30 research outputs found
Visibilia ex invisibilibus: seeing at the nanoscale for improved preservation of parchment
This paper describes the application of atomic force microscopy (AFM) for the imaging of collagen denaturation as
observed in parchment. Parchment is prepared from processed animal skin and collagen is the main component. Large
collections in national archives, libraries and religious institutions contain numerous documents written on parchment.
Their preservation presents an unsolved problem for conservators. The main challenge is to assess the state of collagen
and to detect what conservators refer to as the pre-gelatinised state, which can cause surface cracking resulting in a loss
of text and can increase the vulnerability of parchment to aqueous cleaning agents. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was
first used within the Improved Damage Assessment of Parchment (IDAP) project, enabling the characterisation of the
collagen structure within parchment at the nanoscale. Damage categories were also established based on the extent
of the ordered collagen structure that was observed in the AFM images. This paper describes the work following the
IDAP project, where morphological changes in the fibres due to both artificial and natural ageing were observed and
linked to observations made by AFM. It also explores the merits and drawbacks of different approaches used for sample
preparation and the possibility of using a portable AFM for imaging directly on the surface of documents. A case study on
a manuscript from the 18th century is presented
Understanding eParticipation services in indonesian local government
Published version of a chapter in the book: Information and Communication Technology. Also available from the publisher at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-55032-4_32This study aims at understanding how local government from a developing country, in this case Indonesia, implement and manage eParticipation services. In doing so, we combine institutional theory and stakeholder theory to build a sharper analytical lens. From an interpretive case study in the city of Yogyakarta, we reveal the institutionalization process of the services since their inception and identify major stakeholders and their salience. Based on our findings, we propose implications for practice and suggest implications for further research. Future work, based on a multiple case strategy including several eParticipation cases from other parts of Indonesia, will further explore the findings reported here