Expectations and Experiences With MyLabourParty: From Right to Know to Right to Participate?

Social media are often argued to change political communication, decreasing the distance between politicians and citizens, and increasing citizens' influence on policymaking. This paper presents findings from a study of how the Norwegian Labour Party uses social media, focusing on the community platform MyLabourParty. Interviews with politicians and a survey with citizens as respondents were conducted to examine the experiences of online political discussions. Findings show that citizens and politicians expect MyLabourParty to strengthen citizen participation. Yet, citizens still experience communication asymmetry and politicians may find it challenging to participate to the extent citizens expect. Means for bridging the gap between expectations and experiences are called for, in particular redefinition of the offering, changes of user‐practices, and system improvements.     

Constrained regression in chemical engineering practice

Absolute equality constraints in multiple regression are shown to introduce only minor modifications in the normal equations by a subset of the regression parameters. It is essential that these are ordered such that the subset is observable through the constraints. The constraints are shown to give greater residuals about the regression, but the precision in the parameter estimation is improved.In general power function curve fitting, a quadratically convergent iterative computation of the optimal exponents uses the normal equations as equality constraints. The correlations between the coefficients and the exponents in a sum of power functions become very high, when the number of terms increases such that their individual observability is being greatly reduced. The effect is shown to be a very poor precision in the parameter estimation and a heavy oscillation in the coefficients.The algorithms suggested are illustrated by curve fitting of some binary equilibrium data, where the relative volatility model gives a superior fit to the data.     

Liquidus temperatures for primary crystallization of cryolite in molten salt systems of interest for aluminum electrolysis

Temperatures for primary crystallization of Na₃AlF₆ in multicomponent electrolyte systems of interest for the aluminum electrolysis process were determined by thermal analysis. The results are presented as binary and quasibinary diagrams and discussed in view of the literature data. An empirical equation describing liquidus temperatures for primary crystallization of Na₃AlF₆ was derived: $$\begin{gathered} t/(^\circ C) = 1011 + 0.50[AlF_3 ] - 0.13[AIF_3 ] - \frac{{3.45[CaF_2 ]}}{{1 + 0.0173[CaF_2 ]}} \hfill \\ + 0.124[CaF_2 ] \cdot [AlF_3 ] - 0.00542([CaF_2 ] \cdot [AlF_3 ])^{1.5} \hfill \\ - \frac{{7.93[Al_2 O_3 ]}}{{1 + 0.0936[Al_2 O_3 ] - 0.0017[Al_2 O_3 ]^2 - 0.0023[AlF_3 ] \cdot [Al_2 O_3 ]}} \hfill \\ - \frac{{8.90[LiF]}}{{1 + 0.0047[LiF] + 0.0010[AlF3]^2 }} - 3.95[MgF_2 ] - 3.95 \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ wheret is the temperature in degree Celsius and the square brackets denote the weight percent of components in the system Na₃AlF₆-AlF₃-CaF₂-Al₂O₃-LiF-MgF₂-KF. The composition limitations are [AlF₃] ≈ [CaF₂] ≈ [LiF] < 20 wt pct, [MgF₂] ≈ [KF] < 5 wt pct, and [A1₂O₃] up to saturation.     

Habitat fragmentation has interactive effects on the population genetic diversity and individual behaviour of a freshwater salmonid fish

Sufficient genetic diversity can aid populations to persist in dynamic and fragmented environments. Understanding which mechanisms regulate genetic diversity of riverine fish can therefore advance current conservation strategies. The aim of this study was to investigate how habitat fragmentation interacted with population genetic diversity and individual behaviour of freshwater fish in large river systems. We studied a population of the long‐distance migratory, iteroparous freshwater salmonid European grayling (Thymallus thymallus) in south‐eastern Norway. Genotyping (n = 527) and radio‐tracking (n = 54) of adult fish throughout a 169‐km river section revealed three major migration barriers limiting gene flow and depleting genetic diversity upstream. Individuals from upstream areas that had dispersed downstream of barriers showed different movement behaviour than local genotypes. No natal philopatry was found in a large unfragmented river section, in contrast to strong fidelity to spawning tributaries known for individuals overwintering in lakes. We conclude that (a) upstream sub‐populations in fragmented rivers show less genetic variation, making it less likely for them to adapt to environmental changes; (b) fish with distinct genotypes in the same habitat can differ in their behaviour; (c) spawning site selection (natal philopatry) can differ between fish of the same species living in different habitats. Together this implies that habitat loss and fragmentation may differently affect individual fish of the same species if they live in different types or sections of habitat. Studying behaviour and genetic diversity of fish can unravel their complex ecology and help minimize human impact.     

Effects of Iron on Chemical Sulfide Oxidation in Wastewater from Sewer Networks

Effects of iron on the kinetics and stoichiometry of aerobic chemical sulfide oxidation in wastewater from two different sites were studied at pH 8 and 20°C. Iron(III) chloride was added to the wastewater in concentrations of up to 20?g?Fe?m?3. The rate of aerobic chemical sulfide oxidation increased linearly with the iron(III) additions resulting in equal effects with wastewater from the two sites. Despite the significant effect of the iron(III) additions, the background concentrations of iron cannot explain the significant temporal and spatial variability of aerobic chemical sulfide oxidation kinetics reported in this study and in the literature. In this respect, other metals are probably also important. In addition to the impacts on the oxidation kinetics, the iron(III) additions resulted in a change of the oxidation stoichiometry. With increasing amounts of iron(III) added to the wastewater, less dissolved oxygen was required for the sulfide oxidation.     

Alcohol, psychoactive drugs and fatal road traffic accidents in Norway: a case-control study

A case–control study was conducted on 204 drivers fatally injured in road traffic accidents in south-eastern Norway during the period 2003–2008. Cases from single vehicle accidents (N = 68) were assessed separately. As controls, 10 540 drivers selected in a roadside survey in the same geographical area during 2005–2006 were used. Blood samples were collected from the cases and oral fluid (saliva) samples from the controls. Samples were analysed for alcohol, amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine, opioid analgesics, hypnotics, sedatives and a muscle relaxant; altogether 22 psychoactive substances. Equivalent cutoff concentrations for blood and oral fluid were used. The risk for fatal injury in a road traffic accident was estimated using logistic regression adjusting for gender, age, season of the year, and time of the week. The odds for involvement in fatal road traffic accidents for different substances or combination of substances were in increasing order: single drug < multiple drugs < alcohol only < alcohol + drugs. For single substance use: medicinal drug or THC < amphetamine/methamphetamine < alcohol. For most substances, higher ORs were found when studying drivers involved in single vehicle accidents than for those involved in multiple vehicle accidents, but confidence intervals were wider.     

Modulation of phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis by peroxisome proliferating fatty acid analogues

The modulation of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) biosynthesis by sulfur-substituted fatty acid analogues has been investigated in rats. We have compared the effects of two non-β-oxidizable fatty acid analogues, 3-thiadicarboxylic acid and tetradecylthioacetic acid, which induce proliferation of peroxisomes, with those of the analogue tetradecylthiopropionic acid, which is a weak peroxisome proliferator. Repeated administration of 3-thiadicarboxylic acid for seven days resulted in increased hepatic concentrations of both PC and PE, but the PC/PE ratio was decreased. PC synthesis was increased, as evidenced by increased incorporation of [³H]choline into PC and an increased activity of cytidinetriphosphate (CTP): phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase. This was accompanied by a reduction in the pool sizes of choline and phosphocholine. TheS-adenosylmethione/S-adenosylhomocysteine ratio (AdoMet/AdoHcy) was marginally affected, indicating no increase in the rate of methylation of PE to PC. Administration of tetradecylthioacetic acid also resulted in increased hepatic phospholipid levels, increased AdoMet/AdoHcy ratios and in slightly elevated activity of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase. The most striking effect observed after tetradecylthiopropionic acid treatment was the development of fatty liver. The activity of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase and the incorporation of [³H]choline into PC was reduced compared to 3-thiadicarboxylic acid treatment. Although the rate of methylation of PE seemed to be increased at an elevated AdoMet/AdoHcy ratio, this resulted in only minor changes in the hepatic PC and PE levels, and the PC/PE ratio remained unchanged. Furthermore, the hepatic levels of choline and phosphocholine were reduced in these rats. The activities of the two enzymes competing for choline in the liver, choline kinase and choline dehydrogenase were changed in opposite directions, with the activity of choline kinase increasing approximately 1.5-fold. In addition, it was found that the level of homocysteine was elevated in the liver of tetradecylthiopropionic acid-treated rats. The possibility is discussed that this reflects a reduced flux of choline through the oxidative pathway in the liver. In tetradecylthiopropionic acid-treated rats, there seemed to be a coordinated regulation of the two pathways for PC biosynthesis, with an increase in the methylation of PE to PC and a reduced synthesisvia the CDPcholine pathway. The increase in PC observed in rats treated with 3-thiadicarboxylic acid and tetradecylthioacetic acid suggests that increased PC synthesis is linked to peroxisome proliferation.     

The stage efficiency in dynamic models of phase separation processes

In chemical engineering practice, deviation from a perfectly mixed equilibrium stage in phase separation processes is described by a stage efficiency. In dynamic models this parameter is in most cases meaningless, except when the deviation from equilibrium is caused by interfacial transport resistance. The present paper shows that when this resistance approaches zero, there is an eigenvalue related to the interfacial transport that goes to ? ∞. The response mode attached to this eigenvalue expresses the deviation from equilibrium.Approximationg this mode by zero, may be defined as a “pseudo-equilibrium”. In a dynamic sense, the stage efficiency has a proper meaning only in this case, but it should be emphasized that this state space reduction is an approximation valid only for moderate deviations from true equilibrium. Hence, the stage efficiency has a much more narrow range of sound application than is usually considered in the chemical engineering literature.