Economic diversification is crucial for the socio-economic sustainability of single-industry communities in the Russian North. The single-industry towns in the Russian North were formed during the Soviet era under an ideology, which promoted large-scale resource extraction in the peripheries (Blakkisrud 2006, p. 39). However, in the contemporary era, the extraction of new deposits in the Russia...

The response of two dominant coniferous species (Picea obovata Ledeb. and Pinus sylvestris L.) of eastEuropean taiga to industrial pollution in the impact zone of the Severonickel metallurgical combine (Murmansk Region, Kola Peninsula) was investigated. The water deficit of the needles and shoots described by shoot water potential ( ) was used as indicator of the pollution level in the area. Th...

BACKGROUND Prenatal diagnostics ultrasound was established in Russia in 2000 as a routine method of screening for birth defects. The aims of the current study were twofold: to assess changes in birth defects prevalence at birth and perinatal mortality after ultrasound screening was implemented and to estimate prenatal detection rates for congenital malformations in the city of Monchegorsk (Murm...