North Norway Research Articles

Changed definition of disease and broader screening criteria had little impact on prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus.

There are major controversies in screening for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The present study evaluates the impact of the 2017 revised guidelines for GDM screening and a changed definition of GDM in Norway. We used a case-series design and included women with no pre-pregnancy diabetes mellitus, who gave birth after gestational week 29 to a singleton fetus at the University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, or at a local maternity ward in Troms county, during the first 6months of 2013 (before group, n=676) and 2018 (after group, n=673). Data were collected from antenatal records, maternal health information sheets, and electronic medical records (Partus). We assessed the screening criteria age, parity, pre-pregnancy BMI, and ethnicity. Primary outcomes were change in size of the population eligible for GDM screening, screening adherence, and prevalence of GDM, and follow up of GDM (treatment and obstetric risk assessment at gestational week 36). Statistical analyses were done using IBM SPSS with chi-squared test. A p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The proportion of women eligible for GDM screening increased from 46.4% in the before group to 67.6% in the after group (+45%) (p<0.01). However, screening adherence among eligible women was only 28.3% and 49.2% in the before and after groups, respectively (p<0.01). Among screened women, 16.9% (15/89) and 10.7% (24/224), respectively, were diagnosed with GDM, resulting in an overall estimated prevalence of 2.2% (15/676) and 3.6% (24/673). Among women diagnosed with GDM, 13.3% received no follow up in 2013 and this proportion was 20.8% in 2018. The remaining women underwent obstetric risk assessment at gestational week 36 as advised in the guidelines. The introduction of broader screening criteria and a more liberal case definition increased the population eligible for GDM screening by 45%. The higher proportion of women screened resulted in an insignificant higher prevalence of GDM. Screening adherence was poor in both study groups. Stakeholders for obstetric care need to consolidate quality measures and revisit the screening algorithm.

Antenatal breastmilk expression for women with diabetes in pregnancy - a feasibility study

BackgroundMothers with diabetes are less likely to achieve successful breastfeeding. Antenatal breastmilk expression (ABE) may facilitate earlier breastfeeding, but feasibility of introducing ABE and its acceptance among Scandinavian women have previously not been investigated.MethodsThis observational trial was conducted between the 1 January 2019 and the 12 March 2020 in Tromsø, Norway. We aimed to determine the feasibility of ABE in terms of practicality and acceptability among women with medically (metformin or insulin) treated diabetes. Women were invited to participate during antenatal visits from 32 weeks gestation. Participants received instruction and started ABE from gestation week 37 + 0. Participants, and their infants, were followed until 6–8 weeks after birth. We collected data on breastfeeding rates, infant hypoglycemia, transfer to the neonatal unit, and the women’s overall experience and satisfaction with antenatal breastmilk expression.ResultsTwenty-eight of 34 (82%) invited women consented to participate. All started ABE from week 37 + 0, and continued until hospital admission. No women reported any discomfort or side effects. Labor was induced at 38 weeks gestation. Twenty-four women brought harvested colostrum to the maternity ward, which was given to their infants during the first 24 h of life. Breastfeeding rates at discharge were 24/28 (86%) and 21/27 (78%) at 6–8 weeks after delivery. Seven (25%) infants were transferred to the neonatal unit; four because of hypoglycemia. Maternal satisfaction assessed 6–8 weeks after delivery revealed that all participants felt positive about the ABE, but one woman would not recommend it to other pregnant women.ConclusionsImplementing a structured ABE guideline for women with medically treated diabetes was feasible. The intervention was associated with high level of satisfaction among study participants. No obvious side effects were observed, and breastfeeding rates at discharge and 6–8 weeks after delivery were higher than in comparable studies.Trial registrationThe study was registered at the research study registry at the University Hospital of North Norway (Nr 2018/7181).

Family medicine and international cooperation in the North: A step ahead

International cooperation contributed to the development of family medicine in the North of Russia, it was characterized by a system approach and interdisciplinary interaction. The article presents the results of Russian-Norwegian projects that were developed with the active participation of the Department of Family Medicine of NSMU (Arkhangelsk), as well as the main aspects of the projects: significance for practical health care, research, and educational components.&#x0D; Several complementary projects aimed at the development of primary health care, such as Reform of Arkhangelsk Region Health Care System with a special emphasis on primary care, System approach to NCD prevention and Suicide prevention in the Arkhangelsk region were implemented together with the Norwegian Directorate of Health. The POMOR Program specialist training in general practice in Northern Russia project (together with the University of Troms The Arctic University of Norway, Norwegian Medical Association, and Norwegian Centre for Rural Medicine) facilitated the development of tutorship in family medicine in the Arkhangelsk and Murmansk regions. Better interaction between psychiatrists and general practitioners in the mental health sphere became an essential area of international collaboration (Integrating mental health into primary care in the Arkhangelsk County, Russia: the Pomor model in psychiatry project together with the University of Troms The Arctic University of Norway and University Hospital of North Norway, Troms). The education component of the projects got a sequel in the continued medical education system of NSMU while the scientific one was continued in the form of publications in international and Russian journals, and masters thesis defense of public health degrees. The project's results were consistently presented at the international and Russian forums. General practitioners education is a cross-cutting theme for the cooperation on the path from a beginner to an expert and plays a special role in support of GPs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chronic iron deficiency and anaemia were highly prevalent in a population-based longitudinal study among adolescent girls.

The combination of iron deficiency and anaemia is a major health problem, and adolescents are an at-risk group. The main aim of this study was to explore the magnitude of these conditions among adolescents aged 15-19 and identify possible associated risk factors. This population-based longitudinal study of adolescents in North Norway was conducted in 2010-2011, with a follow-up two years later. Repeated measurements of iron deficiency and anaemia and its possible risk factors were studied in 309girls and 273 boys. Iron deficiency and anaemia were found in 18.1% and 19.9% of girls and 1.6% and 2.9% of boys in the first study and about half of the cases were chronic two years later. Most girls had moderate iron deficiency (14.5%) and mild anaemia (16.0%). Daily milk consumption was associated with increased iron deficiency in girls (odds ratio 2.3, 95% confidence interval 1.1-4.9), and the most physically active girls had the lowest levels of iron deficiency (odds ratio 0.4, 95% confidence intervaI 0.2-0.9). Iron deficiency was the most important risk factor for chronic anaemia in girls. The results of this study highlight the importance of iron deficiency screening and treatment for adolescent girls.

Risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 or higher (CIN3+) among women with HPV-test in 1990\u20131992, a 30-year follow-up study

Background/objectiveHaving a 30-year follow-up of a cohort of women tested for HPV is a unique opportunity to further study long-term risk of CIN3+. The study objective was to compare HPV status at baseline with the risk of CIN3+ in the follow-up period of 30 years.MethodsAll women (n = 642) referred to the HPV outpatient clinic at the University Hospital of North Norway (UNN) in 1990–1992, with an HPV test at baseline, were included in a prospective cohort. HPV-testing was performed by two different HPV-DNA tests, and genotypes 6, 11, 16, 18, 31 and 33 were identified. High-risk (HR) HPV genotypes (16, 18, 31 and 33) were classified as HPV positive, whereas low-risk (LR) genotypes (6 and 11) in addition to absent HPV were classified as HPV negative. A single cohort in which women were classified for their HPV status underwent follow-up prospectively to the last time-point of observation of 30 years.ResultsDuring follow-up, 148 (148/642) cases of CIN3+ were detected, of whom 70.3% (104/148) were HPV positive and 29.7% (44/148) were HPV negative at baseline. The proportions of women who developed CIN3+ following a positive and a negative test were 46.6% (104/223) and 10.5% (44/419), respectively. Most cases of CIN3+ were seen shortly after the baseline HPV test, with 112 cases of CIN3+ diagnosed within the first year. In total, 48.6% (72/148) with HPV 16 and 57.6% (19/33) with HPV 33 developed CIN3+. Within the first year, CIN3+ was detected in 37.8% (56/148) with HPV 16, and 51.5% (17/33) with HPV 33. The long-term risk of CIN3+ was significantly lower than the short-term risk, and mainly associated with HPV 16. Overall, eight cases of cervical cancer were detected. Five were HPV positive, harboured HPV 16 at baseline and developed cervical cancer after 3, 4, 5, 11 and 24 years of follow-up.Conclusion and consequencesHPV status at baseline is predictive for the subsequent risk of developing CIN3+. Women with a positive HPV test in 1990–1992 had a significantly higher risk of CIN3+ during 30 years of follow-up than those with a negative test. HPV 16 was associated with the greatest long-term risk of cervical cancer. All patients with a positive HPV test at baseline should be followed up until negative.Trial registrationISRCTN, ISRCTN10836802. Registered 14 December 2020 - Retrospectively registered.

The Char and the Oystercatcher. The Value of the Wild in Rossfjord, North Norway

ABSTRACT This ethnographic study explores and compares the relationships that locals in Rossfjord, North Norway, have to the oystercatcher and the sea-going Arctic char respectively. Both these animals are highly valued locally, while the valuations at first look very different. The oystercatcher is protected by building bin-cases for its nesting, while the Arctic char is killed and eaten. Discussing these valuations against the value theory of David Graeber, I argue that they both connect to an underlying perception of the freedom and autonomy of wild animals, where what is not fully understood enhances an experience of wonder and appreciation of what I call the wild.

Risk scores for prediction of 30-day mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: Results from a two-center study in Norway.

ObjectivesTranscatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI)‐specific risk scores have been developed based on large registry studies. Our aim was to evaluate how both surgical and novel TAVI risk scores performed in predicting all cause 30‐day mortality. In addition, we wanted to explore the validity of our own previously developed model in a separate and more recent cohort.MethodsThe derivation cohort included patients not eligible for open surgery treated with TAVI at the University Hospital of North Norway (UNN) and Oslo University Hospital (OUS) from February 2010 through June 2013. From this cohort, a logistic prediction model (UNN/OUS) for all cause 30‐day mortality was developed. The validation cohort consisted of patients not included in the derivation cohort and treated with TAVI at UNN between June 2010 and April 2017. EuroSCORE, Logistic EuroSCORE, EurosSCORE 2, STS score, German AV score, OBSERVANT score, IRRMA score, and FRANCE‐2 score were calculated for both cohorts. The discriminative accuracy of each score, including our model, was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and compared using DeLong test where P< .05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsThe derivation cohort consisted of 218 and the validation cohort of 241 patients. Our model showed statistically significant better accuracy than all other scores in the derivation cohort. In the validation cohort, the FRANCE‐2 had a significantly higher predictive accuracy compared to all scores except the IRRMA and STS score. Our model showed similar results.ConclusionExisting risk scores have shown limited accuracy in predicting early mortality after TAVI. Our results indicate that TAVI‐specific risk scores might be useful when evaluating patients for TAVI.

NATO Threat and National Security in the Arctic

The article reveals the real and potential threats to the national security of the Russian Federation in the Arctic region from the North Atlantic bloc. Special attention is paid to the study of the strengthening of the military presence in the Arctic of the Arctic states and other countries of the alliance, the main directions of discrediting the activities of the Russian Federation in the Arctic by our geopolitical opponents. The article analyzes the composition and direction of multinationnal military exercises that contribute to the growth of conflict potential in the region. It is noted that the North of Norway is becoming one of the most militarized regions of Scandinavia. It is concluded that the activation of NATO in the Far North can lead to a violation of the balance of forces and relations between states in the security sphere, negatively affect the course and results of the Russian presidency of the Arctic Council in 2021–2023.The measures of Russia to strengthen its defense capability in the Arctic direction, protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity are revealed. The importance of using the Recommendations of the participants of the expert dialogue on reducing the risks of military confrontation between Russia and NATO in Europe, which reflect specific measures to defuse military tensions on the European continent, including in the Arctic, is emphasized.

Rehabilitation Needs, Service Provision, and Costs in the First Year Following Traumatic Injuries: Protocol for a Prospective Cohort Study.

BackgroundTraumatic injuries, defined as physical injuries with sudden onset, are a major public health problem worldwide. There is a paucity of knowledge regarding rehabilitation needs and service provision for patients with moderate and major trauma, even if rehabilitation research on a spectrum of specific injuries is available.ObjectiveThis study aims to describe the prevalence of rehabilitation needs, the provided services, and functional outcomes across all age groups, levels of injury severity, and geographical regions in the first year after trauma. Direct and indirect costs of rehabilitation provision will also be assessed. The overarching aim is to better understand where to target future efforts.MethodsThis is a population-based prospective follow-up study. It encompasses patients of all ages with moderate and severe acute traumatic injury (New Injury Severity Score >9) admitted to the regional trauma centers in southeastern and northern Norway over a 1-year period (2020). Sociodemographic and injury data will be collected. Upon hospital discharge, rehabilitation physicians estimate rehabilitation needs. Rehabilitation needs are assessed by the Rehabilitation Complexity Scale Extended–Trauma (RCS E–Trauma; specialized inpatient rehabilitation), Needs and Provision Complexity Scale (NPCS; community-based rehabilitation and health care service delivery), and Family Needs Questionnaire–Pediatric Version (FNQ-P). Patients, family caregivers, or both will complete questionnaires at 6- and 12-month follow-ups, which are supplemented by telephone interviews. Data on functioning and disability, mental health, health-related quality of life measured by the EuroQol Questionnaire (EQ-5D), and needs and provision of rehabilitation and health care services are collected by validated outcome measures. Unmet needs are represented by the discrepancies between the estimates of the RCS E–Trauma and NPCS at the time of a patient’s discharge and the rehabilitation services the patient has actually received. Formal service provision (including admission to inpatient- or outpatient-based rehabilitation), informal care, and associated costs will be collected.ResultsThe project was funded in December 2018 and approved by the Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics in October 2019. Inclusion of patients began at Oslo University Hospital on January 1, 2020, and at the University Hospital of North Norway on February 1, 2020. As of February 2021, we have enrolled 612 patients, and for 286 patients the 6-month follow-up has been completed. Papers will be drafted for publication throughout 2021 and 2022.ConclusionsThis study will improve our understanding of existing service provision, the gaps between needs and services, and the associated costs for treating patients with moderate and major trauma. This may guide the improvement of rehabilitation and health care resource planning and allocation.International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/25980

Голубая экономика Северного Ледовитого океана: управление аквакультурой на Аляске и в Северной Норвегии

In the Arctic, the concept of the blue economy is increasingly dominating discussions on regional development. This entails utilising the region’s ocean-based resources in a sustainable way – both from a global and local level, as well as from an environmental and economic perspective. A crucial aspect in this development is how blue activities are regulated. The UNCLOS-regime plays a vital part in providing the mechanisms and procedures for states to manage marine resources more broadly. However, the predominant mode of governance for Arctic maritime activities will remain unilateral management by each of the coastal states. Thus, the national and local legal and political framework needs to be mapped. In this article we will explore and explain how aqua/-mariculture is governed in the United States (Alaska) and Norway (North Norway). This will be done by examining how parameters for blue economic projects are defined and determined at the international, regional, national and local governance level. Thus, our article will illustrate the complexity behind the blue economy. There is no such thing as one blue economy and no such thing as one Arctic, but it is still possible to find common ground and avenues for knowledge and best practice exchange. By this we will bring the academic and political discussions about the blue economy on the right track.

Refugees' Encounters With Nordic Rural Areas-Darkness, Wind and "Hygge"!

The paper investigates how refugees settled in rural Norway and Denmark experience and interact with their new rural places of residence. Theoretically, the paper finds inspiration in “phenomenology of practices” (Simonsen, Prog. Hum. Geogr., 2012, 37, 10–26), which emphasizes the bodily and sensory experiences of daily life that spur feelings of, for example, “orientation” or “disorientation”. The empirical material is based on fieldwork and qualitative interviews with refugees and local volunteers in 2016/2017/2019 in small towns in the rural north of Norway and rural Denmark. There are several differences between the Norwegian and Danish rural areas, in relation to distances, climate and population density. Nonetheless, the ways in which the rural areas are experienced from within, by refugees settled there, show surprisingly many similarities. Many of the informants, in both the Norwegian and Danish cases, initially expressed frustration at being placed in rural areas without having any say in the matter. Those who were former city-dwellers especially experienced moments of disorientation, as their encounters with Nordic rural life were experienced as the opposite of their urban backgrounds. Limiting structural conditions very much shape the everyday lives of refugees in the first years, when they do not have a car or the financial capacity to find their own house. They feel stressed, with busy everyday lives made up of long commuting hours on public transport. In these first years of uncertainty, the dark and harsh weather very much adds to the feeling of stress and insecurity. What seem to add “orientation” are social relations with other refugees and local volunteers organizing activities.

Elucidation of Himasthla leptosoma (Creplin, 1829) Dietz, 1909 (Digenea, Himasthlidae) life cycle with insights into species composition of the north Atlantic Himasthla associated with periwinkles Littorina spp.

Trematodes of the genus Himasthla are usual parasites of coastal birds in nearshore ecosystems of northern European seas and the Atlantic coast of North America. Their first intermediate hosts are marine and brackish-water gastropods, while second intermediate hosts are various invertebrates. We analysed sequences of partial 28S rRNA and nad1 genes and the morphology of intramolluscan stages, particularly cercariae of Himasthla spp. parasitizing intertidal molluscs Littorina spp. in the White Sea, the Barents Sea and coasts of North Norway and Iceland. We showed that only three Himasthla spp. are associated with periwinkles in these regions. Intramolluscan stages of H. elongata were found in Littorina littorea, of H. littorinae, in both L. saxatilis and L. obtusata, and of Cercaria littorinae obtusatae, predominantly, in L. obtusata. Other Himasthla spp. previously reported from Littorina spp. in North Atlantic are either synonymous with one of these species or described erroneously. Based on a comparison of newly generated 28S rDNA sequences with GenBank data, rediae and cercariae of C. littorinae obtusatae were identified as belonging to H. leptosoma. Some previously unknown morphological features of young and mature rediae and cercariae of the three Himasthla spp. are described. We provide a key to the rediae and highlight characters important for identification of cercariae. Genetic diversity within the studied species was only partially determined by their specificity to the molluscan host. The nad1 network constructed for H. leptosoma lacked geographical structure, which is explained by a high gene flow owing to highly vagile definitive hosts, shorebirds.

Microscopic identification of feathers from 7th century boat burials at Valsgärde in Central Sweden: Specialized long-distance feather trade or local bird use?

The warriors in the well-equipped, high-rank 7th–8th century boat burials at Valsgärde in Central Sweden were lying in feather stuffed beds. Feathers, especially from Common Eider, are known as trade commodities from the coast of North Norway from the 15th century onwards, but written sources indicate that it started much earlier. The main goal of this investigation was thus to see if the feathers from two of the boat burials, Valsgärde 7 and 8, showed any indications of such specialized long-distance trade of certain bird species. Various levels of bird identifications were obtained through microscopic analysis of the ancient feathers. Some of these identifications were corroborated with avian bones in the two burials and from a contemporary farm close to the burials. In this way a remarkably large variety of birds, among them Eagle Owl, was identified. The birds are likely to have been present in the surrounding areas including the nearby coast of the Baltic Sea. Therefore, the feathers do not suggest long-distance trade, but appear as a new source of knowledge of local bird fauna in archaeological sites. Scandinavian folklore and Islandic Sagas indicated that the feathers had a special meaning, in connection with death and shamanism. The investigations could not confirm long-distance trade with feathers, but gave new perspectives on the use and cultural significance of birds in the Late Iron Age in Scandinavia.

Optimal operations for hydrogen-based energy storage systems in wind farms via model predictive control

Efficient energy production and consumption are fundamental points for reducing carbon emissions that influence climate change. Alternative resources, such as renewable energy sources (RESs), used in electricity grids, could reduce the environmental impact. Since RESs are inherently unreliable, during the last decades the scientific community addressed research efforts to their integration with the main grid by means of properly designed energy storage systems (ESSs). In order to highlight the best performance from these hybrid systems, proper design and operations are essential. The purpose of this paper is to present a so-called model predictive controller (MPC) for the optimal operations of grid-connected wind farms with hydrogen-based ESSs and local loads. Such MPC has been designed to take into account the operating and economical costs of the ESS, the local load demand and the participation to the electricity market, and further it enforces the fulfillment of the physical and the system's dynamics constraints. The dynamics of the hydrogen-based ESS have been modeled by means of the mixed-logic dynamic (MLD) framework in order to capture different behaviors according to the possible operating modes. The purpose is to provide a controller able to cope both with all the main physical and operating constraints of a hydrogen-based storage system, including the switching among different modes such as ON, OFF, STAND-BY and, at the same time, reduce the management costs and increase the equipment lifesaving. The case study for this paper is a plant under development in the north Norway. Numerical analysis on the related plant data shows the effectiveness of the proposed strategy, which manages the plant and commits the equipment so as to preserve the given constraints and save them from unnecessary commutation cycles.

USA, Russia and European Countries in the Arctic: Cooperation or Confrontation?

Based on the analysis of the military-political and operational situation in the Arctic region, the article reveals the actual and potential threats to the national security of the Russian Federation from the United States and the countries of the NATO bloc. The directions of strengthening the military presence in the Arctic of the Arctic states and other alliance countries are characterised. It is emphasised that the North of Norway is becoming one of the most militarised regions in Scandinavia. It is concluded that the activation of NATO in the High North may lead to a reconfiguration of relations in the security sphere. The article reveals the measures of the Russian Federation to strengthen the defence capability in the Arctic direction, protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and normalise the situation and relations between Russia and the United States.

Interruptions: Affective futures and uncanny presences atGiemaš, Finnmark

AbstractThis paper concerns affective relations and unexpected interruptions as the planned expansion of an extractive open-pit mining site gathers momentum. The site is a mountain in Varanger, North Norway, criss-crossed by a sand-coloured meshwork of roads that are part of the current infrastructure of a quartzite quarry. Recently purchased by Chinese investors, the mining company Elkem plans a massive expansion of the operations, which will interrupt a wide range of practices and projects, including the migratory movement of reindeer, as well as their grazing patterns. Known asGiemašamongst Sámi speakers, the mountain is also alluded to as a site of other powers, manifesting as unexpected accidents. In this article, I explore how the planned expansion evokes this contested site as more than a singular mountain, and how divergent epistemic formations interrupt the making of extractive resources in multiple ways.

Religion and Health in Arctic Norway – the association of religious and spiritual factors with suicidal behaviour in a mixed Sámi and Norwegian adult population – The SAMINOR 2 Questionnaire Survey

ABSTRACT Given the higher suicide rates among the adult population in the northernmost part of Norway and some unfavourable psychosocial outcomes associated with the Laestadian revival movement in this region, it is reasonable to investigate the relationship between religiosity/spirituality and suicidal behaviour in this context. This study used cross-sectional data from the population-based SAMINOR 2 questionnaire survey (2012; n = 11,222; 66% non-Sámi; 22% Laestadian-affiliated; 27% response rate) in mixed Sámi-Norwegian areas of Mid and North Norway. We analysed the associations between religious/spiritual factors and lifetime suicidal ideation and attempts, age at the first attempt, motives, and number of attempts. Multivariable-adjusted regression models considering sociodemographics, Sámi background and self-ascription, and health-related risk factors were applied. Sámi and Laestadian affiliations were significantly associated with religious self-ascription, regular attendance, and Established Church membership. In a fully adjusted model, Laestadian family background was negatively associated with lifetime suicide attempts (OR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.47–0.93) compared with other family circumstances, whereas regular religious participation was inversely associated with suicide ideation (OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.61–0.91) compared with non- or rare attendance. The findings suggest that Laestadianism and religious attendance contribute to less suicidal behaviour among adults in Sámi-Norwegian areas.

Comparing proximity for couples of close airports. Case studies on city-airports in the pre COVID-19 era

Following the existing relationships between cities and airports, well depicted in the sectorial literature ((Thierstein and Conventz, 2018), (Tira et al., 2006), (Freestone, 2009), (Percoco, 2010), (Ventura et al., 2020))), this paper aims to investigate the linkages between the touristic traffic of some airports and the related development of the cities in which they are placed. The chosen case studies regard different remote regions (ONU, 2018) of three different countries (Italy, Norway, Cyprus), considering couples of near airports (Dziedzic and Warnock-Smith, 2015). The paper focuses the analysis on four couples of near airports, two from the South of Italy (Bari and Brindisi in the Apulia Region; Palermo and Trapani in Sicily), one in the North of Norway (Bødo and Narvik in Hålogaland) and the last one in the Republic of Cyprus (Larnaca and Paphos).A GIS analytic methodology has been used to describe the differences between the different couples of airports. Managed by the GIS analytical evaluation, the purpose of this paper is to give support to the different theories about the development of couples of close airports, using geographic tools to support economic and financial planning ((Cook and Billig, 2017) (Graham, 2014), (AntonínKazdaa et al., 2017) (Young and Wells, 2011))]. There has been pointed out the results of the adopted methodology on the working Norwegian network system analysis.

Community structure of deep fjord and shelf benthic fauna receiving different detrital kelp inputs in northern Norway

Kelp forests produce large amounts of macroalgal detritus, ranging from whole plants to small particles (1 mm). The role of this kelp detritus in fueling deep-sea communities adjacent to healthy kelp forests was investigated in a region in the north of Norway by comparing the community structure and biodiversity of meio-, macro-, and megafauna in two deep (450 m) areas with different expected input of kelp detritus: a deep fjord basin surrounded by kelp forests and the adjacent continental shelf 15 km offshore from the kelp forests. The results showed that, although the fjord received a significantly higher amount of large kelp detritus (i.e. blades) than the shelf area, the amount of small kelp detritus available on the sediment was similar in both areas. There were significant differences in the multidimensional scaling analyses on the community structure for meio-, macro-, and megafauna between the fjord and the shelf. Significant differences were also found in biomass, abundance and biodiversity indices for some groups. However, no clear pattern emerged in the community structure and biodiversity between the fjord and the shelf, and the observed differences could not be linked directly to kelp detritus availability. The similar amounts of small particles of kelp detritus in the fjord and shelf area suggest that kelp detritus can provide organic matter to ecosystems further away than initially hypothesized, thus potentially shaping the structure and functioning of deep benthic communities distant from the kelp forests. Yet, the direct (trophic) links of kelp detritus and the studied benthic fauna need to be further analysed. The results are discussed in relation to current global changes in kelp forest, including regime shifts from healthy kelp reefs to turfs or barren areas, which reduce drastically the amount of macroalgal detritus produced and exported.

Evaluating the Effects of Watershed Subdivision on Hydrological Simulation by Swat Model in an Arctic Watershed

The hydrological model SWAT is a state-of-the-art tool for environmental and water resources management. Like other semi-distributed models, the whole river basin in the SWAT model is delineated into smaller sub-basins prior to conducting the simulation. Watershed delineation is an importance step since it could potentially influence the modelling results. The present study aimed to conducte an investigation of the effects of watershed delineation schemes on hydrological simulation in an Arctic watershed Målselv, north of Norway. Four delineation schemes were set up with different threshold drainage area (TDA) from fine to coarse including 100 ha, 2,000 ha, 5,000 ha and 10,000 ha. The model was run on monthly time step from 1979-2012. The results showed higher variation of average annual precipitation and runoff especially in the upstream sections of the watershed by the fine TDA schemes compared to the coarse ones. The average monthly precipitation and runoff slightly increased from the finest TDA scheme to the coarsest scheme. All TDA schemes reproduced the observed tendency of the average monthly and annual streamflow although the peak flow was over and under estimated at different hydro-gauging stations. The higher value of estimated streamflow was found at the coarsest scheme.