The IUR Forum: Worldwide Harmonisation of Networks to Support Integration of Scientific Knowledge and Consensus Development in Radioecology.

During the past decades, many specialised networks have formed to meet specific radioecological objectives, whether regional or sectorial (purpose-oriented). Regional networks deal with an array of radioecological issues related to their territories. Examples include the South Pacific network of radioecologists, and the European network of excellence in radioecology.

Like a bridge over troubled water--Opening pathways for integrating social sciences and humanities into nuclear research.

Research on nuclear technologies has been largely driven by a detachment of the 'technical content' from the 'social context'. However, social studies of science and technology--also for the nuclear domain--emphasize that 'the social' and 'the technical' dimensions of technology development are inter-related and co-produced. In an effort to create links between nuclear research and innovation and society in mutually beneficial ways, the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre started fifteen years ago a 'Programme of Integration of Social Aspects into nuclear research' (PISA).

Joint research towards a better radiation protection-highlights of the Fifth MELODI Workshop.

MELODI is the European platform dedicated to low-dose radiation risk research. From 7 October through 10 October 2013 the Fifth MELODI Workshop took place in Brussels, Belgium. The workshop offered the opportunity to 221 unique participants originating from 22 countries worldwide to update their knowledge and discuss radiation research issues through 118 oral and 44 poster presentations.

What is the best way to fix a polyurethane meniscal scaffold? A biomechanical evaluation of different fixation modes.

Purpose: Ingrowth of meniscal tissue into a meniscal scaffold can be optimized by securely fixing the scaffold into the meniscal remnants. The purpose of this research was to test and compare commonly used suture types and suture materials to fix a meniscal scaffold.

Methods: Forty fresh porcine menisci were used.

Biomechanical comparison of indirect and direct arthroscopic excision of the distal clavicle.

The purpose of this study was to compare the stability and force of ultimate failure of the acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) after direct arthroscopic distal clavicle excision (DCE) through superior portals and indirect arthroscopic DCE through inferior portals in paired cadaveric shoulders. Ten paired saline-embalmed cadaveric shoulders were operated alternatively using the indirect and direct technique. Biomechanical testing was performed in the horizontal plane, testing displacement at 15N and 30N and finally failure strength was measured testing the constructs until failure occurred.

Positioning of the patient during shoulder surgery: an inexpensive, safe and easy technique.

The knowledge of shoulder pathology has improved tremendously in the last decades, and shoulder surgery is increasingly performed because of new treatment options and better operative results. Nowadays most surgical shoulder procedures are performed in the sitting or semi-sitting (beach chair) position. Stability of the patient and the ability to flex, extend and rotate the shoulder during surgery are crucial to improve exposure of the surgical field and lower the risk of perioperative complications.

Prosthetic inlay resurfacing for the treatment of focal, full thickness cartilage defects of the femoral condyle: a bridge between biologics and conventional arthroplasty.

Purpose: Localized full thickness defects of the femoral condyle can be highly symptomatic. Treatment options for these lesions are numerous in young patients, however they become increasingly challenging in middle aged and older patients. In order to delay traditional joint replacement procedures and to provide a soft tissue and bone sparing alternative, this study assess a focal inlay resurfacing procedure.

Predisposing factors which are relevant for the clinical outcome after revision total knee arthroplasty.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the outcome of revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in relation to the cause of index failure, the characteristics of the index procedure, and the elapsed time between index TKA and revision.

Methods: A retrospective review based on a prospective database was performed on 146 consecutive revision TKA's. Variables tested were the cause of index failure; the elapsed time between the index and revision procedure; patient age at time of revision; partial or total revision of the implants; the performance of a tibial tubercle osteotomy; the presence of radiolucent lines; postoperative patellar tracking; and coronal plane alignment.

Predictive factors for functional outcome and failure in angular stable osteosynthesis of the proximal humerus.

Introduction: Angular stable osteosynthesis has become the gold standard in the operative treatment of proximal humeral fractures. The aim of this article is to determine the indications for osteosynthesis versus primary arthroplasty based on clinical and radiological parameters.

Methods: A total of 368 surgically treated proximal humeral fractures were reviewed.

Active bacterial community structure along vertical redox gradients in Baltic Sea sediment.

Community structures of active bacterial populations were investigated along a vertical redox profile in coastal Baltic Sea sediments by terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and clone library analysis. According to correspondence analysis of T-RFLP results and sequencing of cloned 16S rRNA genes, the microbial community structures at three redox depths (179, -64 and -337 mV) differed significantly. The bacterial communities in the community DNA differed from those in bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-labelled DNA, indicating that the growing members of the community that incorporated BrdU were not necessarily the most dominant members.

Metagenomic approach for the isolation of a novel low-temperature-active lipase from uncultured bacteria of marine sediment.

A novel lipase was isolated from a metagenomic library of Baltic Sea sediment bacteria. Prokaryotic DNA was extracted and cloned into a copy control fosmid vector (pCC1FOS) generating a library of >7000 clones with inserts of 24-39 kb. Screening for clones expressing lipolytic activity based on the hydrolysis of tributyrin and p-nitrophenyl esters, identified 1% of the fosmids as positive.

Cementless total knee arthroplasty with Profix: a 8- to 10-year follow-up study.

A consecutive series of 115 cementless Profix (Smith and Nephew, Memphis, USA) Total Knee Arthroplasties performed in 113 patients were followed in order to determine the functional results and survivorship at 8 to 10 years. All patients were included in a prospective database and were reviewed annually until final follow-up. Patients overall satisfaction was excellent or good in 91.

[Details in relation to emergency planning in case of undesired dispersion of radioactivity].

In the present context of terrorist threat and the multiple uses of radioactive sources for many applications, one cannot exclude the probability of a contamination with radioactive products in the public domain. The most probable scenario is the loss or theft of a source, or a source showing up in some unexpected location (orphan sources). Terrorist actions may lead to a similar problem (radiological dispersion devices, RDD).

Radiological dispersion devices: are we prepared?

Already before the events of September 11th 2001 concern was raised about the spread of orphan sources and their potential use in Radiological Dispersion Devices by terrorist groups. Although most of the simulated scenarios foresee a rather limited direct health impact on the population, the affected region would suffer from the indirect consequences such as social disruption, cleanup requirements and economic costs. The nature of such a radiological attack would anyway be different compared to conventional radiological accidents, basically because it can happen anywhere at any time.

Attitude of a group of Belgian stakeholders towards proposed agricultural countermeasures after a radioactive contamination: synthesis of the discussions within the Belgian EC-FARMING group.

In the case of radioactive contamination of the environment with an impact on the food chain, the remediation strategy will not only be based on scientific knowledge and technical experience, but will also be dictated by peculiarities of the country. These characteristics include the agro-industrial structure, the local and international economical contexts and the political configuration including the distribution of responsibilities and competencies. This paper identifies and illustrates the most relevant characteristics of the Belgian agricultural system and political environment; it also describes the past experience with food chain contamination, which is expected to influence the attitude of Belgian stakeholders, who would be involved in the setting up of countermeasure strategies for maintaining agricultural production and food safety.

Achievements, difficulties and future challenges for the FARMING network.

The EC FARMING network (Food and Agriculture Restoration Management Involving Networked Groups) was set up to bring together the many and diverse stakeholders who would be involved in intervention following wide scale radioactive contamination of the food chain, so that acceptable strategies can be developed for maintaining agricultural production and safe food supply. The network comprises stakeholder panels in the UK, Finland, Belgium, France and Greece that have met regularly since 2001 to debate, discuss and exchange opinion on the acceptability, constraints and impact of various countermeasure options and strategies. The objectives of this paper are to consolidate the main achievements of the FARMING project over the period 2000-2004, to highlight the various difficulties that were encountered and to discuss the challenges for engaging stakeholders in off-site emergency management and long-term rehabilitation in the future.

Variation in stakeholder opinion on countermeasures across Europe.

A compendium of agricultural countermeasures and rural waste disposal options has been compiled as part of the EC STRATEGY (Sustainable Restoration and Long-Term Management of Contaminated Rural, Urban and Industrial Ecosystems) project. The compendium was discussed by the FARMING (Food and Agriculture Restoration Management Involving Networked Groups) network of stakeholders during meetings of national panels in the UK, Finland, Belgium, Greece and France in 2002. Their preliminary feedback has been summarised in terms of whether an option is generally acceptable, unacceptable or only acceptable under specific circumstances.

Better use of European (regional) resources.

In case of an accidental release of radioactivity and subsequent contamination of the food chain, many samples need to be collected and analysed, and this is far from being a simple issue. The determination of contamination levels requires accredited laboratories, approved and certified procedures and methods, transparency and above all prompt results, as stakeholders in general cannot afford waiting. Adequate decisions require fixed norms, stable in time, and accepted internationally.

An inquiry of the opinions of the French and Belgian populations as regards risk.

IRSN (France) and SCK-CEN (Belgium), two institutes of research and expertise in radiation protection and nuclear safety, simultaneously organised a very similar public opinion survey in their respective countries in November 2002. The study explores subjects such as: major people's concerns, perception of environmental risks, perception of risks in general, the role of experts in decision making, opinions on nuclear matters and aspects of nuclear emergency preparedness. In each country, more than 1000 citizens representing the general public have been consulted in face-to-face interviews.

An airborne gamma-ray spectrometry survey of nuclear sites in Belgium.

As part of a wider study to define the existing background levels in Belgium an airborne gamma-ray survey was conducted in two areas associated with nuclear sites. In the Mol area, the survey zone included areas surrounding the SCK-CEN nuclear research centre, and its associated neighbourhood which includes radioactive waste stores, fuel manufacture and fabrication facilities and an international accelerator laboratory. In the vicinity of Fleurus, the survey included the IRE complex with radiochemical laboratories, irradiation facilities and stores, and isotope production accelerators.

Radiological protective measures in highly industrialized areas: do the existing intervention levels apply?

Several international organizations have provided numerical guidance on the intervention levels for protective measures in case of a nuclear accident. The resulting intervention levels, however, are generic in nature and allow for (and even require) adjustment to site-specific conditions. As interventions in highly industrialized areas may result in important economic losses and potential secondary risks for the workers and the environment, we argue that the appropriate intervention levels for evacuating or relocating people from these areas might be higher than those generically derived.

The monetary value of the person-Sievert: a practical approach in case of occupational exposures.

This paper gives some practical advice on the determination of the value of the person-Sievert, this figure being of primary importance when cost-benefit analysis is used to optimize (ALARA-principle) routine occupational exposures of professionals to external radiation. After a brief introduction on the use of cost-benefit analysis in a radioprotection context, more attention will be paid to the theoretical guidelines that exist on the monetary value of the person-Sievert. By combining these insights with the practical problems that occur in daily task preparations and evaluations, a more workable proposal for the determination of the value of the person-Sievert will be presented.

Survey of the 137Cs contamination in Belgium by in-situ gamma spectrometry, a decade after the Chernobyl accident.

The residual radiocesium concentration, nearly 10 y after the Chernobyl accident, is measured at different sites on the Belgian territory by means of in-situ gamma-spectrometry. A possible link between the rainfall at the beginning of May 1986 and the actual cesium concentration is investigated. The radiological impact of this contamination, even in the most affected regions in the Ardennes, is very small (<6 microSv y(-1)).

The assessment of plutonium and americium in contaminated wounds with high energy resolution semiconductor detectors.

A simple to use method was installed for the measurement of wounds contaminated with plutonium and americium by using a semiconductor detector. This technique does not explicitly require the knowledge of the detector efficiency but uses a plant 241Am calibration source. A computer programme has also been developed for the quantification of the contamination according to the shape and the depth of the contaminant in the wound.