Assessments of ecological health using soil algae diversity in Jargalant-Tain pass, Bogdkhan mountain

This study is the first of its kind in Mongolia to make an ecological health assessment of birch forest, based on the composition of soil algae species. The Chlorophyta consisted of 54.5 percent of the total algae species. In Jargalant-Tain pass, Bogdkhan Mountain, the ground of the birch forest is drying up. Deterioration of forest soil ecology and the onset of aridity indicate the process of deforestation. Therefore, reforestation is urgently needed

Water quality and environmental wellness of mineral springs in the Uvs province based on diatom studies

Fifty-eight diatom species belonging to 34 genera, 20 families, 11 orders, and one class are identified in the diatom survey of mineral springs near Uvs and Khyargas lakes in northwest Mongolia. The water quality of the mineral springs of Uvs Lake is fresh, and the mineral spring belonging to Khyargas Lake is fresh to brackish based on the diatom community. The environmental well-being of those springs is 78.5-83.5. Conservation management has to be based on aquatic diversity studies to restore these springs to nature. Conservation management of springs based on algae communities is an issue that is being raised for the first time in Mongolia

The Effectiveness of Long-Term Rehabilitation Treatment After Stroke

Objectives: Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability. Therefore, we studied the effects of comprehensive long-term rehabilitation after stroke in improving the quality of life. Methods: Participants were compared in an experimental intervention model, with 120 control subjects, which received conventional short-stay inpatient hospitalization rehab, with 105 study subjects who received comprehensive rehabilitation program using the Guidelines for Adult Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association starting in the hospital and extending for 6 months. The effects of rehabilitation were assessed Modified Rankin Scale (mRS), Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Barthel Index (BI) methods at admission, discharge, and 3 and 6 months after discharge. Results: There was no significant difference in the NIHSS, mRS, BI, and FIM scores between study and control patients at admission (p > 0.05). For the mRS, BI, and FIM scores, there was a significant interaction between treatment and time, indicating that the scores improved more rapidly for patients in the study group than the control group over the six-month study period (p < 0.001). A significant improvement in the scores with time was observed in the study and control groups at each time interval (p < 0.001). However, by 3 months after discharge the mRS, BI, and FIM scores of the study group were significantly better than the control group and the gap widened at 6 months, indicating further improvement. Conclusions: We found that providing prolonged by a multidisciplinary rehabilitation team results in higher functional independence and improvements in daily living activities

Tribulus Terrestris L Extract Effects on Slow Down Ageing Process

Objective: Tribulus Terrestris is a medicinal plant cultivated in temperate regions of the world. Inner Mongolia is one of the main producing areas of Tribulus Terrestris. We aimed in this study to examine the effect of Tribulus Terrestris extract on the aging process. Methods: A total of 50 mice were used for the experiment. They were divided randomly into 5 groups (10 animals in each group): normal control group and four aging groups. Results: Compared to the normal aging group, the parameters of the thymus gland and spleen of an aging group fed with a high and medium amount of Tribulus has visibly increased (p < 0.05). The content of blood catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) of blood serum of an aging group fed with a high and medium amount of Tribulus Terrestris has visibly increased (p < 0.05) compared to that in the aging group. Also, the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in blood serum has visibly lowered. We further have measured the SOD, GSH-Px content in brain tissue of each group of mice. Conclusion: Compared with the normal control group, the SOD content was decreased significantly and MDA content was significantly increased in the aging group of mice

The Effectiveness of Adjunctive Therapies Following Botulinum Toxin Type A Injections in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Objectives: To investigate the effectiveness of intermittent vs. continuous adjunctive therapies following BoNT-A injections for children with cerebral palsy (CP).Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted with 80 participants with CP who received adjunctive therapies including physiotherapy and functional electrical stimulation after BoNT-A injections. The participants were randomly divided into two groups. In group A, half of the participants received intermittently adjunctive therapies. In group B, adjunctive therapies were organized continuously for another half. We measured changes in spasticity and dynamic spasticity used by the Modified Ashworth Scale and the Modified Tardieu Scale, and gross motor function used the Gross Motor Function Measure-88. Measurement of spasticity was carried out pre-injections and then 1- and 3-months post-injections. Measurement of gross motor function was organized pre- and post-injections.Results: The effectiveness of BoNT-A injections presented significant improvement in spasticity and gross motor function when it was combined with adjunctive therapies. The continuous adjunctive therapies had a greater reduction of spasticity. Both intermittent and continuous adjunctive therapies had a significant improvement in gross motor function.Conclusions: Our findings add to the evidence of the effectiveness of using different intervals of short-term adjunctive therapies for children with CP after BoNT-A injections

Stroke from Prospective Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Data: Functional Outcomes Using the Functional Independence Measure

Objectives: Stroke is a second leading cause of mortality and results often to severely lasting disability in worldwide. We studied the long-term effects of rehabilitation after stroke as a key factor in improving the quality of life, due to the reason that Mongolia has one of highest rates of ischemic heart disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate functional outcomes of all patients admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation unit in a tertiary hospital using Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and analyze factors that are associated significantly with progression of discharge functional scores and higher functional gains. Methods: In this longitudinal study over a two-month period, functional data for 104 patients admitted consecutively to the Stroke Center at Third State Central Hospital inpatient rehabilitation unit in Mongolia were charted into a custom designed rehabilitation database. The primary outcome measures were the discharge total FIM scores, FIM gain and FIM efficiency. Multiple linear regression analysis were used to identify independent variables associated with better discharge FIM scores and FIM gain. Results: The mean age was 56.3 ±11.6 years and 55.7% of the patients were male. Ischemic stroke (28.8%) followed by hemorrhagic stroke (71.2%) were more common diagnoses. The average rehabilitation length of stay was 9.3 ± 2.2 days. The mean admission total FIM score was 42.3 ± 20.7 and the mean discharge total FIM score was 61.3 ± 24.6, with this gain being highly significant (P < 0.001). The mean FIM gain was 18.6 ± 17.4 and FIM efficiency was 2.1 ± 1.0 points per day. Factors associated with better functional outcomes were higher admission motor and cognitive FIM scores, male gender and a longer rehabilitation length of stay. Conclusions: The FIM is an easy-to-use, standardized and robust general measure of functional disability. The total FIM scores of all patients, participated in this study, significantly improved. Moreover, longer rehabilitation LOS resulted in a negative effect on discharge FIM scores. To our knowledge, this study is the first study that examines the stroke rehabilitation using FIM scores as the primary outcome measure in Mongolia

Organization of Post-Stroke Rehabilitation Services: Changes between 2013 and 2018 in Services Provided by Health System in Mongolia

Objectives: Stroke related disabilities significantly decrease patients’ quality of life and post-stroke rehabilitation service is essential. Therefore, we studied post-stroke rehabilitation services and facilities provided in Mongolia between 2013 and 2018. Methods: A longitudinal study was performed in a total of 47 Mongolian hospitals that provide stroke rehabilitation services. A questionnaire regarding the organizational structure of rehabilitation units, equipment used, human resources, and adherence to recommended guidelines was developed and administered to specialists in these hospitals. Results: We recruited 47 (89%) out of 50 and 47 (94%) out of 53 hospitals delivering stroke rehabilitation service in 2013 and 2018 respectively. 25-34% of these hospitals provided post-stroke rehabilitation, with the majority being incapable of providing multidisciplinary team rehabilitation. The number of physiatrists and physical therapists increased significantly from 2013 to 2018 (p<.001) although the number of physical (p<.002) and occupational therapists (p<.001) was significantly lower in the rural areas. Utilization of Functional independence measures, namely, the Barthel index and modified Rankin scales were increased in 2018 compared to 2013. Conclusion: The majority of post-stroke rehabilitation services are not improved since 2013. Consistent national programs and policies are required to provide adherence to post-stroke rehabilitation guideline recommendations and implementation in clinical practice

The Effect of Botulinum Toxin- A injection for the Lower Limb in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Objectives: To investigate the effect of botulinum toxin-A (BoNT-A) on the age groups and gross motor function classification level in children with cerebral palsy (CP).Method: In this study, 116 children with spastic CP were investigated. BoNT-A was injected into the spastic muscles of the lower limbs of all participants. All participants received physiotherapy and functional electrical stimulation for 3 months after injection. We measured the change in spasticity using the Modified Ashworth Scale and gross motor function using the GMFM-88. Spasticity was measured before injection and at 1 and 3 months after injection. Measurement of gross motor function was performed before and after the injections. Results: The effect of BoNT-A injection in combination with physiotherapy and electrical stimulation significantly improved spasticity and gross motor function. After BoNT-A injection, younger children showed reduced spasticity and improved gross motor skills compared to older children. At the gross motor level, sitting, standing, and walking improved in children with gross motor function classification levels I-III, and posture and mobility improved in children with gross motor function classification levels IV-V.Conclusions: We conclude that BoNT-A injection is effective for improving gross motor function in patients younger than 72 months of age

Modeling of shallow aquifers in interaction with surface waters

Nous présentons une classe de nouveaux modèles pour décrire les écoulements d’eau dans des aquifères peu profonds non confinés. Cette classe de modèles offre une alternative au modèle Richards 3d plus classique mais moins maniable. Leur dérivation est guidée par deux ambitions : le nouveau modèle doit d’une part être peu coûteux en temps de calcul et doit d’autre part donner des résultats pertinents à toute échelle de temps. Deux types d’écoulements dominants apparaissent dans ce contexte lorsque le rapport de l’épaisseur sur la longueur de l’aquifère est petit : le premier écoulement apparaît en temps court et est décrit par un problème vertical Richards 1d ; le second correspond aux grandes échelles de temps, la charge hydraulique est alors considérée comme indépendante de la variable verticale. Ces deux types d’écoulements sont donc modélisés de manière appropriée par le couplage d’une équation 1d pour la partie insaturée de l’aquifère et d’une équation 2d pour la partie saturée. Ces équations sont couplées au niveau d’une interface de profondeur h (t,x) en dessous de laquelle l’hypothèse de Dupuit est vérifiée. Le couplage est assuré de telle sorte que la masse globale du système soit conservée. Notons que la profondeur h (t,x) peut être une inconnue du problème ou être fixée artificiellement. Nous prouvons (dans le cas d’aquifères minces) en utilisant des développements asymptotiques que le problème Richards 3d se comporte de la même manière que les modèles de cette classe à toutes les échelles de temps considérées (courte, moyenne et grande). Nous décrivons un schéma numérique pour approcher le modèle couplé non linéaire. Une approximation par éléments finis est combinée à une méthode d’Euler implicite en temps. Ensuite, nous utilisons une reformulation de l’équation discrète en introduisant un opérateur de Dirichlet-to-Neumann pour gérer le couplage non linéaire en temps. Une méthode de point fixe est appliquée pour résoudre l’équation discrète reformulée. Le modèle couplé est testé numériquement dans différentes situations et pour différents types d’aquifère. Pour chacune des simulations, les résultats numériques obtenus sont en accord avec ceux obtenus à partir du problème de Richards original. Nous concluons notre travail par l’analyse mathématique d’un modèle couplant le modèle Richards 3d à celui de Dupuit. Il diffère du premier parce que nous ne supposons plus un écoulement purement vertical dans la frange capillaire supérieure. Ce modèle consiste donc en un système couplé non linéaire d’équation Richards 3d avec une équation parabolique non linéaire décrivant l’évolution de l’interface h (t,x) entre les zones saturées et non saturées de l’aquifère. Les principales difficultés à résoudre sont celles inhérentes à l’équation 3D-Richards, la prise en compte de la frontière libre h (t,x) et la présence de termes dégénérés apparaissant dans les termes diffusifs et dans les dérivées temporelles.We present a class of new efficient models for water flow in shallow unconfined aquifers, giving an alternative to the classical but less tractable 3D-Richards model. Its derivation is guided by two ambitions : any new model should be low cost in computational time and should still give relevant results at every time scale.We thus keep track of two types of flow occurring in such a context and which are dominant when the ratio thickness over longitudinal length is small : the first one is dominant in a small time scale and is described by a vertical 1D-Richards problem ; the second one corresponds to a large time scale, when the evolution of the hydraulic head turns to become independent of the vertical variable. These two types of flow are appropriately modelled by, respectively, a one-dimensional and a two-dimensional system of PDEs boundary value problems. They are coupled along an artificial level below which the Dupuit hypothesis holds true (i.e. the vertical flow is instantaneous below the function h(t,x)) in away ensuring that the global model is mass conservative. Tuning the artificial level, which even can depend on an unknown of the problem, we browse the new class of models. We prove using asymptotic expansions that the 3DRichards problem and eachmodel of the class behaves the same at every considered time scale (short, intermediate and large) in thin aquifers. We describe a numerical scheme to approximate the non-linear coupled model. The standard Galerkin’s finite element approximation in space and Backward Euler method in time are used for discretization. Then we reformulate the discrete equation by introducing the Dirichlet to Neumann operator to handle the nonlinear coupling in time. The fixed point iterative method is applied to solve the reformulated discrete equation. We have examined the coupled model in different boundary conditions and different aquifers. In the every situations, the numerical results of the coupled models fit well with the original Richards problem. We conclude our work by the mathematical analysis of a model coupling 3D-Richards flow and Dupuit horizontal flow. It differs from the first one because we no longer assume a purely vertical flow in the upper capillary fringe. This model thus consists in a nonlinear coupled system of 3D-Richards equation with a nonlinear parabolic equation describing the evolution of the interface h(t,x) between the saturated and unsaturated zones of the aquifer. The main difficulties to be solved are those inherent to the 3D-Richards equation, the consideration of the free boundary h(t,x) and the presence of degenerate terms appearing in the diffusive terms and in the time derivatives