Administrative and economic dimensions of regionalization: case of Leningrad Province and North-Western Federal District of Russia

The North-Western Federal District (NWFD) was created in 2000 within the framework of administrative and territorial division reforming. NWFD appeared together with 6 other districts: Central, Privolzhski, Southern, Urals?, Siberian and Far Eastern. The District included 2 economic regions: North-Western and Northern and united 11 Federation Units: Kaliningrad, Leningrad, Pskov, Novgorod, Vologda, Murmansk and Arkhangelsk provinces, Karelia and Komi Republics, Nenets Autonomous District and Saint-Petersburg._ According to many indicators North-West Federal District of Russia is a leader of NWFD, leaving behind even Saint-Petersburg (if we compare investment attractiveness, especially for FDI, both domestic and foreign). During 1999 ? 2000 several big investment projects started in the Province. The Province?s only real competitor among NWFD regions is Novgorod region which also formed an ?oasis? of favorable investment climate within its boundaries._ Economic and geographical significance of Leningrad Province for NWFD and whole Russia is based on transport infrastructure, which develops actively on its territory. The infrastructure includes seaports and railroads that serve as transit bridges between Russia and European countries. That was the reason for the Province?s participation in main investment projects in NWFD implemented during the last years, such as creation of Baltic Pipeline System (BPS). BPS project gained national significance; besides, it gave a prominent impact to NWFD fuel industry development. Due to BPS fuel sector companies that operate in oil and gas provinces of Arkhangelsk Province, Komi Republic and Barents and Kara Sea got direct access to seaports on Russian territory._ Interregional relations are developing in other industries as well. New machine-building companies of Leningrad Province start to co-operate with suppliers from other NWFD regions. For example, ?Ford-Vsevolozhsk? company signed a contract with Bor glass factory on automobile glass supplies._ In NWFD interregional relations are intensified by several automobile transport projects. The southern semi-ring of a road bending round the Onega Lake is under construction; the road will connect parts of Leningrad Province and Republic Karelia. Ferry line ?Ust-Luga ? Baltijsk ? German seaports? will improve transport connection between Leningrad and Kaliningrad Provinces._ But the present intensity of interregional relations within the NWFD is low; non-NWFD regions of Russia and foreign partners of the Province share the bulk of Leningrad Province?s external trade. One reason for such a state of affairs the authors tend to find in the drawbacks of a system of territorial and administrative division, which was formed in Russian Federation in early 90-ies. The authors also suggest one possible solution for the problem: consolidation of existing regions ? Federation Units. For example, it seems reasonable to form 5 larger regions from 11 existing: Neva Region (Leningrad Province and Saint-Petersburg); Old-Russia Region (Novgorod and Pskov Provinces); Lake Region (Murmansk Province and Republic Karelia); Dvino-Pechora Region (Arkhangelsk and Vologda Provinces, Komi Republic, Nenets Autonomous District); Kaliningrad Province preserves its administrative status. The authors believe, that this reform could help interregional links to surmount this artificial disintegration of the NWFD regions and it would enhance their economic development._

Complex defects in crystal scintillation materials and phosphors

The possibility of the existence of complex defects in pure and doped crystal phosphor discussed in work. The luminescent properties of mono- and nanocrystals of zinc tungstate, the powders of YAG with various compositions are studied. It is shown that the intrinsic defects, impurities, oxygen vacancies, the hydroxyl groups may be present in the structure of the complex defects (nanodefects). Nanodefects form during synthesis and have high efficiency of the transfer of excitation energy to the emission centres

Administrative and economic dimensions of regionalization: case of Leningrad Province and North-Western Federal District of Russia

The North-Western Federal District (NWFD) was created in 2000 within the framework of administrative and territorial division reforming. NWFD appeared together with 6 other districts: Central, Privolzhski, Southern, Urals', Siberian and Far Eastern. The District included 2 economic regions: North-Western and Northern and united 11 Federation Units: Kaliningrad, Leningrad, Pskov, Novgorod, Vologda, Murmansk and Arkhangelsk provinces, Karelia and Komi Republics, Nenets Autonomous District and Saint-Petersburg._ According to many indicators North-West Federal District of Russia is a leader of NWFD, leaving behind even Saint-Petersburg (if we compare investment attractiveness, especially for FDI, both domestic and foreign). During 1999 - 2000 several big investment projects started in the Province. The Province's only real competitor among NWFD regions is Novgorod region which also formed an ?oasis' of favorable investment climate within its boundaries._ Economic and geographical significance of Leningrad Province for NWFD and whole Russia is based on transport infrastructure, which develops actively on its territory. The infrastructure includes seaports and railroads that serve as transit bridges between Russia and European countries. That was the reason for the Province's participation in main investment projects in NWFD implemented during the last years, such as creation of Baltic Pipeline System (BPS). BPS project gained national significance; besides, it gave a prominent impact to NWFD fuel industry development. Due to BPS fuel sector companies that operate in oil and gas provinces of Arkhangelsk Province, Komi Republic and Barents and Kara Sea got direct access to seaports on Russian territory._ Interregional relations are developing in other industries as well. New machine-building companies of Leningrad Province start to co-operate with suppliers from other NWFD regions. For example, ?Ford-Vsevolozhsk? company signed a contract with Bor glass factory on automobile glass supplies._ In NWFD interregional relations are intensified by several automobile transport projects. The southern semi-ring of a road bending round the Onega Lake is under construction; the road will connect parts of Leningrad Province and Republic Karelia. Ferry line ?Ust-Luga - Baltijsk - German seaports' will improve transport connection between Leningrad and Kaliningrad Provinces._ But the present intensity of interregional relations within the NWFD is low; non-NWFD regions of Russia and foreign partners of the Province share the bulk of Leningrad Province's external trade. One reason for such a state of affairs the authors tend to find in the drawbacks of a system of territorial and administrative division, which was formed in Russian Federation in early 90-ies. The authors also suggest one possible solution for the problem: consolidation of existing regions - Federation Units. For example, it seems reasonable to form 5 larger regions from 11 existing: Neva Region (Leningrad Province and Saint-Petersburg); Old-Russia Region (Novgorod and Pskov Provinces); Lake Region (Murmansk Province and Republic Karelia); Dvino-Pechora Region (Arkhangelsk and Vologda Provinces, Komi Republic, Nenets Autonomous District); Kaliningrad Province preserves its administrative status. The authors believe, that this reform could help interregional links to surmount this artificial disintegration of the NWFD regions and it would enhance their economic development

Complex defects in crystal scintillation materials and phosphors

The possibility of the existence of complex defects in pure and doped crystal phosphor discussed in work. The luminescent properties of mono- and nanocrystals of zinc tungstate, the powders of YAG with various compositions are studied. It is shown that the intrinsic defects, impurities, oxygen vacancies, the hydroxyl groups may be present in the structure of the complex defects (nanodefects). Nanodefects form during synthesis and have high efficiency of the transfer of excitation energy to the emission centres

Nanodefect substructures in crystal phosphors

We investigated spectral and kinetic characteristics of the luminescence in alkali halide crystals with polyvalent impurities, crystal phosphors based on metal tungstates in the form of nano-, micro- and bulk crystals. The possibility of the existence of complex defects (nanodefects) in materials containing high defect concentration is shown

Kinetic parameters of the uranium luminescence in Lif crystals

The results of researches with nanosecond time resolution of kinetic characteristics of luminescence buildup and decay in crystals LiF(U)-O at 300 K under action of both laser pulse with energy 3,68 eV and electron pulse with energy 300 keV have been presented. Influence of excite method on kinetic characteristics of uranium luminescence buildup and influence of uranium on kinetic characteristics of oxygen luminescence in crystal were establishe

Mineralogical and geochemical features of the Manus Basin hydrothermal sulfide ores, Bismarck Sea

Paragenetic mineral assemblages have been established based on mineralogical, chemical, and isotope (S, Pb) studies, and the sequence of deposition has been defined in hydrothennal sulfide structures in a typical back-arc basin. The ores in the Manus basin have a prominent Zn specialization (sphalerite, würtzite, and fe-sphalerite). An association of Fe-spbalerite and galena with Ag sulfosalts is noted that is not characteristic of typical midocean ridge hydrothennal systems. The average 34S in the sulfide minerals is 3.5%o, which corresponds to the medium-temperature sphalerite stage in hydrothermal mineral fonnation. It is suggested that the metal source is located in the relatively acid rocks of the island-arc tholeiitic series and possibly in sediments

Investigation of Mechanical Properties of Polyimide- Polyethyl-eneterephthalate System

The study of the physico-mechanical properties of new composite materials based on polyimide (PI) and polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) was carried out. Dependences of σ from ε for different concentrations of the second component and irradiation doses were measured. The experimental data are described satisfactorily by the exponential cascadeprobabilistic model