State Image of Mongolia: Between National Identity and Globalization

The article studies the construction of the state image of Mongolia and its peculiarities. Mongolia is a country undergoing social and cultural transformation that includes reevaluation of image strategies. State image is an international statement based on highlighting one’s original characteristics that make a country attractive to investors and international partners. At the same time, it should reflect real cultural practices and allow for advancing national interests. The present study deploys the methodology of case study, SWOT analysis, thematic analysis of connotations that form the external and internal image of Mongolia. The purpose of this article is to investigate the strategies of image construction in today’s Mongolia. The article is aimed to give a semantic vision of the external image of Mongolia by identifying the most common words and expressions that are used in media to describe modern Mongolia. The second objective was to lay out the problematic aspects of creating an image of Mongolia as a promising and growing country despite the fact that now it goes through a challenging period of its history. The third objective is to investigate the ways Mongolia attempts to address these problems. For this purpose, the authors analyze government programs set to form and establish a modern image of Mongolia. These programs include a variety of documents, such as the National Program for the Promotion of Mongolia Abroad and others. Another line of research included the analysis of the work on the inclusion of Mongolian natural and cultural heritage on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The novelty of the research comes from a unique perspective on the construction of state image of Mongolia as an ethnic and cultural brand from the point of view of marketing strategies. The authors conclude that building brand and image of Mongolia is based on the civilizational approach. This approach to re-evaluating and re-creating Mongolia’s image leads to combining opposite characteristics. The country is presented as both ancient and modern, traditional and responsive to change. Such combination of controversial aspects makes allows for implementing archaic elements into the discourse of the catch-up modernization resulting in a positive state image. Mongolia’s experience in making a new image shows the potential of equating national and ethnocultural identity

Relationship between the degree of myocardial damage according to contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and laboratory data in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Aim. To evaluate the information value of a complex of clinical and biochemical parameters of myocardial damage in predicting the development of transmural myocardial damage according to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).Material and methods. The study included patients admitted to the emergency cardiology department with acute coronary syndrome. All patients underwent invasive coronary angiography, laboratory tests, and dynamic determination of cardiac biomarkers. In the interval of 6,1±4 days from admission to the hospital, patients underwent contrast-enhanced cardiac MRI. According to the pattern of delayed contrast enhancement, patients were divided into two groups: with a transmural and subendocardial pattern.Results. The mean age of patients was 62,5±10,5 years, while 27 (71,1%) had ST-segment elevation AMI. Among the risk factors for coronary artery disease, dyslipidemia (89,5%), hypertension (68,4%), and smoking (57,9%) were the most common. Creatine phosphokinase-MB (CPK-MB), serum high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and C-reactive protein (CRP) values after 24 h were significantly higher in patients with transmural hyperenhancement. Moderate positive relationship was found between the global size of left ventricular (LV) damage according to MRI data and the levels of CPK-MB after 24 h and 4 days, as well as with CRP after 24 h, 4 and 7 days, and cTnI level after 24 h and 4 days. In the group of patients with transmural pattern, the global size of LV damage was significantly higher. Patients of this group were characterized by higher prevalence of microvascular obstruction. In a univariate regression analysis, there were following significant predictors of transmural myocardial damage: CPK-MB after 4 days (p=0,023) and ST segment elevation (p=0,029). Multivariate regression analysis showed that the only independent predictor of transmural myocardial damage was an increase in CPKMB after 4 days (p=0,023).Conclusion. An independent predictor of LV transmural damage in AMI was an elevated level of CPK-MB after 4 days. However, this laboratory marker had unsatisfactory information completeness and predictive quality. In this regard, cardiac MRI in patients with AMI, compared with the standard clinical assessment, can be considered preferable for assessing the depth of myocardial damage, risk stratification, and prognosis

Digital technologies in the system of teaching students at the university

The study aims at identifying the role of the digital technologies in the system of teaching students at the university. The following methods were used in the study: testing, questioning, analysis of performance results, mathematical methods of data processing, etc. Methods for diagnosing learning motivation and emotional attitude to learning, studying the levels of formation of students’ cognitive interests (author’s method), a questionnaire for assessing students’ knowledge in the field of research activities were applied as well. The data of the students’ final progress in subjects were also analysed. An analysis of the main results of the study allows us to conclude: students who were asked to use digital technologies in teaching showed significant differences before and after the experiment on all scales of the study (the learning motivation level, the cognitive interest level, the knowledge level in the research activities field, assessment of the final performance in subjects). The analysis of the results also showed that according to all the data obtained at the stage of the control experiment, the reliability of the differences in the conclusions of the experimental and control groups on all scales of the study is confirmed

СОДЕРЖАНИЕ ЭССЕНЦИАЛЬНЫХ И УСЛОВНО ЭССЕНЦИАЛЬНЫХ ХИМИЧЕСКИХ ЭЛЕМЕНТОВ В ИНТРАОПЕРАЦИОННЫХ БИОПТАТАХ ДЕТЕЙ С ВРОЖДЕННЫМИ ПОРОКАМИ СЕРДЦА И АРИТМИЕЙ

Background. Despite recent numerous studies, etiopathogenesis, treatment and rehabilitation of children with heart rhythm disorders haven’t been studied well. We paid attention to the significant impact of mineral nutrients on cardiac activity, while addressing to the viable solutions. Aim. To measure the levels of essential and conditionally essential mineral nutrients and to determine any relationships between their concentrations in hair and in the intraoperative biopsy specimens obtained from children with congenital heart disease and heart rhythm disorders. Methods 55 children (34 boys and 21 girls) aged 6 to 17 years with different heart rhythm disorders and congenital heart disease were included in the study. Levels of 15 essential mineral nutrients (calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, sulfur, chromium, copper, iron, iodine, cobalt, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, zinc) and 3 conditionally essential nutrients (boron, silicon, vanadium) were measured in hair and in the intraoperative biopsy specimens obtained from children with congenital heart disease using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and electrothermal atomization atomic absorption spectrometry. The results of the study were processed using variational and alternative statistic methods with the commercially available software “MedStat”. Results The lack of essential nutrients (K, Mn, Se, Cr, P, Co, S, Cu, Na, Mo) and conditionally essential mineral, Si, in the intraoperative biopsy specimens of the heart and great arteries has been found. The direct strong correlation between the levels of essential (K, Mn, Se, Cr, Co) and conditionally essential (Si) minerals in hair and heart tissues of children with congenital heart disease and heart rhythm disorders has been determined. Conclusion The deficit of essential (potassium, manganese, selenium, chromium, phosphorus, cobalt, sulfur, copper, sodium, molybdenum) and conditionally essential (silicon) mineral nutrients, and the direct strong correlation between their levels in hair and heart tissues of children with congenital heart disease and heart rhythm disorders allows using hair as a biosubstrate, which is highly informative for the measurement of nutrients in the human body. Актуальность. Несмотря на многочисленность проводимых исследований, особенно в последнее десятилетие, до настоящего времени ряд аспектов этиопатогенеза, лечения и реабилитации детей с нарушением ритма сердца (НРС) остаются не изученными. В поиске возможных путей решения ряда задач нами было обращено внимание на существенную значимость химических элементов (ХЭ) в обеспечении деятельности сердечно-сосудистой системы. Цель. Оценить содержание и выявить взаимосвязь между концентрацией эссенциальных и условно эссенциальных химических элементов в волосах и в интраоперационных биоптатах детей с ВПС и аритмией. Материалы и методы Обследованы 55 детей (34 мальчика и 21 девочка) в возрасте от 6 до 17 лет с различными видами НРС и ВПС. Определено содержание 15 эссенциальных ХЭ (кальций, калий, магний, натрий, фосфор, сера, хром, медь, железо, йод, кобальт, марганец, молибден, селен, цинк) и 3 условно эссенциальных ХЭ (бор, кремний, ванадий) в волосах и в интраоперационных биоптатах детей с ВПС методами атомно-эмиссионной спектрометрии в индуктивно-связанной плазме и атомно-абсорбционной спектрометрии с электротермической атомизацией. Обработку результатов исследования проводили методами вариационной и альтернативной статистики с использованием лицензионного программного пакета «MedStat». Результаты. По результатам проведенного спектрального многоэлементного анализа интраоперационных биоптатов тканей сердца и магистральных сосудов выявлен дефицит эссенциальных ХЭ (K, Mn, Se, Cr, P, Со, S, Cu, Nа, Mo) и условно эссенциального микроэлемента Si. Доказана прямая сильная корреляционная зависимость между содержанием эссенциальных ХЭ (K, Mn, Se, Cr, Co) и условно эссенциального ХЭ Si в волосах и тканях сердца у детей с ВПС и НРС. Заключение. Выявленный дефицит эссенциальных ХЭ калия, марганца, селена, хрома, фосфора, кобальта, серы, меди, натрия, молибдена и условно эссенциального микроэлемента кремния, доказанная прямая сильная корреляционная зависимость между содержанием калия, марганца, селена, хрома, кобальта и кремния в волосах и тканях сердца у детей с ВПС и НРС подтверждает информативность использования данного биосубстрата для оценки содержания ХЭ в организме

Study of local inflammatory response in different clinical forms of chronic polypous rhinosinusitis

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) affects 5-12% of the world’s adult population. Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) accounts for 25-30% of all cases of CRS. CRSwNP-associated inflammatory process in nasal mucosa and paranasal sinuses depends on the characteristics of local immunity, including expression of a number of cytokines. The aim of this work was to investigate the parameters of local immunity in various clinical forms of CRSwNP. In this work, the concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines, i.e., interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-8, antimicrobial function of neutrophils from the nasal cavity was evaluated, along with histological and immunohistochemical studies of polyposis tissue. The study included 4 groups of patients: a control group of practically healthy individuals, patients with CRSwNP, clinical cases with chronic purulent rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps (CPRSwNP), and patients with CRSwNP complicated by bronchial asthma (CRSwNP + BA), including the cases with asthmatic triad (CRSwNP + intolerance to NSAIDs + BA). The patients were classified on the basis of their clinical characteristics and severity of the course of the disease. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-8 concentrations in nasal secretions were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). To assess functional activity of neutrophils, a lysosomal cationic test was used on the smears from mucous surface of inferior turbinate. Histological examination of the polypous tissue biopsies was performed in slices stained with Carazzi’s hematoxylin and eosin. IL-1β and IL-8 location in the polypous tissue were detected by indirect immunohistochemistry. In all groups of the patients, IL-1β and IL-8 concentrations exceeded those in the control group. The levels of IL-1β in the groups with CPRSwNP, CRSwNP + BA were significantly increased as compared with the CRSwNP group. IL-8 concentrations in the CRSwNP and CPRSwNP groups were significantly higher than in the CRSwNP + BA group. When analyzing antimicrobial function of neutrophils, the decreased average values of cytochemical coefficient were shown in CPRSwNP and CRSwNP + BA groups, compared with the control group and CRSwNP. In all clinical forms of CPMS, complex histopathological changes were observed, including leukocyte infiltration, fibrosis, edema, and collagen depositions. In addition, the integrity of epithelial layer was found to be damaged in polyposis, epithelial metaplasia is detected as well as increased mucus production. These disorders lead to a decrease in muco-ciliary clearance in nasal cavity. The most significant pathomorphological changes occur in CRSwNP + BA, especially in cases of asthmatic triad. According to immunohistochemical data, in various forms of CRSwNP, IL-1β- and IL-8-positive leukocytes, predominantly macrophages, are detected in the polypous tissue both subepithelially and in the connective tissue stroma of the polyps. Changed concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines in nasal secretion of the patients, altered antimicrobial activity of mucosal neutrophils, and characteristic pathomorphological disorders in polypous tissue of patients with CRSwNP are associated with severity of inflammatory process and clinical course of the disease. The results obtained are essential to understanding the mechanisms of pathogenesis in various subgroups of CRSwNP, assessing severity of the disease and efficiency of the treatment applied

Социально-экономические последствия старения населения: аспекты современных вызовов Российской Федерации

Purpose: the article summarizes the key characteristics of the population ageing phenomenon and identifies the channels through which it has an impact on the demographic crisis parameters as well as the socioeconomic growth of the country.Methods: the study is based on tracking the consequences associated with the phenomenon of population ageing. Simultaneously, computational and graphical methods, comparative and retrospective analysis of the sex and age pyramids, expert and empirical assessment of the trends in the structure of the population older than 60-65 years, as well as its economic burden per 1,000 able-bodied people, were used.Results: the main parameters of the socioeconomic impacts of population ageing are determined. Age limits and essential features of this phenomenon are revealed. The forecast trend of socioeconomic parameters of population ageing is supported by the SWOT analysis matrix, and a conceptual model for the implementation of systematic adjustment measures for the ongoing demographic crisis is proposed.Conclusions and Relevance: the article demonstrates that population ageing is not a fundamental socioeconomic problem that endangers the well-being of the population over working age. However, it has many negative consequences for the socioeconomic growth of the country that are still being researched; the real threats come not from population ageing as such, but from the existing disproportion in the workload of the population over 60-65 years old per 1,000 able-bodied population. Despite the relative parameters of the ageing trend in Russia, in the future, the life expectancy of the population will be 73.58-75.03 years.Цель статьи - обобщение сущностных характеристик феномена старения населения и обоснование каналов его влияния на основные параметры демографического кризиса и социально-экономического развития страны.Методы. Исследование основано на отслеживании сложившегося состояния старения населения - в расчетно-графическом анализе состава и структуры половозрастной пирамиды страны, в системной оценке эмпирических трендов индекса старения населения и его влияния на динамику ВВП государства. Наряду с традиционными и специфическими методами научного поиска применены методы компаративно-ретроспективного анализа и экспертно-рейтинговой оценки демографической нагрузки населения старше 60-65 лет на 1000 лиц трудоспособного населения.Результаты работы. Идентифицированы основные параметры социально-экономических последствий депопуляции страны. Выявлены существенные черты феномена старения населения и возрастные границы старости, приведена специфика контингента населения старше трудоспособного возраста. Обоснован прогнозный тренд социально-экономических параметров, результирующих со старением населения. На основе матрицы SWOT-анализа аспектов этого процесса предложена концептуальная модель реализации мер противодействия социально-экономическим вызовам старения населения.Выводы. В работе выявлено, что феномен старения населения не представляет собой фундаментальной социально-экономической проблемы, угрожающей благополучию населения старше трудоспособного возраста. Однако он имеет ряд негативных последствий для социально-экономического развития страны, которые подлежат дальнейшему исследованию. Реальные угрозы исходят не от феномена старения населения как такового, а от сложившейся диспропорции в нагрузке населения старше 60-65 лет на 1000 лиц трудоспособного населения. Несмотря на относительные параметры тренда старения России, на перспективу ожидаемая продолжительность жизни населения составит 73,58-75,03 лет.

Cerebrovascular disorders in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and resistant hypertension

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension are risk factors for cerebral stroke, which are exacerbated by the combination of these diseases. Identifying the factors involved in the development of subclinical brain damage could change the therapeutic strategy for protecting the brain.AIM: to study severity of MRI- sings of brain damage and to identify factors associated with their development in patients with type 2 diabetes and RHTN.MATERIALS AND METHODS: 46 patients with type 2 DM and RHTN were included in a single-center observational uncontrolled study. Patients underwent brain MRI (1.5 Tesla) with calculation of Evans’s index (EI), clinical and lab examinations (HbA1c, glucose, insulin, C-peptide, leptin, resistin, TNF- α, hsCRP, blood aldosterone, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)), measurement of the office and ambulatory blood pressure (BP), assessment of peripheral and cerebral vasoreactivity (test with hyperventilation and breath holding).RESULTS: The most frequent MR brain changes were white matter lesions (WML) in periventricular region (PVR) (89%), focal WML (52%) and expansion both of the ventricles (45%) and subarachnoid spaces (65%). Multiple direct correlations were revealed between parameters of carbohydrate metabolism with the degree of WML in PVR and the density of the MR-signal in the basal nucleus (BN), as well as with EI. Adipokines had a direct relationship with the size of the chiasmatic cistern and IE (for resistin), as well as with the density of the MR signal from the BN and IE (for leptin), that was also directly related to the IGF-1 level. The aldosterone level positively correlated with the size of III ventricle. An increase in TNF-α and hsCRP was accompanied by an increase in the density of the MR-signal in the PVR. Impairment of cerebrovascular reactivity is associated with an increase in the density of the MR-signal in PVR and with indirect signs of cerebral atrophy (increase in EI, the size of cisterns and lateral ventricles). Impairment of peripheral vasoreactivity had direct relationship with EI and the expansion of the III ventricle. There were no direct correlations between the severity of MR-sings of brain damage and BP levels.CONCLUSION: The combination of type 2 DM with RHTN is characterized by a high frequency of WML and liquorodynamics disturbances, which related with metabolic, neurohormonal and hemodynamic factors in the absence of a direct relationship with the degree of BP increas

РАЗРАБОТКА КОМПОЗИТНОГО ИНДИКАТОРА ДЛЯ ИЗМЕРЕНИЯ ВЕЛИЧИНЫ И ДИНАМИКИ ЦИФРОВОГО НЕРАВЕНСТВА В РОССИИ

The authors attempted to establish methodology for constructing composite indicator to estimate the value and dynamic characteristics of the digital inequality. The trend of the modern development of the countries all over world is the course on the formation of the digital economy and the development of socio-economic relations based on digital interactions. In this regard the adoption of the «Strategy for the Development of the Information Society in the Russian Federation for 2017-2030» and the program «Digital Economy of the Russian Federation» proves to be relevant. The more so in the context of quite a noticeable socio-economic differentiation, there is a risk of the «digital divide» effect of the Russian regions, which will create additional difficulties for their development.After a brief historical overview of science and technology development stages (related to the digital economy) of the last decade and the reflection of this process in the scientific and professional literature and state programs of a number of countries, the authors review evolutionary aspects and challenges associated with implementation of programs such as the Nationwide program for informatization of society in Russia. The consolidated index of readiness of Russian regions to the information society, proposed by the Institute for the Development of the Information Society, has a number of shortcomings, which hinders its direct use for assessing digital inequality and comparing the regions of Russia according to the level of informatization in dynamics. The article examines the possibility of implementing the author’s idea of the improved integral indicator that would allow studying not only the development of the information society and Information and communication technologies (ICT) as a whole but also the interregional digital divide. The development of the new index considered the possibility of reflecting the degree of access of the population to ICT in the regions, taking into account technological factors.Авторами предпринята попытка обосновать методологию построения композитного индикатора для измерения величины и динамических характеристик цифрового неравенства в России. Во введении аргументируется положение, в соответствии с которым трендом современного развития ведущих стран мира стал курс на формирование цифровой экономики и развитие социально-экономических отношений на основе цифровых взаимодействий. В этой связи подчеркивается актуальность принятие «Стратегия развития информационного общества в Российской Федерации на 2017-2030 годы» и программы «Цифровая экономика Российской Федерации», так как в условиях достаточно заметной социально-экономической дифференциации существует риск возникновения эффекта «цифрового разрыва» российских регионов, что создаст дополнительные трудности для их развития.После краткого исторического экскурса по этапам научно-технологического развития последних десятилетий, связанного с цифровой экономикой, и отражения этого процесса в научно-профессиональной литературе и государственных программах ряда стран рассматривается вопрос об особенностях эволюции и трудностях реализации в России таких программ, как например, Общегосударственная программа информатизации общества. Предложенный Институтом развития информационного общества сводный Индекс готовности регионов России к информационному обществу обладает рядом недостатков, что препятствует его непосредственному использованию для оценки цифрового неравенства и сопоставления регионов России по уровню информатизации в динамике. В статье рассмотрена возможность реализации авторской идеи о модернизированном сводном индикаторе, который способен не только измерить развитие информационного общества и информационно-коммуникационные технологии (ИКТ) в целом, но и цифровое межрегиональное неравенство, когда учитываются возможности населения регионов к использованию ИКТ с учетом технологических факторов