Autonomous Area Research Articles

Tourism Opportunities for Residents of the Russian Arctic: Within the Region, in Russia and Abroad

Introduction. Russian Arctic regions have a significant tourism potential, but it is not fully realized. The purpose of the study is to assess the possibilities of the population of the Arctic regions of the Russian Federation to realize tourism in their places of residence, in Russia and abroad. Materials and Methods. The research methodology is based on the authors’ approach to the analysis of nine Arctic regions of the Russian Federation. The approach allows to fully evaluate and compare with average Russian values the tourism opportunities of the population of the regions of the Arctic zone in their places of permanent residence and beyond. The analysis of tourism opportunities was carried out on the basis of indicators divided into four semantic blocks: economic and social indicators, transport infrastructure, accommodation infrastructure and leisure and entertainment infrastructure. Summary scores for four groups of indicators were calculated based on cluster analysis using the k-means method as well as minimax normalization. Results. The study revealed a significant gap in the Arctic regions of the Russian Federation in terms of economic and social indicators of the population, transportation connectivity and the level of development of infrastructure for accommodation, leisure and entertainment. Limited tourism opportunities for residents of the Arctic regions were identified. The worst situation is observed in the Nenets Autonomous Area, somewhat better in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Discussion and Conclusion. The resuits indicate the need for integrated development of the Arctic regions. The article is of scientific and practical significance for scientists working on tourism development in the Arctic, regional authorities, representatives of the tourism industry.

А.С. Пушкин forever. Долгий бессмертный Пушкинский день продолжается… К 225-летию со дня рождения А.С. Пушкина

This article delves into various aspects of the philosophical and literary discourse surrounding the creative activities of A.S. Pushkin. The plot of the article includes several independent sections that make up the system of the author’s representation of the phenomenon of A.S. Pushkin. The palette of meanings presented in the article includes, in particular, an exploration of philosophical Pushkin studies as an autonomous area of academic reflection. Emphasis is placed on the “domestic” and “romantic” aspects of the great poet’s life as subjects of philosophical interpretation. Moreover, the article delineates both classical and modern trends in the interpretation of A.S. Pushkin’s life and work by professional historians, literary critics, and advocates of the poet’s legacy. It concludes that Pushkin serves as a unifying force for multiple epochs of Russian culture: the imperial, revolutionary, and Soviet periods. At the same time, the space of Pushkin’s Russia is not confined to a single nation-state; it encompasses the Russian abroad as well.

SEISMICITY of THE NORTH-EAST of RUSSIA in 2020

The results of seismic monitoring of the Magadan region, Chukotka Autonomous Area and the shelf of adjacent seas (Okhotsk, Chukchi, Bering and East Siberian seas) are considered. There were 12 working seismic stations in the region. The catalog of the Russian North-East earthquakes for 2020 includes information about 327 earthquakes, 114 of them are out of the region and 213 with energy classes KR=6.2–12.2 are within the region borders. As usual, most of 213 regional earthquakes (80 %) are localized in the Kolyma area. The total seismic energy released within the region’s borders was equal ΣЕ=3.4481012 J. The classification of Russian North-East earthquakes was performed using energy classes KР of T.G. Rautian’s scale. The energy representa tiveness map of earthquakes with Кmin=6–10 was built. The Magadan network of stations records without omis sions the earthquakes with Kmin=7 in Magadan oblast, with Kmin=8 in Okhotsk sea, Kmin=10 in the Chukchi. The strongest earthquake of 2020 with KR=12.2 (mb=4.3, Ms=3.7) occurred on November 1, 11h44m in the Bering Sea. Epicenters of Magadan region earthquakes were plotted on the tectonic zoning scheme. Most earthquakes are confined to the largest deep faults in the northwestern and sublatitudinal directions. All hypocenters are located within the earth's crust. In 2020, the seismicity level of the North-East of Russia according to the “SOUS09” scale was assessed as "background average" for the observation period from 1968 to 2020. Spatially, all Russian North-East earthquakes are traditionally con centrated in large seismogenic belts: Chersky, North-Okhotsk and Trans-Beringian.

Assessment of Heavy Metals Accumulation Hazard in Estuarine Ecosystems During Polymetallic Ore Mining on Arctic Islands

The condition of river mouths of Vaygach Island (Nenets Autonomous Area), in particular the Krasnaya River, where in the first half of the last century lead-zinc ores were mined without observing nature protection measures and reclamation after the mine conservation. It was revealed that in the mouth of this river there is an accumulation of heavy metals in bottom sediments and aquatic vegetation. Lead content in algae was found to be 4.8 times higher than the sanitary norm. It is recommended that wastewater from mines should be discharged to deep sea areas with salinity over 20 ‰ or discharged into drainless thermokarst lakes, which have no ichthyofauna and freeze to the bottom in winter.

Feeding potential of vascular plants for snow sheep (Оvis nivicola Eschscholtz) in the northern spurs of the Chuvansky Ridge (Chukotka Autonomous Area)

In order to assess the forage resources for the snow sheep, a section of the upper reaches of the Ozernoye Gorlo River (southern Chukotka, the Anadyr River basin, the northern spurs of the Chuvansky Ridge) were surveyed in August 2021. The northern border of the population of the Yakutian snow sheep subspecies Ovis nivicola lydekkeri Kowarzik (1913) that lives in the Chuvansky Ridge system passes through this territory. As a result of the increased anthropogenic pressure, the snow sheep numbers in Chukotka decreased significantly at the turn of the 70s of the last century, which determined the inclusion of the sheep in the regional Red Book (issued in 2008 and 2022). The surveyed area was estimated to have low sheep numbers of about 7 heads/100 km2. This area has a vegetation that is typical for the mountain systems of Northeast Asia. The height of mountain peaks varies from (900) 1200 to 1300 (1400) m above sea level. Forest communities in the river valley are extremely reduced. Cedar elfin patches widespread on the mountain slopes turn into shrub and lichen tundra higher up. The flora of the surveyed area has been found to include 127 species of vascular plants from 77 genera and 38 families. According to the literature sources and our observations, 116 species (66 genera, 30 families) belong to forage plants for the snow sheep, including 74 species known as the feed of these animals in Chukotka. According to the visual assessment of the availability and phytomass reserves of the identified forage plants, 24 main species and 24 secondary ones may have significant forage value for the snow sheep. Taking into account the moss and lichen resources in this area, it can be concluded that the feeding base of the snow sheep here is not a limiting factor for the existing and much larger numbers of these animals.

Непараметрическая оценка прогностической точности моделей на примере временны́х рядов концентраций метана в атмосферном воздухе арк­тического острова Белый

Over the past few decades, the number, variety, and complexity of time series forecasting models have grown. There has also been an increased interest among researchers in comparing and assessing the predictive accuracy and performance of models, and in determining which models are more accurate. The researchers propose using the hypothesis testing approach to assess the performance of a time series forecast model. They obtained data for the study while monitoring the dynamics of ground-level concentrations of the main greenhouse gases on the Arctic Island of Bely, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area, Russia. A total of three models based on autoregressive neural networks with exogenous input (NARX) were considered to predict changes in methane concentration in the surface layer of atmospheric air. The performance of the models was assessed using 8 “traditional” indices (correlation and determination coefficients, Wilmott goodness-of-fit indices, mean absolute error, relative mean square error, etc.) and the proposed permutational approach using the hypothesis testing method. In general, based on the data under study, the estimates of the permutation approach and other indicators of accuracy and error coincide, but there are discrepancies. Effect sizes do not always determine the statistical significance of differences.

Features of distribution of a number of rare and protected plant species in the territories of oligotrophic and mesotrophic mires within oil fields of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area – Yugra

The technogenic transformation of oligotrophic and mesotrophic mires, which occurs during the functioning of the infrastructure of oil fields, leads to the emergence of new habitats with fundamentally different conditions, previously uncharacteristic for these biogeocenoses. Expansion of areas of eutrophicated soils, pollution with oil and chlorides, subsequent reclamation measures, the formation of embankments from mineral soil – all these disturbance types create the preconditions for the disappearance of rare plants, however, in parallel, the introduction of new species that also have a protected status is noted. Transformed areas of mires can become refugia for endangered and protected plants. Three groups of plants can be distinguished, related to the nature of the technogenically transformed substrates on which they settle. The first group includes plants that settle exclusively on peat, the second includes species found on mineral substrates introduced into mires, the third group includes species that can grow both on mineral substrates and technogenically eutrophicated peat soils. The article provides characteristics of a number of transformed habitats that arose in the mire areas of the – Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area – Yugra, within which rare and protected species were found. Among the plants whose distribution in the mires of the district is largely due to the expansion of human economic activity, mention should be made of Thelypteris palustris, Lycopodiella inundata, Typha angustifolia, liverwort Heterogemma laxa, etc.

Новые находки лихенофильных грибов и лишайников с острова Колгуев (Российская Арктика)

Twenty-six species of lichenicolous fungi and fifteen lichen species are newly reported from Kolguev Island. These include Arthonia pannariae, A. peltigerea, Cercidospora punctillata, C. stenotropae, Didymocyrtis consimilis, Endococcus propinquus, Geltingia associata, Knufia peltigerae, Muellerella hospitans, M. lichenicola, Niesslia cladoniicola, Peltigera extenuata, Polyblastia gothica, Polycoccum peltigerae, and Stigmidium peltideae first reported for the Nenets Autonomous Area of Russia. A species of Sphaerellothecium growing on Psoroma hypnorum is briefly described, illustrated, and compared with Sphaerellothecium pannariacearum. The distribution of the taxa listed is discussed. A total of 95 lichen species and 27 species of lichenicolous fungi are known for Kolguev Island to date.

Good data relations key to Indigenous research sovereignty: A case study from Nunatsiavut

Although researchers are committed to Indigenous data sovereignty in principle, they fall short in returning data and results to communities in which or with whom they conduct their research. This results in a misalignment in benefits of research toward researchers and settler institutions and away from Indigenous communities. To explore this, we conducted a case study analyzing the rate researchers returned data to Nunatsiavut, an autonomous area claimed by Inuit of Labrador, Canada. We assessed the data return rate for all research approved by the Nunatsiavut Government Research Advisory Committee between 2011 and 2021. In two-thirds of projects, researchers did not return the data they had collected. Based on our results and their contextualization with researchers and Nunatsiavut Research Centre staff members, we compiled recommendations for researchers, academia, government bodies, funding bodies, and Indigenous research governance boards. These recommendations aim to facilitate data return, thus putting data sovereignty into practice.

Экологические проблемы Арктической зоны России на примере Ямало-Ненецкого автономного округа

The authors analyze the ecological state of three environments (media) of the Russian Arctic zone on the example of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area: soil, water and atmosphere. The the Autonomous Area economy is based on the oil and gas production, which has an increasing negative impact on the region ecology. Environmental pollution due to accidents and fires on oil pipelines, the formation of unauthorized landfills near settlements, contamination of rivers and reservoirs, air pollution, year–round navigation in the Gulf of Ob contribute to the overall change in the region microclimate, which leads to degradation of pastures, changes in deer migration routes and disruption of the traditional way of life of the indigenous population — Nenets-reindeer herders. In order to restore pastures and preserve the traditional way of life of reindeer herders, the authors propose building roads and railways on stilts or isolating reindeer herds from transport infrastructure with the help of eco-bridges so that it does not become an obstacle to seasonal migration of reindeer along traditional routes.

Murmansk Marine Biological Institute of Kola Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences

The authors assess the wind potential indicators and the scale of its use for power supply of hard-to-reach off-grid settlements in the eastern Russian Arctic. The primary challenge facing autonomous power plants is fuel delivery due to long distances and underdeveloped transport infrastructure. The use of wind power plants will reduce fuel consumption and cut the cost of energy production. The researchers use ground-based measurement data and the characteristics of existing autonomous power plants as initial data when assessing the rational capacity of wind power plants. They employ authoring research methods. Via Wind-MCA program they estimate wind potential indicators: average wind speed, capacity factor, and coefficient of wind speed variation. The research results are presented in cartographic form. The rational capacities of wind power plants as part of hybrid energy systems are determined using the generalized dependencies method based on the maximum load of a populated area and calculated wind potential indicators, taking into account the characteristic intra-annual distribution of wind speeds. The best conditions for the development of wind energy are observed on the coast of the Arctic seas in the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Chukot Autonomous Area. The rational capacity of wind power plants in zones of high wind potential in hard-to-reach areas of eastern Russian Arctic is estimated at 12,5 MW.

A resilience‐oriented restoration framework for multi‐area active distribution network following a disaster

AbstractA disaster disrupts energy trading between the distribution network (DN) and autonomous areas in the multi‐area active distribution network (MA‐ADN). Since these areas are self‐interested agents, the energy transaction cost between them should be considered when determining the grid restoration scheme. In this regard, a new three‐level resilience‐oriented restoration (TLROR) framework is proposed to optimally schedule available tie‐lines, and distributed energy resources (DERs) in the MA‐ADN, considering the autonomy and privacy of their ownership. In the first level of the proposed TLROR, an electrical price vector (EPV) is created with the contribution of different areas. In the second level, each area should calculate the amount of imported active and reactive power from the DN through its tie branches and save it in the transactive power list (TPL). Finally, at the third level, the transactive energy market is cleared by the DN operator considering economic issues and operating limits. The proposed method provides energy transactions between independent agents to enhance MA‐ADN resiliency, with the least information sharing, and privacy preserving. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified using the modified IEEE 33‐bus MA‐ADN and a part of the DN in the Pol‐e Dokhtar in the Lorestan province of Iran.

Distribution of the black grouse, capercaillie, and hazel grouse (Tetraonidae) at the northern edge of their species range in the Nenets Autonomous Area

This paper presents data on the distribution of the black grouse Lyrurus tetrix (L., 1758), capercaillie Tetrao urogallus (L., 1758), and hazel grouse Tetrastes bonasia (L., 1758) in the Nenets Autonomous Area (the northeast of the European Russian Federation). The study has revealed trends indicating an expansion of the distribution range of these species to the north. According to our observations, black grouse, capercaillie, and hazel grouse in the Malozemelskaya Tundra are located further north than in the published data – about 40 km for black grouse, 20 km for capercaillie, and 20 km for hazel grouse. In the Malozemelskaya Tundra, the northernmost black grouse and capercaillie were found in spruce forest islands, while the hazel grouse inhabited riverine floodplain forests. In the Bolshezemelskaya Tundra, the capercaillie was the only grouse bird found further north compared to the published data, in the extremely northern islands of the forest within the Shapkina River valley. In the Bolshezemelskaya Tundra, new registrations of the grouse (200 km) and ruffed grouse (100 km) were noted to the east of the known data, indirectly indicating an expansion of the distribution area of these birds to the north in the regions adjacent to the Nenets Autonomous Area. It was noted that the trends of expansion of the range of distribution of black grouse to the north are unidirectional with positive trends in air temperature in the Nenets Autonomous Area and with the processes of gradual overgrowth of woody vegetation in treeless areas located between the forest tundra and northern spruce forest islands.

Experience of cladribine tablets usage in the treatment of multiple sclerosis in the Multiple Sclerosis Centre of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area — Yugra

Experience of cladribine tablets usage in the treatment of multiple sclerosis in the Multiple Sclerosis Centre of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area — Yugra

Associations between caries experience and oral fluid mineral content among patients in Arctic Russia: a study in the Nenets Autonomous Area

The relationship between the intensity of caries and mineral composition of oral fluid in adolescents in the Arctic zone of Russia was investigated using the example of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug. This study included 171 healthy boys and girls aged 15–17 years. The intensity of caries was assessed using the index caries + fillings + extracted permanent teeth and its components. Unstimulated oral fluid was collected into sterile tubes. Sodium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, and total and ionized calcium content and pH were examined in the oral fluid. Considering the pronounced right-sided asymmetry of the components of the index caries + fillings + extracted permanent teeth, calculations were performed using Poisson regression models. Results were presented as relative risks with 95% confidence intervals and as tests for trend. The prevalence of caries in the sample population did not differ by sex and was 87.8% for boys and 93.3% for girls (p = 0.221). On average, 1.8 carious teeth per person were detected in boys and 1.4 in girls (p = 0.021). No differences were found in the number of filled (p = 0.167) and extracted (p = 0.981) teeth. Additionally, the total sodium content in oral fluid was directly proportional to the index of caries + fillings + extracted permanent teeth (p = 0.040) and number of carious teeth (p 0.001). The total oral fluid calcium was significantly associated with both the caries + fillings + extracted permanent teeth index (p = 0.019) and number of filled teeth (p = 0.001). Inverse relationships were found between the number of filled teeth and magnesium (p = 0.028) and phosphorus (p = 0.037) content. The study showed the presence of statistically significant relationships between the mineral composition of oral fluid and index of caries + fillings + extracted permanent teeth and its components. Thus, unfavorable living conditions in the Arctic zone provide additional risk factors for the occurrence of dental diseases. The results of the study, if confirmed in other populations, can be used to develop models for predicting the development and progression of caries in adolescents of the Far North. Further studies of the mineral composition of oral fluid are required to obtain more complete clinical and laboratory data, considering confounding factors such as nutrition and type of filling material.

Study on the policy implementation effect of serious Illness medical insurance in the ethnic minority autonomous area of Western China

Study on the policy implementation effect of serious Illness medical insurance in the ethnic minority autonomous area of Western China

Research on the Legislative Power of National Autonomous Areas

Legislation on national autonomous areas is a significant component of China's legal system and a key element with unique features of the system of regional national autonomy. The nature of the legislative power in national autonomous regions has the dual nature of power legislation and authorized legislation, and the concept and attributes are relatively complex, and there are problems such as unclear division of authority and confusion in the application of power in the division of authority and operation practice. Comprehensively considering factors such as the goal of establishing the legislative power of autonomy, the adaptation of autonomous regulations and the nationality of national regions, the improvement measures are put forward from the perspectives of the approval power system and the principle of adaptation.

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY AS AN AREA SAFETY ENGINEERING

The publication deals with the issue of safety engineering and occupational health and safety interms of the areas of knowledge, education and science. Safety engineering is an area of knowledge,an area of education (field of higher studies), an area of science (a new discipline in the fieldof engineering and technical sciences). On the other hand, occupational health and safety is anarea of knowledge (e.g.: occupational health and safety service, legal information, standardizationinformation, industry information), an area of education (e.g.: training in the field of occupationalhealth and safety, occupation of an occupational health and safety technician, field of higherstudies, postgraduate studies), yet it is not an autonomous area of science as an independentscientific discipline (it has a chance of becoming a research area or scientific specialty in thediscipline of safety engineering). The scope of the publication comprises selected aspects of safetyengineering, selected aspects of occupational health and safety and a review of requirements in thefield of occupational risk assessment. The research and analyses included publicly available datain the field of higher education and science system (including: POL-on system, RAD-on system,Polish Science database, website of the Council of Scientific Excellence): universities offering fieldsof study in safety engineering and occupational health and safety, entities and persons conductingresearch activities in safety engineering, entities authorized to award doctoral degrees andhabilitated doctor degrees in safety engineering, persons declaring scientific specialties in safetyengineering and occupational health and safety. In the higher education and science system, thefollowing were identified: two entities authorized to award doctoral degrees and habilitated doctordegrees in safety engineering (the Fire University, the WSB University), nine entities conductingscientific activities in the discipline of safety engineering and 113 people conducting scientificactivities in the discipline of safety engineering (people with at least a doctoral degree, including13 people with the academic title of professor and 32 people with the academic degree of associateprofessor).

Assessing Public Service Quality in Emerging Autonomous Regions: A Case Study of Basic Education Services in Central Mamuju Regency

There is a limited amount of research being undertaken on emerging autonomous areas, particularly in the evaluation of local governments capabilities in meeting the demands of autonomy, especially concerning the enhancement of public service delivery. This study seeks to address the existing research gap by evaluating the quality of public services provided by the newly established autonomous region administration, with a specific focus on the basic education sector. This study focuses on the Central Mamuju Regency, a recently established autonomous unit within the West Sulawesi Province. The researcher employed a mixed method approach in their study. Data gathering for quantitative approaches typically involves the administration of surveys, whereas qualitative data is often gathered through Focus Group Discussions (FGD). The survey was administered to a sample of basic education service providers, comprising 116 elementary schools and 37 secondary schools, resulting in a total of 153 participants. The primary objective of this study is to examine the minimal service standards on four key components, specifically facilities and infrastructure, educators and education personnel, curriculum, and education quality assurance. Data analysis methods employ statistical techniques to describe and analyze quantitative data, while utilizing interpretive approaches to analyze qualitative data. The findings of the study indicate that the newly established autonomous government faces challenges in enhancing the provision of basic education services, mostly owing to constraints in infrastructure. Another factor that adds to the deficiency in quality is the insufficient quantity of teachers who possess proper certification as educators. Keywords: public service, service standard, local government, new autonomy area

Перспективные на свинец и цинк рудные районы Арктической зоны России

Based on the research carried out on the territory of the Arctic zone of Russia the authors have identified ore districts that are promising for the discovery and development of Pb-Zn deposits, among which only one large Pavlovskoe deposit (Novaya Zemlya Archipelago) is at the development stage. More than 20 facilities are dispersed in the Murmansk and Arkhangelsk regions, the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area, Taimyr, the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and the Chukotka Autonomous Area. They outline that most of the ore districts are located in the 100-km zone of economic accessibility (high priority of mineral resources development) to the Northern Sea Route. Within the three-ore districts, it is possible to form new mining clusters, including several nearby deposits. The authors indicate prospects for the discovery of new deposits as well as challenges in the development of the mineral resource base of the considered ore regions: lack of infrastructure, arctic climate, remoteness, and the need for a large volume of geological exploration.