Towards increased utilisation of tailings in Norwegian mining industry

In this study, we investigate the barriers, and potential measures, for increased tailings utilisation in Norwegian mining industry. The purpose of this study is to explore the potentials for increased utilisation of mine tailings, contributing to seal the knowledge gaps by addressing major barriers for alternative tailings application, and finally, comment on aspects for a viable business model for tailings utilisation. The study was organised as a qualitative study, where 15 organisations across seven stakeholder groups were interviewed. In this empirical undertaking, we sought to answer the following research questions: (RQ1) What are the major barriers for increased tailings utilisation from Norwegian mining industry, and (RQ2) which measures can be introduced to overcome said barriers. We find that the main barriers for increased tailings utilisation are related to the lack of circular economy business models and mindset (A1-4), lack of knowledge of alternative applications and use areas (B3), logistics and transportation (D3) and lack of incentive measures (F3). Amongst the suggested measures are: i) allocation of mandate and resources in organisations to work with tailings utilisation, ii) information sharing across stakeholders and industries, iii) tailings screening tool, iv) application test facilities, and v) legislative measures. Our findings on major barriers for tailings utilisation are to a large extent mirrored in existing literature. And while the opposition towards submarine tailings disposal constitute a 'natural' incentive for the mining industry to work on this issue, we still find that stronger incentives and cross-industry partnerships are needed to succeed with tailings utilisation in Norwegian mining industry.publishedVersio

Workplace-Initiated mHealth Intervention for Increased Physical Activity

In this research in progress paper, we discuss the acceptance and appropriation of workplace mobile health interventions aiming to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour, and how this is connected to social cohesion in the workplace. We utilised script theory to investigate what visions, assumptions and choice is made by developers in the design of the mobile health technology, and the consequences this hold in regards of user mobilisation and the effects of the intervention at the workplace. We report preliminary findings from four different workplaces, and with a total of 709 users. We contribute by discussing the importance of flexibility of the Avantas Aktiv script, how the script is accepted by some and rejected by others, and how social cohesion is both a result of and a premise for successful mobilisation of users. Finally, we point to future avenues for research

An offer to help: Impacts of covid-19 lockdown on local sharing economies

The preventive measures applied in response to the covid-19 pandemic have transformed social and economic activities. Based on a case study of the Norwegian digital sharing platform Nabohjelp (English: Neighbour help), this article describes how sudden introductions of social distancing policies, such as lockdowns, affect the usage of peer-to-peer (p2p) sharing economy platforms. The analysis includes all messages posted by users on the Nabohjelp platform over a period covering one month before and two and a half months after the announcement of the first covid-19 lockdown in Norway (N=14997). Statistical analysis is applied to understand the impact of the lockdown on different types of platform activities, and text analysis is performed on a stratified random sample of messages (n=400). We find evidence of a rapid response to the lockdown and highly increased app usage, as well as increased technology adoption rates, in the first five weeks of lockdown. Before the lockdown, the messages were mainly related to specific needs with a short deadline, while messages during the lockdown were more open-ended and general in nature. We find an initial spike in the number of messages from people offering to help others, driven by both pre-existing and new users. When society gradually opened up again after about two months, the daily number of posted messages remained about three times higher than before the lockdown. We conclude that p2p sharing platforms can play an important role in the robustness of local societies in times of a pandemic.publishedVersio

Aksjeselskapers vinningsformål

Oppgaven omhandler aksjeselskapers vinningsformål. Det redegjøres for vinningsformålets rettslige og økonomiske forankring og det nærmere innholdet i vinningsformålet

Turbulence in a coastal environment: the case of Vindeby

The one-point and two-point power spectral densities of the wind velocity fluctuations are studied using the observations from an offshore mast at Vindeby Offshore Wind Farm, for a wide range of thermal stratifications of the atmosphere. A comparison with estimates from the FINO1 platform (North Sea) is made to identify shared spectral characteristics of turbulence between different offshore sites. The sonic anemometer measurement data at 6, 18, and 45 m a.m.s.l. (above mean sea level) are considered. These heights are lower than at the FINO1 platform, where the measurements were collected at heights between 40 and 80 m. Although the sonic anemometers are affected by transducer-flow distortion, the spectra of the along-wind velocity component are consistent with those from FINO1 when surface-layer scaling is used, for near-neutral and moderately diabatic conditions. The co-coherence of the along-wind component, estimated for vertical separations under near-neutral conditions, matches remarkably well with the results from the dataset at the FINO1 platform. These findings mark an important step toward more comprehensive coherence models for wind load calculation. The turbulence characteristics estimated from the present dataset are valuable for better understanding the structure of turbulence in the marine atmospheric boundary layer and are relevant for load estimations of offshore wind turbines. Yet, the datasets recorded at Vindeby and FINO1 cover only the lower part of the rotor of state-of-the-art offshore wind turbines. Further improvements in the characterisation of atmospheric turbulence for wind turbine design will require measurements at heights above 100 m a.m.s.l.publishedVersio

Numerical Analysis of the Effect of Offshore Turbulent Wind Inflow on the Response of a Spar Wind Turbine

Turbulent wind at offshore sites is known as the main cause for fatigue on offshore wind turbine components. Numerical simulations are commonly used to predict the loads and motions of floating offshore wind turbines; however, the definition of representative wind input conditions is necessary. In this study, the load and motion responses of a spar-type Offshore Code Comparison Collaboration (OC3) wind turbine under different turbulent wind conditions is studied and investigated by using SIMO-Riflex in Simulation Workbench for Marine Applications (SIMA) workbench. Using the two spectral models given in the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards, it is found that a lower wind lateral coherence under neutral atmospheric stability conditions results in an up to 27% higher tower base side–side bending moment and a 20% higher tower top torsional moment. Comparing different atmospheric stability conditions simulated using a spectral model based on FINO1 wind data measurement, the highest turbulent energy content under very unstable conditions yields a 26% higher tower base side–side bending moment and a 27% higher tower top torsional moment than neutral conditions, which have the lowest turbulent energy content and turbulent intensity. The yaw-mode of the OC3 wind turbine is found to be the most influenced component by assessing variations in both the lateral coherence and the atmospheric stability conditions.publishedVersio

Vitamin D3 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in pork and their relationship to vitamin D status in pigs

The content of vitamin D in pork produced in conventional systems depends on the vitamin D concentration in the pig feed. Both vitamin D(3) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) (25(OH)D(3)) are essential sources of dietary vitamin D; however, bioavailability assessed by serum 25(OH)D(3) concentration is reported to be different between the two sources. Furthermore, the relationship between serum 25(OH)D(3) level and the tissue content of vitamin D(3) and 25(OH)D(3) is unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of increasing the content of vitamin D in different pig tissues by increasing the levels of vitamin D(3) and 25(OH)D(3) in the pig feed for 49 d before slaughter. Concurrently, the 25(OH)D(3) level in serum was investigated as a biomarker to assess the content of vitamin D(3) and 25(OH)D(3) in pig tissues. Adipose tissue, white and red muscle, the liver and serum were sampled from pigs fed feed containing either vitamin D(3) or 25(OH)D(3) at 5, 20, 35 or 50 µg/kg feed for 7 weeks before slaughter. The tissue 25(OH)D(3) level was significantly higher in the pigs fed 25(OH)D(3) compared with those fed vitamin D(3), while the tissue vitamin D(3) level was higher in the pigs fed vitamin D(3) compared with those fed 25(OH)D(3). The content of 25(OH)D(3) in the different tissues fully correlated with the serum 25(OH)D(3) level, whereas the correlation between the tissue content of vitamin D(3) and serum 25(OH)D(3) was dependent on the source of the ingested vitamin D(3)

A Tertiary Review on Blockchain and Sustainability With Focus on Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainable development is crucial to securing the future of humanity. Blockchain as a disruptive technology and a driver for social change has exhibited great potential to promote sustainable practices and help organizations and governments achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Existing literature reviews on blockchain and sustainability often focus only on topics related to a few SDGs. There is a need to consolidate existing results in terms of SDGs and provide a comprehensive overview of the impacts that blockchain technology may have on each SDG. This paper intends to bridge this gap, presenting a tertiary review based on 42 literature reviews, to investigate the relationship between blockchain and sustainability in light of SDGs. The method used is a consensus-based expert elicitation with thematic analysis. The findings include a novel and comprehensive mapping of impact-based interlinkage of blockchain and SDGs and a systematic overview of drivers and barriers to adopting blockchain for sustainability. The findings reveal that blockchain can have a positive impact on all 17 SDGs though some negative effects can occur and impede the achievement of certain objectives. 76 positive and 10 negative linkages between blockchain adoption and the 17 SDGs as well as 45 factors that drive or hinder blockchain adoption for the achievement of SDGs have been identified. Research gaps to overcome the barriers and enhance blockchain’s positive impacts have also been identified. The findings may help managers in evaluating the applicability and tradeoffs, and policymakers in making supportive measures to facilitate sustainability using blockchain.publishedVersio