1,721,058 research outputs found
Expectations and experiences regarding radiation protection during geothermal operation
No full textManaging NORM in geothermal installations
Introductory presentation for Workshop with invited representatives of authorities, experts and industry
Expectations and experiences regarding radiation protection during geothermal operation
No full textManaging NORM in geothermal installations
Introductory presentation for Workshop with invited representatives of authorities, experts and industry
Stakeholders' perspective on sustainable cement made with naturally occurring radioactive by-products: A cross-country comparison
No full textThe use of industrial by-products as substitutes for raw materials in cement production not only reduces raw material use, thereby contributing to the circular economy, but also offers an avenue for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This study investigates the perceptions of industry representatives and end-users across Belgium, Czechia and Slovenia regarding alternative cement made with industrial by-products categorised as naturally occurring radioactive materials. Based on 66 interviews, three main concerns were discerned: health, performance, and economic. Health concerns varied across countries, whereas performance and economic concerns were consistent. Health concerns can be mitigated by fostering trust in authorities. Performance concerns can be addressed through certification and practical examples. Economic concerns arising from the perceived higher costs connected to sustainability and lack of urgency for immediate change can be mitigated through incentives and regulations. This study informs communication and policy strategies tailored to address stakeholders' specific concerns in each country.Funding
This work was supported by the Euratom research and training programme 2019–2020 under grant [agreement No 900009].
The authors would like to express their gratitude to the interviewees for their participation in this study and for providing valuable insights. Furthermore, we would like to express our gratitude to Ela Praznik, Matija Simon, Christophe Ruiters, Ivana Fojtíkova, ´ Zuzana Freitinger, and Peter Mihok for their invaluable help during the interviews, tran scription, and translation processes
Usage of alternative cementitious binders containing naturally occurring radioactive by-products: The industry's perspective
No full textIn 2021, global cement production was responsible for around 7% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Alternative cementitious binders from secondary raw materials that replace traditional cement can reduce the need for the use of virgin raw materials and can thereby reduce GHGs associated with cement. Some of these secondary materials include industrial by-products categorised as NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material). While prior research has investigated the technical aspects of using NORM-contained byproducts in cementitious binders, to date, no attention has been given to non-technical aspects such as perceived risks and concerns of the main stakeholders. This study brings novel insights into these overlooked aspects through a series of semi-structured interviews with concrete industry representatives in Belgium. Through a thematic analysis of the data, we found six themes that represent industry's concerns regarding the usage of NORM-contained cementitious binders: (1) availability of the by-products, (2) financial factors, (3) quality and performance, (4) common sustainability parameters, (5) customer demand, and (6) acceptance of NORM contained by-products. Regulatory certainty was found to be a key driver in all six themes. With regard to the expected role of governments, we can synthesise three core expectations highlighted by interviewees: a) Policymakers need to revisit the current regulations regarding the performance and quality to facilitate innovation in the concrete industry such as the use of alternative cementitious binders. b) They should implement EU-level regulations that can provide a level playing field for the industry during their transition to net-zero targets, including import regulations and certification for the usage of NORM-contained by-products. c) As an important public buyer, the government should expedite the transition to alternative binders through their procurement policies for governmental buildings and infrastructure projects.This work was supported by the Horizon 2020 Euratom research and training programme under grant [agreement No 900009]
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
(In)visible and (in)vincible? Designing theory-based, evidence-based, and strategic communication materials to increase radon protection intentions
No full textAbstract: Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas, is the second leading cause of lung cancer worldwide. Despite the severe health risks, radon testing and mitigation remain insufficient. This issue is situated on multiple levels, ranging from the individual to the political, economic, social, and physical environment. While effective communication is essential to bridge this gap, radon health communication remains underexplored. This dissertation examines how strategic, theory- and evidence-based communication can enhance public engagement with radon-related behaviours. In the first phase of this research, the current communication was analysed. A systematic review of radon-related mass media interventions reveals that most campaigns rely on informational messaging, often failing to evoke personal relevance or emotional engagement. Moreover, in focus group workshops homeowners emphasised the need for communication strategies that extend beyond awareness-raising, addressing practical concerns such as financial support and regulatory measures. Participants also suggest tailoring messages to different behavioural stages, using approaches such as humour, personal letters, and testimonials. In the second phase, communication materials were developed and tested. An online experiment compared the impact of narrative-based and statistical messages on risk perception and behavioural intentions. Findings indicate that narratives are more effective in increasing personal and general risk perception while also strengthening intentions to seek information, test for radon, and consider mitigation. These results inform the development of a large-scale social media campaign, Radon Buster, designed to motivate individuals to take action. The campaign, implemented across Austria, Belgium, Ireland, and Slovenia, uses Facebook ads incorporating narratives, humour, and social norm nudges to attract attention and drive engagement. A controlled online survey experiment finds that exposure to these ads positively influences information-seeking intentions. A subsequent live Facebook study demonstrates strong audience engagement, with click-through rates and interaction metrics suggesting that social media can serve as an effective platform for radon risk communication. Overall, the findings highlight that radon communication must go beyond merely providing information, but should engage audiences, and align the messages with the decision-making process. While no one-size-fits-all solution exists, integrating social, emotional, and cognitive factors can enhance the effectiveness of communication strategies. This dissertation underscores the importance of a multi-level approach, combining stakeholder-targeted messaging with broader environmental interventions to ensure radon risk communication translates into meaningful action
Communication of uncertainties in radiological risk situations
No full textAbstract: In risk sciences, a great deal of progress has been made in terms of risk communication. Yet, findings on uncertainty communication, especially in the nuclear and radiological field remain scarce and contradictory. >From the ethical, democratic, and transparency point of view, communicating uncertainties is essential since it not only provides all existing and missing information, but it also allows individuals to make informed decisions whether existing evidence is sufficient to justify certain actions. Given the complexity and the current controversy around nuclear energy, this dissertation studies uncertainties that are present in nuclear and/or radiological risk situations, and identifies the impacts that communication of such uncertainties has on emotions and participation intention of different target audiences such as laypeople and experts. This dissertation aims at finding out 1) what types of uncertainties are there in nuclear and/or radiological risk situations; 2) What is the impact of uncertainty communication on participation intention; and 3) What is the impact of uncertainty communication on feelings and emotional arousal? The research questions of this dissertation were studied by using various methods such as scoping review of literature, non-participatory observation of nuclear/radiological emergency exercises, public opinion surveys, and psychophysiological experiment. In order to capture different aspects of nuclear/radiological risk situations, this dissertation focuses on two case studies: nuclear/radiological emergency situations, and decommissioning of nuclear installations. Our research shows that different groups of society react differently to different uncertainties. When studied with the general population, communication of two out of three uncertainties (i.e. the amount of radioactive waste, and financial uncertainties) slightly negatively influenced self-assessed feelings of pessimism and worry. When tested with employees of nuclear-related institutions, one of the three uncertainties (i.e. public\u2019s acceptance of remaining radioactivity) did influence their emotional arousal, but none of the uncertainties influenced negative self-assessed feelings. Based on these results, this thesis concludes that while uncertainty communication might indeed cause some emotional effect on the short term, long term uncertainty information and familiarity with uncertainties will give assurance and comfortability with uncertainty information
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