Barriers to Start and Develop Transformative Ecotourism Business

This article aims to fill the cognitive gap by providing evidence for different barriers hampering the innovative activity in ecotourism which concerns the promotion of the so-called transformative tourism concept. The research is devoted to identifying what are the most important barriers in the two areas: i) policy and regulation; ii) regional economic development. The observed absence of appropriate representative data for defining the state of the art in the field of transformative ecotourism as a new phenomenon is evident; therefore, it is suggested to use an expert survey for barriers identification in the field. The expert survey was done in the four post-socialist Baltic Sea countries/regions: Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and the St. Petersburg region (Russia) in autumn 2020. Research results disclose the existing similarities among barriers in researched regions and highlight the key areas for improvement in policy and regulation and economy-related fields, aiming to create a more favorable environment for promoting transformative ecotourism as prosperous innovation of future tourism.

«Merger and acquisition»: monopolization of electro technical market in Russia at the beginning of the XX century

Introduction. The problem of monopolization of the electric and technical market in Russia becomes the most important one during the economic modernization at the edge of XIX–XX centuries when the branches of foreign electric and technical companies are converted into Russian joint stock companies. “Electric illumination company of 1886” becomes the largest company on this market at the beginning of the XX century. Materials and Methods. The article is devoted to the research of the policy of “Electric illumination company of 1886” aimed at the acquisition of the “Shuvalov electric illumination company in Petersburg region” of the largest electro technical company – Joint stock company “Shuvalov electro technical illumination in Petersburg region” established for the purpose of illumination of country-house plots and houses in the suburb of St. Petersburg (Shuvalovo, Ozerki and Pargolovo) at the beginning of the XX century, which is based on the analysis of the archive materials contained in the Russian State Historical Archive (RSHA) and Central State Historical Archive of St. Petersburg (CSHA SPb.). Results of the Research. Using the example of the activity of such electro technical companies the author reveals the mechanism of “merger and acquisition” of minor joint stock companies by large monopolists who used different methods of pressure on the shareholders and management of the companies. Discussion and Conclusion. In this competitor environment, minor joint stock companies did not have a chance to remain independent even in the case of a fair court decision. The situation of “merger and acquisition” was actually profitable mostly for the companies’ management and for the leading shareholders who, in this case, received regular dividends, but the common customers had to pay according to the prices set forth by monopolies.

Middle Ordovician Drepanoistodus (Vertebrata, Conodonta) from Baltica, with description of three new species

Drepanoistodus basiovalis (Sergeeva, 1963) is a common conodont species in Middle Ordovician strata of Baltica. For many years it has been widely accepted that the species encompasses a wide range of morphological plasticity. Hence, several different morphotypes that significantly deviate from the holotype have nonetheless been included in the broad species concept. In this study, we performed a detailed taxonomical study on 112 predominantly well-preserved specimens (geniculate elements) from the St. Petersburg region of Russia; 37 of these were selected for morphometric analyses together with 21 well-illustrated specimens from the published literature. The results demonstrate that, among the morphotypes that share some characteristics with D. basiovalis sensu lato, at least five species can be readily distinguished. Hence, three new species – Drepanoistodus iommii sp. nov., D. svendi sp. nov. and D. viirae sp. nov. – are here added to the previously known D. basiovalis and D. contractus (Lindström, 1955). In addition, some specimens were left under open nomenclature and assigned to Drepanoistodus aff. basiovalis and D. cf. suberectus (Branson & Mehl, 1933). In order to objectively compare the Drepanoistodus taxa and test the validity of the new species, we performed a Principal Component Analysis combined with non-parametric (PERMANOVA) tests based on 21 morphological characters.

Ice walking common frog (Rana temporaria) (Ranidae, Amphibia)

Arecord of Rana temporaria on the ice cover of the Gulf of Finland is described. Frog slowly moved on the ice surface with speed around 0.03 m/s. Air temperature near ice surface was +3.5°C, and the frog body temperature was +4°C. In the Saint Petersburg region, common frogs can hibernate in the coastal waters of Baltic Sea with salinity of 0 – 5.8‰.

Traditions and factors of the St. Petersburg region that determine the trends of modern restoration practice at reconstruction of architectural monuments

This study examines the currently used approaches and methods of restoration work on the monuments of architecture, which have been established during the historical period of St. Petersburg existence and which are used in the daily practice of restoration activities, characteristic for the St. Petersburg region, its traditions, culture and mentality. The role of the Leningrad school of restorers in the modern restoration practice and its influence on the main aspects of the St. Petersburg strategy of cultural heritage preservation has been estimated. A number of regional factors have been identified as the basis for the restoration of architectural monuments, taking into account deep historical and cultural traditions, natural and climatic features, and socio-demographic characteristics.

Forty-year evolution of radioactive groundwater contamination at the site of radioactive waste storage (St. Petersburg region, Russian Federation)

Evolution of tritium and beta contamination plumes resulted from radioactive waste leakage in the 1990s has been studied based on 40-year-long monitoring data at the site of radioactive waste (RW) storage. Localand regional-scale hydrodynamics are found to be the main features controlling the spreading of tritium contamination in the aquifer system, while spatial distribution of beta-activity plume is strongly restricted by sorption of 90Sr и 137Cs isotopes onto rock matrix. The study performed proves that groundwater system at the site is actually in the stage of rehabilitation from the «historical» contamination. Special complex investigation program aimed on examination of water accumulated in repository buildings and its interconnection with groundwater, demonstrated good isolation of the buildings from the surrounding aquifers and no evidence of RW release to the subsurface environment nowadays.

Content of the Site for Supporting of Regional Student Competition on Engineering and Computer Graphics

At the beginning of this paper has been pointed a large number of works, in which organizational, methodological and informational questions related to student competitions of different levels on graphic cycle’s courses are considered. In Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University "LETI" in 2000-2012 were hold 13 city (regional) student competitions on engineering and computer graphics (ECG) among St. Petersburg high educational institutions. In 2013-2016 regional student competitions were hold in Saint Petersburg National Research University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics (ITMO University). In this paper has been presented the main page of the site for supporting of regional student competitions on engineering and computer graphics preparation and holding in the St. Petersburg region. Has been demonstrated an example for representation of original data for one of the task options (2016) where it was necessary to create solid models of two parts, assemblies of these parts with standard fasteners, associative drawings of one part and assembly, and the assembly specification. Have been presented tables with criteria for assessments the development correctness of four documents: the part drawing, the assembly drawing, the specification, and a document with the assembly’s axonometric view and a localized section of two parts connection by fasteners. Has been considered a compilation of reference data from the Russian State Standards for student competition task fulfillment. This compilation usage excludes the need for reference books with a large amount of excess information not related to competition tasks. Has been presented information about the procedure for evaluation of performed competition tasks. The efficiency of preparation for participation in the competition based on the analysis of competition tasks performed in previous years has been marked. The experience in preparing students for participation in competitions shows the effectiveness of posting informational and methodical materials on the relevant thematic sites.

Entrepreneurship Support in Local Development Process – Russian Experience in Sankt Petersburg Region

Entrepreneurship support activities are crucial in local management no matter what country they are used in. Local structures are usually used actively to support local development and it is very important to construct a set of entrepreneurship support instruments which is effective. To achieve that it may be useful to use foreign experience in this matter. In the article the authors outlined the instruments used in Sankt Petersburg region. The evaluation of the instruments was introduced by Russian companies which may be helpful for Polish local governments to improve their instruments systems.