Pacific State Research Articles

The Pacific Islands and Chinese power as presence, influence, and interference

Abstract Dominant debates about China’s growing presence in the Pacific Islands – through infrastructure, aid, trade, and investment – suggest that Chinese material power directly translates to influence and effective interference in Pacific states’ domestic and foreign affairs. These perspectives fail to clarify the causal link between Chinese economic statecraft and Pacific governments’ alignment with Beijing’s interests. They also deny Pacific people agency, overlooking how power relations are mediated by Pacific state and non-state actors operating across complex political and socio-economic structures. We challenge such rationalist conceptualisations of Chinese power by developing a constructivist taxonomy of power as presence (dormant capability), influence (socialisation), and interference (incentives), and applying it to the Melanesian subregion. We argue that Chinese power is not merely material, causal, and unidirectional. Chinese power can also (re)shape the identities and interests of Pacific elites and publics in a constitutive manner, potentially aligning their ideas about substantive norms, rules, and practices guiding their foreign relations with Chinese ‘core interests’ and perspectives on regional and global politics.

FORMATION OF DIGITAL COMPETENCIES WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE “DIGITAL CHAIR” PROGRAM

Background. In the artificial intelligence age, it is not only IT graduates who have digital competencies, but also schoolchildren. Improvement of skills to work in the digital environment and with digital products is necessary in all spheres of life. The national project “Digital Chair” is aimed at solving this problem, i.e. formation and mastering of modern digital competences. The purpose is to analyze the implementation of the “digital department” program at the Pacific State University (PSU, Khabarovsk) and the formation of digital competencies of students as a result of participation in this program. Materials and methods. The system approach is fundamental for the research. The main theoretical methods of research: analysis, synthesis, deduction. This article is a review of the conceptual apparatus of “digital competence”, “digital culture”, “digital literacy”. It includes research on the training of 995 students of Pacific State University in the digital department. The analysis of training was carried out on the basis of the method of assesment - center. Results. Digital Chair trainees acquire more digital skills and can solve problems from a wider range of tasks. The implementation of the national project “Digital Chair” requires the expansion of educational programs taking into account the directions of university students. There is no single standard of digital competencies for all TOGU educational programs. The formation of digital competencies requires material resources and trained personnel.

Сравнительный анализ рефракционных и функциональных результатов имплантации торической интраокулярной линзы с механизмом формирования волнового фронта при хирургическом лечении катаракты у пациентов после сквозной кератопластики

Abstract Comparative analysis of the refractive and functional results of toric intraocular lens with wavefrontshaping mechanism implantation during the surgical treatment of cataracts in patients after penetrating keratoplasty. D.A. Khvan, , G.A. Fedyashev Pacific State Medical University Ministry of Health of Russia, Vladivostok, Russian Federation Primorskii center of eye microsurgery, Vladivostok, Russian Federation Relevance. This study presents a comparative analysis of the effectiveness of toric intraocular lens (IOL) with a wavefront shaping mechanism implantation in cataract surgical treatment in patients after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP). Purpose. To evaluate the effectiveness of toric IOL with a wavefront shaping mechanism implantation in cataract surgical treatment in patients after PKP. Material and methods. This prospective study included 65 patients (65 eyes) who underwent cataract surgery after prevous PKP (the time after removal of corneal sutures averaged 1.4±0.8 years). In the 1st group of patients (34 patients, 34 eyes) the AcrySof IQ Toric IOL was implanted, in the 2nd group – the AcrySof IQ Vivity IOL (31 patients, 31 eyes). In both groups, IOL power was calculated at a target refraction of (–) 0.5 D. The observation period was up to 6 months. Results. In all groups, there was a significant (p<0.001) improvement in uncorrected (UCVA) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) on the first day, after 1, 3 and 6 months. In 1st group, by the 6th month of observation, there was a tendency towards a slight significant (relative to the 3rd month) decrease in UCVA of 0.134±0.1 (p=0.019). In 2nd group, UCVA was significantly (p<0.001) higher than in 1st group at all periods of postoperative follow-up and was 0.075±0.063 before surgery (in 1st group 0.053±0.029), on the first day after surgery 0.348± 0.139 (in the 1st group 0.097±0.05), 1st month 0.516±0.144 (in the 1st group 0.133±0.076), 3rd month 0.642±0.143 and by the 6th month 0.642±0.139 (in 1st group 0.16±0.1 and 0.134±0.1, respectively). Statistically significant (p=0.03) differences were obtained when comparing the error of the spherical equivalent of refraction (SE) from the expected result in the 1st and 2nd groups (1.22±0.875 and 0.76±0.582, respectively) during the observation period up to 6 months. Conclusion. AcrySof IQ Vivity Toric IOL implantation during the cataract surgical treatment in patients with previous keratoplasty allows to obtain significantly higher postoperative UCVA, due to more accurate access to target refraction, which confirmed by a significantly lower spherical equivalent error. Key words: wavefront, cataract, penetrating keratoplasty, EDOF, Vivity

Training program for primary care physicians in medical rehabilitation at the Pacifi c Medical University

This article describes the experience of training primary care physicians in the field of medical rehabilitation. The existing procedure for the arrangement of medical rehabilitation prescribes its rules and order of implementation in medical primary health care organizations both in outpatient and day patient settings. The Pacific State Medical University (PSMU) runs training programs for primary care physicians within the 31.05.01 educational program “General Medicine”, direction “02 Healthcare”. In accordance with the curriculum, a training program “Medical Rehabilitation” that includes both lectures and training sessions was developed. This program is aimed at forming the necessary competencies of future primary care physicians in implementing and monitoring the effectiveness of the patient’s medical rehabilitation. Training is carried out at the facilities of the PSMU Institute of Clinical Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine by specialists having experience in medical rehabilitation and having completed the program “Modern aspects of specialist training in the field of physical and rehabilitation medicine”.

EXPRESSION OF PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH PROTEIN 1 (PD-1) AND ITS LIGAND PD-L1 IN HIGH-GRADE SEROUS OVARIAN CANCER

Recently, the immunotherapeutic treatment of ovarian cancer is of much concern. This is due to the discovery of the signaling pathway of the PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoints, which are capable of controlling autoimmune response severity and duration.
 The aim of the study is to determine the dependence of PD-1/PD-L1 expression on the proliferative activity of high-grade serous ovarian cancer cells.
 Materials and Methods. The study was performed at Central Research Laboratory, Pacific State Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. The material was collected at Primorsky Regional Oncological Dispensary, 2016–2021. The pathological and anatomical samples were analyzed by immunohistochemistry using p53, Ki-67, PD-L1, and Anti-Hu CD279 (PD-1). The main group included 74 patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer, the comparative group consisted of 26 patients with benign ovarian tumors.
 Results. PD-1/PD-L1 expression was observed in tumor tissues in ovarian cancer. There was also an increase in the positive reaction to Ki-67 and p53 according to grading and staging of cancer.
 Conclusion. Despite the claimed immunomodulatory function, high PD-1/PD-L1 levels are favorable prognostic indicators in ovarian cancer. The obtained data show that PD-1/PD-L1 molecules are biologically significant regulators of the immune response in high-grade serous ovarian cancer, which is an argument in favor of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Thus, PD-L1 in the immune cells infiltrating the tumor is a favorable prognostic factor. A statistically significant direct correlation between Ki-67 and PD-L1 proves a direct dependence of PD-L1 expression on proliferative activity of the ovarian tumor. A statistically significant inverse correlation between p53 and PD-1 shows the dependence of PD-1 expression on apoptotic changes in the ovarian tumor.

Сytokines as non-hormonal regulators in the pathogenesis of endocrinopathies

Cytokines regulate the activity of hypothalamus – pituitary – adrenal hormonal axis, also affecting thyroid gland and ovaries. However, their exact role in pathogenesis of endocrine diseases is still under study. Altered cytokine secretion in autoimmune thyroid diseases and polycystic ovary syndrome is well known. Meanwhile, the main immunological predictors of severe prognosis in endocrinopathies and biomarkers for administration of targeted immunotherapy have not yet been determined. Therefore, our objective was to study the relationships between the cytokines and hormones in pathogenesis of autoimmune and non-autoimmune endocrinopathies, i.e., autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT), Graves’ disease (GD), nodular and multinodular goiter, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
 101 patients with GD and 105 patients with AIT, 110 patients with PCOS were examined; 51 patients with nodular and multinodular euthyroid goiter and 50 healthy individuals; their average age was 34.5±2.9 years old. The study was approved by the Interdisciplinary Ethics Committee of the Pacific State Medical University. Clinical examination included ultrasonography. ELISA technique was applied for determination of thyroid and sex hormones, TSH, autoantibodies to TPO, TSH receptor, cytokines in blood serum, in follicular fluid samples, cell culture media (primary cultures of cumulus cells). Genetic studies were carried out with PCR. Morphological verification was performed by inverted microscopy CKX41 (Olympus) with a phase contrast system, camera AxioCam5 (Carl Zeiss) with software Zen 2, Blue Edition.
 IL-6 and TNFα in the blood serum of patients with PCOS were most significantly increased, Sharply decreased IFNγ/IL-10 ratio in blood serum and cumulus cell culture was found in PCOS when compared with controls. Significant changes in the content of thyroid hormones in GD and TSH in AIT have been proven to affect the hyperproduction of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Before treatrment, the direct or reverse corelations were found between the levels of cytokines and thyroid hormones in GD, and TSH in AIT. Subsequently, upon correction of hormonal disorders, these associations became weaker, or faded away. In patients with nodular and multinodular euthyroid goiter, only the IFNγ level was significantly increased, being twice as high as in the control group.
 A significant imbalance in the ratio of Th1/Th2 marker cytokines and their hyperproduction in autoimmune thyroid diseases made it possible to characterize the cellular response system in autoimmune thyroid disorders as highly active and directly associated with thyroid dysfunction, performing its effector function under the impaired immunoregulation. The revealed changes in pro-inflammatory cytokines in polycystic ovary syndrome represent new immunological markers of fertility, which may be a promising target for pathogenetic immunotherapy.

Experience in studying some aspects of adolescents’ lifestyle during the implementation of scientific and educational projects in the Far Eastern Federal District

The article presents the results of a study of the assessment of the lifestyle of students in educational institutions of regional and regional centers, as well as municipal educational organizations remote from the regional and regional centers of the Far Eastern Federal District, obtained as part of the implementation of a student scientific and educational project at the Department of Hygiene of the Pacific State Medical University. A survey of 1480 people was conducted, the issues of the daily use of mobile phones and the use of smoking mixtures («spice»), the parameters of the physical and psychological component of the health of adolescents in the Far Eastern Federal District were studied. It has been established that first-year students of institutions of secondary vocational education in the studied territories are daily in direct contact with a source of electromagnetic radiation for more than 7 hours a day, 63 % of respondents consider it necessary to carry out sanitary and educational work on the dangers of using smoking mixtures in educational institutions where adolescents are trained. These assessments of the quality of life indicate the presence of gender and age characteristics in adolescents aged 16–17 years of the Far Eastern Federal District. The results of the work carried out can be applied in planning educational and preventive measures with young people aimed at maintaining the physical and mental health of adolescents in the Far Eastern Federal District.

Professional identity and hardiness of future psychologists before and after the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction The impact of the pandemic is prolonged, changing people's attitudes towards the meaning of relationships, life and professional activities. Future psychologists found themselves in a difficult situation during the pandemic: it was assumed that they would be able to show resilience and support their loved ones, to find new meaning in the profession they were acquiring. But in reality, it turned out that the students themselves needed psychological support, many of them showed disappointment in the profession.Purpose setting. The purpose of this study is to assess the parameters of professional identity and resilience before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The materials of two empirical studies obtained on a sample of students (future psychologists) of different courses at the Pacific State University before and after the COVID-19 pandemic are presented. The 2019 study (N = 78) included respondents aged 17 to 25 (M = 19.8; SD = 0.65), in the 2022 study (N = 78) ‒ aged 17 to 25 (M = 20.3; SD = 0.45).Methodology and methods of the study. The following methods were applied: hardiness survey (adapted by D. A. Leontiev, E. I. Rasskazova), professional readiness method (A. P. Chernyavskaya); questionnaire of professional identity of students – future psychologists (U. S. Rodygina).Results. The analysis of correlations in two different groups allowed us to identify certain specificity of resilience in relation to professional identity before and after the pandemic. So, before the pandemic, autonomy of choice and risk taking were positively related, a passive position in acquiring a profession was negatively related to other parameters of resilience. After the pandemic, a dual nature of relationships was found, which clearly delineated students who remain in the profession and those who passively continue to study, and the indicator of involvement in life is positively associated with an active strategy and positive emotions for the future profession. The main differences among students, confirmed statistically, before and after the pandemic were in the parameters «Negative emotions associated with the dissatisfaction of a person's needs in this profession» and «Risk acceptance».Conclusion. These differences and the nature of correlations indicate a rethinking of their positions in the acquired profession and a change in the possibility of taking risks in a difficult situation. The results can be used in the training of future psychologists, including personal growth trainings and self-help groups.

Analysis of quality of life indicators in medical students in the Sakhalin Oblast

Aim. To study the indicators of quality of life (QoL) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among medical university students.Materials and methods. In total, 114 people aged 18 to 23 years were included in the study. The participants were divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of 55 medical students (MS) of the Pacific State Medical University undergoing practical training in the city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (Vladivostok, Russia). In this group, male and female respondents accounted for 41.8% (23) and 58.2% (32), respectively. Group 2 included 59 students of non-medical education (NMS) from the Sakhalin State University (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia), with 49.28% (29) male and 50.8% (30) female respondents. The effect of socio-economic factors on HRQoL indicators was determined, along with the main predictors in their decrease.Results. In the structure of diseases defining the 2nd and 3A health groups, diseases of class IX prevailed. Diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99) were detected in 12% and 24.4% of MS and NMS, respectively. The diseases of class XI were ranked second. Thus, digestive diseases (K00-K93) accounted for 47.8%, and ophthalmic diseases (H00-H59) accounted for 35.5%. A significant physical dysfunction was identified in more than 3% of respondents; 99% of respondents reported a decrease in working capacity. Among MS, 1.7% of respondents demonstrated signs of depression and suffered from pain of varying intensity (44.5%). A decreased social activity was observed in 4% of NMS respondents.Conclusion. The data of QoL monitoring can be used for developing a multi-level scoring system for preventing health disorders among university students. Proposals were made concerning healthy lifestyle management. The model of dynamic monitoring of the health of university students exposed to various risk factors was supplemented. An individual route for rehabilitation and disease prevention for university students was developed based on the study of QoL.

ВЫРАЖЕННОСТЬ ТРЕВОЖНОСТИ И ТРЕВОГИ У СТУДЕНТОВ МЕДИЦИНСКОГО УНИВЕРСИТЕТА С РАЗЛИЧНЫМ УРОВНЕМ ФИЗИЧЕСКОЙ АКТИВНОСТИ

The problem of anxiety as a key indicator of stress is often found in people with an accelerated pace of life and increased workload, which involves studying at a medical school. The medical professions are characterized by an increased degree of responsibility, which can increase the level of anxiety and anxiety among specialists in this field, to lower which sports can be useful. The use of physical activity as a method of dealing with anxiety may be relevant for students of medical specialties with a busy educational process. The subject of our analysis is the influence of an active lifestyle of young people on the level of anxiety in conditions of increased psycho-emotional stress. In this paper, we assessed the severity of personal and reactive anxiety in students of the Pacific State Medical University with different levels and nature of physical activity.

On the Issue of Forming the Perception of a Healthy Lifestyle among Youth: The Example of Vladivostok University Students

Introduction: Health of student youth is a strategic priority that contributes to better adaptation of students to socio-physiological processes in learning and subsequent professional labor. The lifestyle and habits affect health; thus, building and strengthening of commitment to a healthy lifestyle in young people is the only manageable resource for improving health of the society. Objective: To analyze and assess the attitude and commitment of student youth towards values and perceptions of a healthy lifestyle. Materials and methods: We conducted a questionnaire-based survey of university students on the perceived criteria of a responsible attitude towards their health in the 2020–2021 academic year. The questionnaire included 20 questions on the topics of health and a healthy lifestyle and was anonymously filled out by 195 first to third year students of the Vladivostok State University of Economics and Service (Group 1; 81 boys and 114 girls) and 210 students of the Pacific State Medical University (Group 2; 78 boys and 132 girls). The mean age of boys was 19 ± 0.9 to 21 ± 0.3 years and that of girls, 20 ± 0.6 to 22 ± 0.1 years. The information obtained was processed and analyzed using SPSS Statistics 17.0. Results: We established a negative trend in the attitude of students towards their health over the study period. This applied to both self-rated health and adherence to a healthy lifestyle. Unhealthy behavioral practices, such as low physical activity, bad habits, and passive leisure, persisted. Conclusions: The survey results served as the basis for developing proposals and recommendations on the expediency of promoting the interest of students to building healthy lifestyle skills in the changing socio-economic and epidemiological situation.

METHODOLOGICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS OF ECOLOGIZATION OF FOREST EDUCATION IN RUSSIA

METHODOLOGICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS OF ECOLOGIZATION OF FOREST EDUCATION IN RUSSIA

The characteristics of physical development of present-day students.

The problem of preserving health of students is of great public importance. In assessing state of health and morphofunctional state of human body, the most important aspect is level of physical development. The purpose of the study is to investigate indices of physical development of students of medical university and to implement their comparative evaluation. The assessment was carried out concerning physical development of students of the Pacific State Medical University (238 girls and 57 boys) in 2020, including anthropometric measurements, calculation of BMI and Pignet index. The factor analysis was performed. It was established that anthropometric indices of male and female students had statistically significant differences. The BMI assessment of students demonstrated that overweight and obesity more often observed in boys, as underweight in girls (p=0,026). The analysis of strength index of students physique established that insufficient development of skeletal muscles, requiring correction, was detected in 58,4% of girls and 33,3% of boys. The factor analysis of complex of factors determined that most completely explained relationship between criteria for physical development of students (p<0,001).

Projections of faster onset and slower decay of El Ni\xf1o in the 21st century

Future changes in the seasonal evolution of the El Niño—Southern Oscillation (ENSO) during its onset and decay phases have received little attention by the research community. This work investigates the projected changes in the spatio-temporal evolution of El Niño events in the 21st Century (21 C), using a multi-model ensemble of coupled general circulation models subjected to anthropogenic forcing. Here we show that El Niño is projected to (1) grow at a faster rate, (2) persist longer over the eastern and far eastern Pacific, and (3) have stronger and distinct remote impacts via teleconnections. These changes are attributable to significant changes in the tropical Pacific mean state, dominant ENSO feedback processes, and an increase in stochastic westerly wind burst forcing in the western equatorial Pacific, and may lead to more significant and persistent global impacts of El Niño in the future.

CHARACTERISTICS OF CYTOKINE GENE POLYMORPHISMS IN CHILDREN WITH DIFFERENT PHENOTYPES OF BRONCHIAL ASTHMA.

Abstract&#x0D; BACKGROUND: Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, the development of which is based on genetic predictors associated with the differentiation and functioning of T-helpers. Polymorphisms in the genes of cytokines involved in the regulation of the direction of the T-helper mediated immune response are risk factors for the development of the disease and the realization of various phenotypes of bronchial asthma.&#x0D; AIMS: Study of the structure and frequency of occurrence of single nucleotide polymorphisms of cytokine genes with an assessment of the risk of various phenotypes of bronchial asthma in children.&#x0D; MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this case control study, 250 children were examined, including 150 children with a verified diagnosis of bronchial asthma (including 75 children with virus-induced and 75 children with allergen-induced disease phenotypes) and 100 sexually comparable healthy peers. The children underwent a comprehensive general clinical and allergological examination, genotyping, analysis of the structure, frequency of occurrence of cytokine gene polymorphisms and calculation of the odds ratio of the risk of developing different bronchial asthma phenotypes. DNA samples isolated from peripheral venous blood were used as material for molecular genetic analysis. The following mutation points were selected: IFN (T-874 A), IL-4 (C-589 T), IL-6 (C-174 G), IL-17A (G-197 A), TNF (G-308 A).&#x0D; The work followed the ethical principles set forth by the Declaration of Helsinki by the World Medical Association and the Rules of Clinical Practice in the Russian Federation, the study design was approved by the Interdisciplinary Ethics Committee of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education Pacific State Medical University of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation on April 27, 2015 (Protocol No. 8), informed voluntary consent was signed by the parents.&#x0D; When processing digital data, we used the methods of descriptive, parametric and nonparametric statistics of the Statistica 10 program, comparison of unrelated groups by qualitative characteristics, assessment of the correspondence of the distributions of genotypes to the expected values at the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The analysis of the frequency distributions of genotypes and alleles in two subpopulations was carried out using the Chi-square test (2).&#x0D; RESULTS: A comparative analysis of the frequencies of alleles and genotypes of cytokines of various Th profiles with the definition of features in allergen-induced and virus-induced phenotypes of the disease revealed in children with bronchial asthma the predominance of homozygous genotypes IFN (A-874A), IL-4 (T-589T), IL- 6 (G-174G), IL-17A (A-197A), TNF (A-308A), and in healthy peers the prevalence is IFN (T-874T), IL-4 (C-589C), IL-6 (C -174C), IL-17A (G-197G), TNF G-308G. Heterozygous genotypes IL-4 (C -589T), IL-6 (G -174C), IL-17A (G -197A), TNF (G -308A) found in children with bronchial asthma more often than in healthy peers, with the exception of the IFN genotype (T -874A). In children with the virus-induced bronchial asthma phenotype, the presence of the IL-4 (C-589T) mutant allele was found in 30,67% of cases with an odds ratio of -19,3 CI 95%. (11,23-33,31). When carrying the mutant A genotype IFN (T-874A), the odds ratio of the risk of developing the disease reflected a high degree of probability of the virus-induced bronchial asthma phenotype (OR = 5,11 (3,18-8,23) CI 95%). Carriage of homozygous genotypes IL-6 (G-174G), IL-17A (A-197A) determined an increased risk of developing allergen-induced bronchial asthma (OR = 2,71 (1,73-4,18) CI 95% and OR = 0,51 (0,32-0,71) CI 95%, respectively). Among children with bronchial asthma, there was a statistically significant increase in the incidence of the functionally unfavorable genotype 308 A /A of the TNF 308G /A gene, and the odds ratio reflects a 2,6-fold increase in the risk of developing a virus-induced bronchial asthma phenotype (2 = 18,66; p = 0,017; OR = 2,60, CI 95% (1,67-4,01).&#x0D; CONCLUSIONS: As a result of the study, significant differences were determined in the structure and frequency of occurrence of cytokine gene polymorphisms in children with allergen and virus-induced bronchial asthma, depending on the realized phenotype of the disease. Carriage of mutant alleles IFN (A-874A), IL-4 (T-589T), IL-6 (G-174G), IL-17A (A-197A), TNF (A-308A) can be characterized as genetic predictors of bronchial asthma, for the implementation of the virus-induced phenotype, the odds ratio is higher in the presence of mutant alleles IFN (A-874A), IL-4 (T-589T), TNF (A-308A), for the allergen-induced phenotype of the disease - IL-6 (G -174G), IL-17A (A-197A).

Aesthetic aspects of the design of the courtyard space of an apartment building

The article analyzes and evaluates the adjacent spaces in residential areas. A survey of about a hundred yards of Far Eastern cities (Khabarovsk, Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk) was conducted. Using the methods of full-scale survey and comparative analysis, positive and negative characteristics are determined in terms of aesthetics, functions and convenience for residents, the conditions of visual comfort on the selected site are revealed. The study is carried out from the point of view of architectural composition and functional organization. The study includes an analytical part, which presents the characteristics of house spaces and a practical one, which contains recommendations for improving the aesthetic qualities of the courtyard environment. The novelty of the research lies in the fact that for the first time such an analysis is carried out in the process of architectural design training in order to understand the special importance of aesthetic comfort in an urban residential environment. The relevance of the research is determined by the need to introduce theoretical research into design practice for further development of the courtyard of an apartment building: from reasonable functional organization and simple physical comfort - to aesthetic comfort, to artistic expressiveness of space and a unique sense of place identity. The study was conducted by the Institute of Architecture and Design of Pacific State University as part of the training courses "Environmental factors in Design" and "Aesthetics of Architecture and Design".

Evgeny Sashko: a person, an artist, a teacher

The subject of the study is the biography, scientific and pedagogical activity of the Khabarovsk teacher of drawing Evgeny Vyacheslavovich Sashko, the peculiarities of his personality as a person and a teacher. The stages of formation, the main types of creative activity of a teacher in the historical context of the formation of architectural education and the development of methods and technologies of artistic training of architects and designers on the basis of the Pacific National University are considered. For the first time, an attempt was made to recreate an integral creative portrait of E. V. Sashko, whose sphere of interests included decorative and applied art, as well as pedagogical work. He could fruitfully combine artistic creativity and the ability to teach, combining various fields of activity. The methodology of the research is based on a theoretical approach using the method of analysis of scientific works, generalization of pedagogical observations of educational and creative artistic activities, personal memories of authors, conversations with relatives, questionnaires and surveys of colleagues and students. Scientific novelty is associated with the involvement in scientific circulation of biographical sources and educational works of E. V. Sashko (in particular, in the field of architectural drawing techniques), which is mainly of importance for the training and education of young specialists at Pacific State University and other universities of the relevant profile, their professional growth and development. The results of the study are conclusions reflecting the specific contribution of E.V. Sashko in the development of artistic and graphic training of specialists. The method of architectural drawing, one of the main developers of which was E.V. Sashko, to this day serves as the basis for all programs of artistic training of students at the Pacific National University.

Creation of a Learning Environment Contributing to the Development of Communication Competencies within the System of Continuing Education of Medical Doctors

Introduction. The current state of the development of science and the society poses challenges to the pedagogical community and requires improvement of educational technologies to achieve a higher level of professional training of medical workers. Today, the search and development of effective teaching strategies for mastering fundamental and special professional knowledge is more relevant than ever. Our objectives were to create a learning environment contributing to the development of communication competencies within the system of continuing education of medical workers and to test it on occupational therapists and hygienists studying in the Pacific State Medical University. Materials and methods. First, we substantiated the hypothesis through the analysis of literary sources and legislative documents on the topic of the study. Second, we applied rapid diagnostic techniques (testing and a questionnaire-based survey) to study the level of development of communication competencies in healthcare professionals. Results. To solve one of the study goals, we defined communication competencies of a medical practitioner as the ability not only to establish but also to maintain necessary relationships with other people, including the professional network, over the years. At the theoretical stage of our research, we substantiated the system of organizational, pedagogical and psychological conditions necessary for effective development of communication skills of a medical doctor. The practical stage involved the elaboration of individual programs of professional and self-development and their introduction into practical activities of the doctors. Conclusion. Thus, according to the hypothesis of the study, implementation of the model of the development of communication competencies will help the medical practitioner expand professional communications enabling him to turn from a performer into a researcher and/or experimenter and master the skills of research activities, drafting projects and programs of experimental work.

Predictors of the quality of life of medical university students in the initial period of schooling

AIM: This study aimed to examine prognostic parameters of health-related quality of life of medical students to determine the possibilities of its correlation with subsequent optimization of the educational environment of the university.&#x0D; MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted from 02/01/2017 to 01/10/2020 at the School of Biomedicine of the Far Eastern Federal University and the Pacific State Medical University. It included 496 students of both sexes [251 (50.6%) women, 245 (49.4%) men; average age, 20.4 years] enrolled in 13 medical courses. Demographic characteristics, education and living conditions, and morbidity data were collected using the comprehensive I.V. Pozdeeva questionnaire (2008) supplemented by authors as well as the standard medical documentation of the polyclinic. The MOS SF-36 Health-Related Quality of Life Brief Self-Assessment Questionnaire was used to evaluate the health-related quality of life. The Academic Motivation Scale questionnaire survey was performed, and statistical data on academic performance were collected using K. Maslach and S. Jackson questionnaire for the administrative offices of educational institutions.&#x0D; RESULTS: The following scores were obtained on the self-assessment of the quality of life: physical functioning, 58.8 points; role functioning, 27.4 points; somatic pain (reverse assessment), 79.4 points; general well-being, 48.6 points; hardiness, 61.2 points; social functioning, 57.3 points; emotional status, 51.0 points; psychological comfort, 53.7 points. The students showed a high level of motivation to learn (47.759.8 points by the Vallerand scale) and a low professional burnout index (24.944.0 by Maslach and Jackson scale); the performance indicators were 4.14.6 points. Each parameter of self-assessment of physical and mental state is significantly associated with the composite average assessment of the health-related quality of life (r=0.490.86; p0.05). The health-related quality of life of medical students was found to be associated with academic performance (=0.27, p0.05), but motivation to study (=0.35, p0.05) was not correlated with the level of professional burnout. A strong relationship was also found between health-related quality of life and comorbidity (=0.30, p0.05) and sports (=0.27, p0.05).&#x0D; CONCLUSIONS: The scores on the total self-assessment of the quality of life by medical students are within the normal range. Most students are highly motivated to learn, perform well, and have little or no burnout. The health-related quality of life of medical students at the start of their schooling is reliably influenced by academic performance, motivation to study, and level of chronic morbidity and physical activity.

Cognitive status and health-related quality of life for medical students

Purpose of the study. To study the comparative state and variability of cognitive capabilities, the degree of their correlation with the subjective and objective state of health among students of a medical university. Materials and methods. The study was carried out during the year from 01.12.2018 to 01.12.2019 at the Far Eastern Federal University and the Pacific State Medical University. The sample size is 394 respondents. The response rate is 91.9%. The state of co‑cognitive functions was determined according to the Montreal scale for assessing cognitive functions (IOC‑test; MoCA, Montreal Cognitive Assessment). For the self‑assessment of the quality of life, the “Brief form of self‑assessment of the quality of life related to health MOS SF‑36” (MOS SF – Medical Outcomes Study‑Short Form) was used. To collect information on social, economic, physiological, behavioral status, a specialized questionnaire Pozdeeva (2008) and standard medical documentation were used. Results. The total indicator of the assessment of cognitive functions in students was 26.1 points, in senior students it was slightly higher (26.8/25.5, p≥0.05). It was found that in the learning process, students significantly increase the level of executive functions (3.1/3.8, p≤0.05), attention, concentration and working memory (4.2/4.8, p≤0.05). The final assessment of physical health among primary students was 69 points, for senior students – 72 points. The indicator of mental health among students of the initial period of study was estimated at 52 points, among graduates – at 62 points (p≤0.05). The composite indicator of the quality of life associated with health was equal to 60 points for 1–3 year students, 67 points for 4–6 year students, (p≤0.05). The students of both age cohorts had a high incidence of chronic somatic pathology, the comorbidity index was 0.6, however, the number of visits to the doctor among senior students was significantly lower, in junior years (3.2/2.1, p≤0.05). The total indicator of the students' cognitive function was most strongly associated with physical activity (r=0.85, p≤0.05) and the state of physical health (r=0.73, p≤0.05). Conclusions. Cognitive functions in medical students correspond to normal values. The activity of executive functions, attention, concentration and working memory significantly improves in the process of studying at a medical university. Medical students value their health‑related quality of life highly, but most of them have chronic medical conditions. Senior students assess their psychological status more highly by optimizing the emotional component. The total indicator of the cognitive function of students is interrelated with the frequency of physical activity, the state of physical health, quality of nutrition, self‑assessment of mental health and psychological comfort.