Impact of logging operations on forest ecosystem in the Khantai mountain region and forest cover mapping

Forests in Mongolia yield low productivity and are vulnerable to disturbances from drought, fire, pests, and illegal logging. Such forests can quickly lose their ecological balance. Logging activities in these areas are limited in monitoring and controls. This study assesses two different logging operations for their natural regeneration capacity by comparing the composition of the soil, soil organisms, physical and chemical properties, and forest cover change after the completion of logging operations. The logging operations were analyzed in two different regions, the Khartsai and Tariakhtai threshold in Selenge soum, Bulgan province. A skyline logging operation was undertaken on Khartsai threshold in 1983 and a tractor logging operation (clear-cutting) on Tariakhtai threshold in 1987. After the completion of the logging, the forests were naturally regenerated. In 2002, soil samples were collected and soil organisms and physical and chemical properties were examined. Satellites images were also used to evaluate forest cover changes after the end of the logging operations. Significant differences in the naturally regenerated tree species in the skyline logging, tractor logging, and natural forest areas were observed. Average tree ring growth was 0.9mm in the skyline logging site, 0.6mm in the tractor logging site, and 1.2mm in the natural forest. Based on forest cover changes observed in satellite images, the density of naturally regenerated tree species in the natural forest area was higher than that in the skyline logging area. In contrast, the latter recorded a higher density than that in the tractor logging area. Therefore, processing of satellite images of forest cover changes with high-resolution data provides valuable information for the local forest community and helps decision-makers in their further actions

IMPACT OF THE AMBIENT AIR PM2.5 ON CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES OF ULAANBAATAR RESIDENTS

Mongolia is a landlocked country with a total land area of 1,564,116 square kilometers. The ambient annual average particulate matter (PM) concentration in Ulaanbaatar is 10–25 times greater than the Mongolian air quality standards (AQS). More than 40 percent of the nation’s total population lives in Ulaanbaatar. The study aims at defining the relationship between the ambient air PM2.5 level and hospital admissions in Ulaanbaatar in 2011–2014. The pollution data included a 24-hour average PM2.5. Theair was sampled daily and recorded by the national air monitoring stations located in Ulaanbaatar. The sampling frame of hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease (CVD)were the records of all outpatient hospitals of Ulaanbaatar. The data covered the periodfrom January 2011 to January 2014. To test the differences of the results, appropriatestatistical tests were employed. During 2011–2014, the highest concentration of PM2.5 was in the coldest period and the particulate matter level recorded was 3.7 times higher in the cold period than the warm period. The number of admissions for CVD were the highest during cold periods. Four days after exposure, the PM2.5 impact on hospital admissions weakened but there remained a positive correlation. For PM2.5, 100 μg/m3 growth of the pollutant led to 0.65 % increase in the hospitalization for CVD on the exposure day. On the second day of exposure, 10 μg/m3 growth of the pollutant led to 0.66 % increase; on the third day of exposure, 10 μg/m3 growth of the pollutant led to 0.08 % increase of hospital admissions for CVD, and at the fourth day, such growth led to 0.6 % increase of CVD cases in 2011–2014 in Ulaanbaatar. In conclusion we may state that most incidences of CVD registered during the cold months in Ulaanbaatar in the last four years were a result of PM2.5 exposure. This shows that the PM2.5 exposure and hospital admissions for cardiovascular system chronic diseases are positively correlated. CVD in Ulaanbaatar residents was affected greater on the same and the third day of exposure

Effect of <i>Mycoplasma hominis</i> and cytomegalovirus infection on pregnancy outcome: A prospective study of 200 Mongolian women and their newborns

<div><p>In Mongolia, diagnostic tests for the detection of the sexually transmitted mycoplasmas, ureaplasmas, Herpes simplex virus (HSV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) are currently not routinely used in clinical settings and the frequency of these STIs are enigmatic. The prevalence of these STI pathogens were prospectively evaluated among 200 Mongolian pregnant women and their newborns and correlated with pregnancy outcome. TaqMan PCRs were used to detect bacterial and viral STI pathogens in pre-birth vaginal swabs of the pregnant women and in oral swabs of their newborns. A standardized questionnaire concerning former and present pregnancies was developed and linear regression analysis was used to correlate pathogen detection with pregnancy outcome. Ureaplasmas were the most prevalent of the tested pathogens (positive in 90.5% positive women and 47.5% newborns), followed by mycoplasmas (32.5% and 7.5%), chlamydia (14.5% and 7.5%), trichomonas (8.5% and 4.0%) and gonococcus (0.5% and 0%). CMV was found in 46.5% of the pregnant women and in 10.5% of their newborns, whereas HSV-2 was detected in only two mothers. Multiple regression analyses indicate that colonization of the mothers with <i>U</i>. <i>urealyticum</i>, <i>M</i>. <i>hominis</i>, <i>T</i>. <i>vaginalis</i> or CMV is associated with transmission to newborns and that transmission of <i>M</i>. <i>hominis</i> or CMV from Mongolian pregnant women to offspring is associated with reduced neonatal length and gestational age. Thus, diagnostic tests for their detection should be implemented in the clinical settings in Mongolia.</p></div

STI-pathogen load in mothers and their newborns.

<p>Quantities of each pathogen were normalized to human cells (pathogen-GE /10⁶ GAPDH-GE) and the mean (+/- standard deviation) of the 200 values of mothers (_M) and newborns (_N) depicted as (x+1) to visualize even the negative detections in column scatter plot.</p

Correlation of pathogen load and pregnancy outcome.

<p>Correlation of pathogen load and pregnancy outcome.</p

Characteristics of 200 pregnant women from Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar.

<p>Characteristics of 200 pregnant women from Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar.</p

Quantities of <i>M</i>. <i>hominis</i>, CMV and <i>U</i>. <i>parvum</i> with respect to gestational age.

<p>Column scatter plots indicate the mean genome equivalents of <i>M</i>. <i>hominis</i>, CMV and <i>U</i>. <i>parvum</i> in maternal and neonatal specimens, normalized to 10⁶ GAPDH genome equivalents, in 2 GA -weeks intervals from 35–36 to 39–40. Statistically significant differences were assessed by Kruskal-Wallis test between GA-groups 35–36 and 38–39 or 39–40, respectively (p-values < 0,05).</p

Co-localizing STI pathogens.

<p>Stacked bar charts indicate the decreasing number of specimens (with respect to the maternal colonization; from left) with detected pathogens and pathogen-communities in the 200 maternal vaginal specimens (Mothers) and 200 neonatal oral specimens (Newborns). Abbreviations indicate the respective microorganisms: Up, <i>U</i>. <i>parvum</i>, Uu, <i>U</i>. <i>urealyticum</i>; Mh, <i>M</i>. <i>hominis</i>; Mg, <i>M</i>. <i>genitalium</i>; Ct, <i>C</i>. <i>trachomatis</i>, Tv, <i>T</i>.<i>vaginalis</i>; and CM, CMV.</p

Soil Microbial Contamination And Its Impact On Child Diarrheal Disease Incidence In Ulaanbaatar

Air and soil contamination in developing countries exacerbates due to poor management of waste collection and serves as a morbidity and mortality factor. This study aimed to conduct an assessment of soil pollution level in Ulaanbaatar and establish а correlation between microbial contamination and registered occurrences of contagious diarrheal diseases among children (0-5 years old). This is a cross-sectional study conducted in Ulaanbaatar in June-September of 2016. Samples of soil and contagious diarrheal disease morbidity data in 0-5-year-old children were used. Samples were taken from the sites three times, in July, August, and September. The data analysis was done in the SPSS-21 program and relevant parametric and non-parametric tests were used. The highest level microorganisms were found in the samples taken from sites near major markets and then in the samples from ger areas. The analysis of the samples revealed that 111.78 microorganisms exceed the standard level 1.1 times in summer. The Escherichia coli (E.Coli) and Proteus also contaminated the ground water. All diarrhea occasions in Ulaanbaatar were analyzed by seasons and months, the prevalence was peaking in August. A correlation was found with the soil E.Coli titers and infectious diarrheal disease children under five years old morbidity. The number of microorganisms in soil tends to increase in summer. Diarrheal disease infections among children under five increase most in summer and autumn and correlate with soil contamination with pathogenic microorganisms