT is a viable and effective alternative with the potential to optimize therapeutic outcomes in BMT. Read full article