Abstract
This study addresses the variability of gamma radiation measurements over the Atlantic Ocean. The analysis of back trajectories shows that the path of the air masses is the main factor determining gamma radiation levels over the ocean, rather than the distance to the coast. Different gamma values were recorded at different times in the same location as a result of the distinct origin of the corresponding air masses. Higher counts observed in the northeast Atlantic in winter compared with the spring values result from air masses coming from Europe and the African continent. In general, gamma radiation values over the ocean increase with increasing continental influence on the air mass above. A predictive classifica-tion model is developed showing that marine gamma observations can be used to classify marine boundary layer air masses according to the degree of continental influence.

Abstract
Computational reproducibility-the ability to reexecute a scientific experiment using the same code, data, and configuration-should be straightforward. However, researchers often struggle with inconsistencies in documentation, missing dependencies, and environment setup, which undermines the credibility of scientific results. To address this, we propose a conversational, text-based tool that aids researchers in reproducing and packaging computational experiments into a single file. This file can be re-executed with a double-click on any machine, requiring only a single tool. SciConv is designed to support two key scenarios: (i) enabling researchers to prepare their own experiments in a reproducible, shareable format, and (ii) helping other researchers reproduce existing experiments from shared code repositories. In both cases, the tool reduces technical overhead and simplifies environment configuration through conversational interaction. We evaluated the tool through two studies. In the first, we reproduced 15 of 18 published experiments, with most requiring little or no user interaction. In the second, we conducted a user study comparing our tool with a professional platform, using the System Usability Scale (SUS) and NASA Task Load Index (TLX). The results show a statistically significant advantage for our tool in both usability and workload, demonstrating its effectiveness in supporting reproducibility.

Abstract
Reproducibility in computational science is increasingly dependent on the ability to faithfully re-execute experiments involving code, data, and software environments. However, assessing the effectiveness of reproducibility tools is difficult due to the lack of standardized benchmarks. To address this, we collected 38 computational experiments from diverse scientific domains and attempted to reproduce each using 8 different reproducibility tools. From this initial pool, we identified 18 experiments that could be successfully reproduced using at least one tool. These experiments form our curated benchmark dataset, which we release along with reproducibility packages to support ongoing evaluation efforts. This article introduces the curated dataset, incorporating details about software dependencies, execution steps, and configurations necessary for accurate reproduction. The dataset is structured to reflect diverse computational requirements and methodologies, ranging from simple scripts to complex, multi-language workflows, ensuring it presents the wide range of challenges researchers face in reproducing computational studies. It provides a universal benchmark by establishing a standardized dataset for objectively evaluating and comparing the effectiveness of reproducibility tools. Each experiment included in the dataset is carefully documented to ensure ease of use. We added clear instructions following a standard, so each experiment has the same kind of instructions, making it easier for researchers to run each of them with their own reproducibility tool.The utility of the dataset is demonstrated through extensive evaluations using multiple reproducibility tools.

Abstract
User studies are paramount for advancing research in software engineering, particularly when evaluating tools and techniques involving programmers. However, researchers face several barriers when performing them despite the existence of supporting tools. We base our study on a set of tools and researcher-reported barriers identified in prior work on user studies in software engineering. In this work, we study how existing tools and their features cope with previously identified barriers. Moreover, we propose new features for the barriers that lack support. We validated our proposal with 102 researchers, achieving statistically significant positive support for all but one feature. We study the current gap between tools and barriers, using features as the bridge. We show there is a significant lack of support for several barriers, as some have no single tool to support them.

Abstract
Project NuClim (Nuclear observations to improve Climate research and GHG emission estimates) aims to use high-quality measurements of atmospheric radon activity concentration and ambient radioactivity to advance climate science and improve radiation protection and nuclear surveillance capabilities. It is supported by new metrological capabilities developed in the EMPIR project 19ENV01 traceRadon. This work reviews the scientific objectives of project NuClim in terms of both climate science and radiological protection, and provides an overview of the NuClim field campaign and the various nuclear measurements being implemented within the scope of the project. © S. Barbosa et al., Published by EDP Sciences, 2025.

Abstract