Criticality Hidden in Acoustic Emissions and in Changing Electrical Resistance during Fracture of Rocks and Cement-Based Materials.

Acoustic emissions (AE) due to microcracking in solid materials permit the monitoring of fracture processes and the study of failure dynamics. As an alternative method of integrity assessment, measurements of electrical resistance can be used as well. In the literature, however, many studies connect the notion of criticality with AE originating from the fracture, but not with the changes in the electrical properties of materials.

Radiotherapy dose enhancement using BNCT in conventional LINACs high-energy treatment: Simulation and experiment.

Aim: To employ the thermal neutron background that affects the patient during a traditional high-energy radiotherapy treatment for BNCT (Boron Neutron Capture Therapy) in order to enhance radiotherapy effectiveness.

Background: Conventional high-energy (15-25 MV) linear accelerators (LINACs) for radiotherapy produce fast secondary neutrons in the gantry with a mean energy of about 1 MeV due to (γ, n) reaction. This neutron flux, isotropically distributed, is considered as an unavoidable undesired dose during the treatment.

Radiation protection measurements around a 12 MeV mobile dedicated IORT accelerator.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate radioprotection issues that must be addressed when dedicated accelerators for intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) are used in operating rooms. Recently, a new version of a mobile IORT accelerator (LIAC Sordina SpA, Italy) with 12 MeV electron beam has been implemented. This energy is necessary in some specific pathology treatments to allow a better coverage of thick lesions.