Methodological Approach to Measure the Quality of Life of the Region’s Population

The article is devoted to the urgent problem of the regional development, i.e. to the development of methodological tools to evaluate the quality of life of the population in the region. The article considers the concept of “quality of life”, and the terms related thereto; and substantiate the author’s position with respect to the concept. The existing domestic and foreign approaches to evaluate the quality of life of the population were analyzed, and the application of the comprehensive approach was reasoned within this study. The criteria for evaluation of the quality of life of the population were distinguished. The authors proposed the methodological approach that considers not only objective indicators of the quality of life presented in the statistical reports of the Russian Federal State Statistics Service, but also employs subjective evaluations of the local population enabling more appropriate evaluation of the quality of life in the region. The methodological tools of the research include mathematical methods of statistical data processing and online survey of the population about the level of satisfaction with various aspects of their life. The methodological tools were tested using the example of the Sverdlovsk Region that is characterized both by the steady improvement of statistical indicators of the quality of life and by low satisfaction of population with certain aspects of the quality of life, which generally decreases the integrated indicator of the quality of life despite positive dynamics of social and economic development of the region and vigorous social policy of the regional authorities. The proposed methodology was used in the evaluation of the quality of life of the Sverdlovsk Region population as part of the development of the Concept of comprehensive regional program “New quality of life of Ural residents” (Decree of the Governor of the Sverdlovsk Region No. 45-UG dated January 29, 2014 “On the Concept of the life quality improvement for the Sverdlovsk Region population before 2030 year — “New quality of life of Ural residents”).The article has been prepared with the support of the grant of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR) No. 15-06-09169 “Development of methodical measurement tools and evaluation of the impact of social, economic, medical and demographic factors on mortality rates of working-age population”

Fold-Saddle Bifurcation in Non-Smooth Vector Fields on the Plane

This paper presents results concerning bifurcations of 2D piecewise-smooth dynamical systems governed by vector fields. Generic three parameter families of a class of Non-Smooth Vector Fields are studied and its bifurcation diagrams are exhibited. Our main result describes the unfolding of the so called Fold-Saddle singularity

Mapping of multiple muscles with transcranial magnetic stimulation: Absolute and relative test-retest reliability

The spatial accuracy of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) may be as small as a few millimeters. Despite such great potential, navigated TMS (nTMS) mapping is still underused for the assessment of motor plasticity, particularly in clinical settings. Here, we investigate the within‐limb somatotopy gradient as well as absolute and relative reliability of three hand muscle cortical representations (MCRs) using a comprehensive grid‐based sulcus‐informed nTMS motor mapping. We enrolled 22 young healthy male volunteers. Two nTMS mapping sessions were separated by 5–10 days. Motor evoked potentials were obtained from abductor pollicis brevis (APB), abductor digiti minimi, and extensor digitorum communis. In addition to individual MRI‐based analysis, we studied normalized MNI MCRs. For the reliability assessment, we calculated intraclass correlation and the smallest detectable change. Our results revealed a somatotopy gradient reflected by APB MCR having the most lateral location. Reliability analysis showed that the commonly used metrics of MCRs, such as areas, volumes, centers of gravity (COGs), and hotspots had a high relative and low absolute reliability for all three muscles. For within‐limb TMS somatotopy, the most common metrics such as the shifts between MCR COGs and hotspots had poor relative reliability. However, overlaps between different muscle MCRs were highly reliable. We, thus, provide novel evidence that inter‐muscle MCR interaction can be reliably traced using MCR overlaps while shifts between the COGs and hotspots of different MCRs are not suitable for this purpose. Our results have implications for the interpretation of nTMS motor mapping results in healthy subjects and patients with neurological conditions

Oxidative destruction of anionite AV-17×8 using the Fenton reaction

Received: 02.11.2021. Revised: 22.11.2021. Accepted: 23.11.2021. Available online: 26.11.2021.The kinetic studies of AV-17×8 strongly basic anionite’s oxidative destruction using the Fenton reaction have been carried out. The effect of the process’s temperature and the concentration of catalysts of iron(II) sulfate or copper(II) sulfate on the oxidation of anionexchange resin with hydrogen peroxide is estimated. With an increase in temperature in the range of 323–348 K, a regular increase in the effective rate constant of oxidative anionite destruction is observed when using iron(II) sulfate by 1.5 times, and when using copper(II) sulfate – by 22 times. It was found that the obtained values of the activation energy of the anion exchanger’s oxidation with the addition of copper(II) sulfate are 124.3–115.7 kJ/mol and are characteristic of the process proceeding in the kinetic region. The nature of the change in the surface morphology of the anionite granules in the process of oxidative decomposition has been revealed

Screening and Characterization of the Antagonistic Properties of Microorganisms Isolated From Natural Sources

BACKGROUND: Human infectious diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens present a serious problem for clinical medicine. Causative agents of nosocomial infections, such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter spp., are the most common among them. An active search for antimicrobial agents that can effectively combat drugresistant pathogens is underway. Antimicrobial substances of bacterial origin are of particular interest. Promising sources of microorganisms with antibiotic properties are natural sources: Soil, water, plants, etc. AIM: The purpose of this work is to screen and characterize the antagonistic properties of microorganisms isolated from natural sources in connection with the creation of new pharmaceutical substances. METHODS: The material for the isolation of microorganisms was the soil, water bodies, and plant objects of various municipal districts of the Kemerovo Region. Identification of the isolated microorganisms was carried out using the methods proposed in the directory “Bergey’s Manual of Determinative Bacteriology” and in the monograph Nesterenko et al. The selection of strains from soil samples was carried out according to standard methods described in “Methods of soil microbiological control. Methodical recommendations,” cultural-morphological properties of isolates were studied using conventional microbiological methods. RESULTS: The following results are obtained: (1) Lactic acid bacteria and other microorganisms antagonists from natural sources were isolated: Soil, water bodies, and plant objects; 20 isolates were isolated, their cultural and morphological properties were studied; isolated microorganisms were found to belong presumably to the genera Bacillus, Leuconostoc, Pedio-coccus, Lactobacillus, and Bacteroides; (2) Antimicrobial properties of lactic acid bacteria and other antagonistic microorganisms isolated from natural sources on solid and liquid nutrient media were studied; (3) 12 strains of 20 isolates with maximum antimicrobial properties were selected for further studies. CONCLUSION: Further research on the biochemical properties of lactic acid bacteria and other antagonist microorganisms isolated from natural sources, the study of antibiotic resistance of lactic acid bacteria and other antagonist microorganisms isolated from natural sources, as well as other more detailed studies will be conducted with selected 12 strains with maximum antimicrobial properties

Teaching Academic English to Russian-speaking Academic Staff: The Case of the Office of Academic Writing

The paper discusses the preliminary results of teaching academic writing to scientific and academic staff at South Ural State University (national research university) within the framework of advanced training courses. The 36 and 72-hour training programs were developed by the academic and methodological department of the Office of Academic Writing. The Office was opened at the university in 2016 in order to improve the academic literacy of the university’s academic staff, develop professional communication skills in English, and assist authors who aspire to get their papers published in top rated scientific journals indexed in the scientific citation databases Scopus and Web of Science. Upon completion of these programs, authors of scientific papers gain knowledge about the basics of academic writing, the structure of a scientific paper, the English scientific style and its lexical and grammatical features, as well as editing a paper, working with scientific citation databases, and elaborating a publishing strategy. We conducted a study from October 2016 to December 2018 and calculated data on the attendees’ affiliation (an institute or higher school), the contingent (position), and the importance of the offered training programs (the number of attendees in each course). The obtained data indicates that representatives of social-humanitarian and technical fields show a special interest in the courses. The courses of academic writing are most popular among associate professors who have experience in publishing papers in Russian. Authors are especially interested in intensive practice-oriented programs. Upon completion of the courses and with the support of the Office of Academic Writing, attendees prepared scientific texts in English and submitted them to top rated journals and conference proceedings. The educational activity of the Office of Academic Writing can be developed through elaboration and implementation of new advanced training programs, including the distance ones. Their effectiveness will be evaluated by an increase in the publication activity of the university’s employees

Acute otitis externa in children: causes, diagnosis, treatment, clinical report

Acute otitis externa is a common disease in the pediatric population, characterized by diffuse inflammation of the external auditory canal. Typical symptoms of acute otitis externa include otology, itching, congestion, and a feeling of fullness in the sore ear. In the case of active inflammation, the process can go to the tympanic membrane, and acute otitis media will join the external one. Primary therapy for diffuse uncomplicated acute otitis externa should include a local antimicrobial drug, without systemic antibiotic therapy. Topical therapy with antibacterial drugs in combination with anesthetics is the most rational. A clinical case of a 12-year-old patient with acute diffuse otitis externa and otitis media with effusion; acute nasopharyngitis; and adenoiditis, which was established based on anamnesis and clinical data is presented. Complex therapy was prescribed, which included local antibiotic therapy with a complex topical drug for the treatment of imperforated otitis externa and imperforated otitis media. At reexamination 5 days later, the patient demonstrated positive dynamics, pain in the left ear was eliminated. In cases of uncomplicated diffuse otitis externa, as well as in cases of its combination with otitis media with effusion, topical antibiotic therapy is a major priority. It should be borne in mind that the topical medication is more effective with the cleansing of the external auditory canal from inflammatory secretion. If it is used correctly, it would provide positive dynamics without systemic antibiotic prescription. It preserves the microbiome and mobilizes the body’s defenses. The application of complex topical antibiotic drugs can be widely recommended in pediatric practice

Distribution, Abundance, and Epidemiological Significance of <I>Ixodes ricinus</I> Ticks in the Territory of the Tula Region

Based on the analysis of the information concerning distribution and abundance of Ixodidae ticks in the territory of the Tula Region (1998-2012), obtained have been the new data on the expansion of I. ricinus habitat. Results of phyto-geographical zoning of the region have served as a landscape base for investigation of regularities as regards spatial distribution of the species. Specified have been the territories with low, medium, and high population density rate. Biotopes with the most favorable environmental conditions for the species are situated in the mixed woods of the Prioksky region and broad-leaved forests - of the Zasechny one. As for the forest-steppe areas, optimum biotopes are localized in the highland and steppificated oakwoods in the south of South-Eastern Region. Thus it has been established that in the recent decade I. ricinus ticks can be found not only in the forest areas, but in the forest-steppe ones too. This may be related to the increase in their numbers under favorable environmental conditions, reduction of farming lands, and shrub invasion. Average value for I. ricinus numbers in the forest area reaches 39.4 specimen/flag-kilometer; in the forest-steppe zone - 23.7 specimen/flag-kilometer. Identified have been potentially hazardous territories as regards natural-focal tick-borne infections, the agent circulation and transmission of which is sustained by I. ricinus. The finding in its turn sets the grounds for carrying out specific epizootiological surveillance and regulation of preventive measures