Information seeking in a risky world : the theoretical and empirical development of FRIS : a Framework of Risk Information Seeking

Communication regarding industrial hazards and the risks involved for humans and their assets is subject to major changes in contemporary society. Changing views on risk communication have recently triggered a new era of risk communication approaches that move beyond alerting or reassuring the public about potential hazards (Trettin & Musham, 2000; Leiss, 1996). This era involves stimulating interest in industrial risk issues, increasing public knowledge, and addressing the public’s beliefs, opinions and feelings towards potential hazards. Risk communication efforts should be aimed at assisting people in the acquisition of the information they need to make informed choices about the risks they face (Wade et al., 1992). The development of modern communication media, such as the online digital risk maps recently developed and launched in the Netherlands, provides the opportunity to make relevant risk information permanently available and accessible to the general public. Such information can be consulted by any member of the general Dutch audience who has access to the Internet. However, very little is known about what motivates the individual citizen to actually use such information supplies. These developments increase the need for a new theoretical framework aimed at understanding the individual citizen’s risk information-seeking behavior.\ud The ultimate goal of this thesis is to develop such a model. This model, referred to as the Framework of Risk Information Seeking (FRIS), may provide a better understanding of public response to risks. It may also provide ways to persuade the public to utilize information provided on the Internet and other daily information sources. The FRIS is novel in its focus on the individual’s active role as a seeker of risk information and is applied here to external safety risks. The new perspective this model provides is important, as it may contribute to the development of more effective risk communication efforts with the general public

Navigating the Underground:Exploring and supporting ground penetrating radar-enhanced utility surveying

Utility strikes pose a significant challenge in the construction industry. In 2022, the Netherlands reported approximately 47,000 such incidents, leading to cost overruns, service disruptions, environmental damage, and safety risks. Although utility maps and trial trenches (i.e., cut-and-cover excavation) are commonly used to survey utilities before excavation work, these methods often fall short. The geophysical ground-penetrating radar (GPR) method offers a non-intrusive and rapid alternative. However, GPR’s effectiveness is often hindered by insufficient insights into its local use dynamics, resulting in failed applications and limited adoption among construction organizations. This PhD dissertation addresses this gap by providing context-rich, practice-based insights into GPR’s use in utility surveying. These insights enhance our understanding of the advantages and challenges associated with GPR-enhanced utility surveying. To improve practitioners’ understanding of GPR deployment, these insights are used to develop operational decision support and guidance for the use of GPR onsite. By doing so, this dissertation provides practical tools and knowledge for navigating underground utilities with GPR, aiming to enhance its local use and contribute to reducing utility strikes

Structural violence, Diabetes and Agrocolonialism. A case study of the United States, Mexico, India and the Pacific Islands

Treball Final del Màster Universitari Internacional en Estudis de Pau, Conflictes i Desenvolupament (Pla 2013). Codi: SBG119. Curs acadèmic 2014-2015This dissertation will focus on how agricultural policies can be a form of structural violence and how part of this violence manifests itself in the form of Diabetes Mellitus, which is the name for a group of non-communicable diseases. Furthermore, this dissertation will also shortly discuss the interrelatedness of structural and cultural violence and draw from the theories of Johan Galtung. The set-up of the dissertation will be the following; after a short introduction, diabetes will be defined, then part of the theory of Galtung will be explained. After that, what is arguably the origin of the structural violence will be discussed. Once that is clear, I will analyse through case studies how this violence is being spread to other countries

Immunological basis of differences in disease resistance in the chicken

Genetic resistance to diseases is a multigenic trait governed mainly by the immune system and its interactions with many physiologic and environmental factors. In the adaptive immunity, T cell and B cell responses, the specific recognition of antigens and interactions between antigen presenting cells, T cells and B cells are crucial. It occurs through a network of mediator proteins such as the molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), T cell receptors, immunoglobulins and secreted proteins such as the cytokines and antibodies. The diversity of these proteins that mainly is due to an intrinsic polymorphism of the genes causes phenotypic variation in disease resistance. The well-known linkage of MHC polymorphism and Marek's disease resistance difference represents a classic model revealing immunological factors in resistance differences and diversity of mediator molecules. The molecular bases in any resistance variation to infectious pathogens are vaguely understood. This paper presents a review of the major immune mediators involved in resistance and susceptibility to infectious diseases and their functional mechanisms in the chicken. The genetic interaction of disease resistance with production traits and the environment is mentioned