Symbolic calculations of natural voltage balancing dynamics in multilevel flying capacitor converters

While most of the past research addressed the analysis of natural voltage balancing in Flying Capacitor Converters (FCC) (Fig.1, 2) using frequency domain Fourier based methods, the authors attack the problem in time domain using appropriate averaging methods

System testing levels of Tatar language proficiency

In recent years, a special attention is paid to the change of methodological approaches in teaching the Tatar language as the state language of the Republic of Tatarstan, the achievement of the performance that each student can acquire the language as a means of active communication. This is the relevance of this article. It represents a system of diagnosing the quality of training of students on levels A1, A2, B1, B2. It allows to control the communicative advancements of students according to the main types of speech activity. When preparing the test tasks on the Tatar language for different levels, we relied on the materials of international exams in foreign languages, the experience of teaching of the Tatar language to foreign audience. The present material was approbated by controlling the level advancement of the Tatar language course participants as well as in the diagnosing the level of the Tatar language proficiency of the Russian-speaking pupils in comprehensive secondary school. Introduction of the developed level test is aimed at improving the systems of language certification for the Tatar language and allows to conduct entrance and exit testing in compliance with international standards

Surgical treatment of unstable fractures of the clavicle

Clavicle fractures are one of the most common types of injuries and range from 2.6 to 4% of all skeletal injuries. The aim of the study was to improve the results of surgical treatment of patients with fractures of the clavicle in the middle third. Material and methods. The study included 104 patients with fractures of the clavicle in the middle third. In the main group (48 patients) for osteosynthesis of the clavicle, a lockable rod of the original design was used, in the comparison group (56 patients) bone osteosynthesis was performed. Evaluation of the results was carried out on the DASH scale 3,6 and 12 months after osteosynthesis. Results: the proposed technology of operative treatment of clavicle fractures in the middle third with the use of an original compression blocking rod to improve the results of treatment of this group of patients. The developed algorithm for diagnosing, treating and rehabilitating victims with fractures of the collarbone allows to improve the results of treatment, provides for household and social reintegration of patients. Analysis of the results of the clinical trial revealed a significant advantage of the results on the DASH scale and a lower incidence of complications in the main group (p <0.05).Переломы ключицы относятся к одному из наиболее часто встречающихся видов травм и составляют от 2,6 до 4% среди всех повреждений скелета. Цель исследования: улучшение результатов хирургического лечения пациентов с переломами ключицы в средней трети. Материал и методы. В исследование вошли 104 пациента с переломами ключицы в средней трети. В основной группе (48 пациентов) для остеосинтеза ключицы использовался блокируемый стержень оригинальной конструкции, в группе сравнения (56 пациентов) проводился накостный остеосинтез. Оценка результатов проводилась по шкале DASH через 3,6 и 12 месяцев после остеосинтеза. Результаты: предложенная технология оперативного лечения переломов ключицы в средней трети с использованием оригинального компрессирующего блокируемого стержня улучшить результаты лечения данной группы пациентов. Разработанный алгоритм диагностики, лечения и еабилитации пострадавших с переломами ключицы позволяет улучшить результаты лечения, обеспечивает бытовую и социальную реинтгеграцию пациентов. Анализ результатов клинического исследования выявил достоверное преимущество результатов по шкале DASH и меньшую частоту осложнений в основной группе (р<0,05)

Biomechanical characteristics of the metatarsal part of the foot in swimmers in walking

Objective: to investigate the characteristics of the distribution of pressure under the foot during walking in swimmers of various ages and experience.Materials and methods. The study involved swimmers aged 11.4 ± 1.9 years, of both sexes, with at least 4 years of training experience (n = 23) and masters of sports in swimming, 19.3 ± 1.5 years old with 12.2 ± 1.3 years of experience (n = 23). The study used a podometric footscan® platform from RSscan company. Kinematic and dynamic parameters of pressure under the foot during natural walking were recorded. The focus was on the indicators of contact with the support in the zones of the metatarsal part of the foot. The peak pressure value in each metatarsal zone and the time to reach it were taken into account.Results. In the course of the study, the order in which the maximum pressure under the metatarsal zones manifests was understood, which appeared in a sequence: fifth, fourth, first, third and second metatarsal zones. It was found that in young athletes the transverse arch of the foot during walking undergoes a relatively greater load than in older athletes. Moreover, relatively high values were noted in the zones of the second and third metatarsals in both age groups.Conclusions: the swimmer’s foot experiences a significant professional transformation associated with specific sports activities, which dictates the need to introduce certain preventive and corrective measures into sports training

Implications of quantitative susceptibility mapping at 7 Tesla MRI for microbleeds detection in cerebral small vessel disease

BACKGROUND: Cerebral microbleeds (MBs) are a hallmark of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) and can be found on T2*-weighted sequences on MRI. Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) is a postprocessing method that also enables MBs identification and furthermore allows to differentiate them from calcifications. AIMS: We explored the implications of using QSM at submillimeter resolution for MBs detection in CSVD. METHODS: Both 3 and 7 Tesla (T) MRI were performed in elderly participants without MBs and patients with CSVD. MBs were quantified on T2*-weighted imaging and QSM. Differences in the number of MBs were assessed, and subjects were classified in CSVD subgroups or controls both on 3T T2*-weighted imaging and 7T QSM. RESULTS: 48 participants [mean age (SD) 70.9 (8.8) years, 48% females] were included: 31 were healthy controls, 6 probable cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), 9 mixed CSVD, and 2 were hypertensive arteriopathy [HA] patients. After accounting for the higher number of MBs detected at 7T QSM (Median = Mdn; Mdn7T−QSM = 2.5; Mdn3T−T2 = 0; z = 4.90; p < 0.001) and false positive MBs (6.1% calcifications), most healthy controls (80.6%) demonstrated at least one MB and more MBs were discovered in the CSVD group. CONCLUSIONS: Our observations suggest that QSM at submillimeter resolution improves the detection of MBs in the elderly human brain. A higher prevalence of MBs than so far known in healthy elderly was revealed

Perceived and mentally rotated contents are differentially represented in cortical depth of V1

Primary visual cortex (V1) in humans is known to represent both veridically perceived external input and internally-generated contents underlying imagery and mental rotation. However, it is unknown how the brain keeps these contents separate thus avoiding a mixture of the perceived and the imagined which could lead to potentially detrimental consequences. Inspired by neuroanatomical studies showing that feedforward and feedback connections in V1 terminate in different cortical layers, we hypothesized that this anatomical compartmentalization underlies functional segregation of external and internally-generated visual contents, respectively. We used high-resolution layer-specific fMRI to test this hypothesis in a mental rotation task. We found that rotated contents were predominant at outer cortical depth bins (i.e. superficial and deep). At the same time perceived contents were represented stronger at the middle cortical bin. These results identify how through cortical depth compartmentalization V1 functionally segregates rather than confuses external from internally-generated visual contents. These results indicate that feedforward and feedback manifest in distinct subdivisions of the early visual cortex, thereby reflecting a general strategy for implementing multiple cognitive functions within a single brain region

Vessel distance mapping: A novel methodology for assessing vascular-induced cognitive resilience

The association between cerebral blood supply and cognition has been widely discussed in the recent literature. One focus of this discussion has been the anatomical variability of the circle of Willis, with morphological differences being present in more than half of the general population. While previous studies have attempted to classify these differences and explore their contribution to hippocampal blood supply and cognition, results have been controversial. To disentangle these previously inconsistent findings, we introduce Vessel Distance Mapping (VDM) as a novel methodology for evaluating blood supply, which allows for obtaining vessel pattern metrics with respect to the surrounding structures, extending the previously established binary classification into a continuous spectrum. To accomplish this, we manually segmented hippocampal vessels obtained from high-resolution 7T time-of-flight MR angiographic imaging in older adults with and without cerebral small vessel disease, generating vessel distance maps by computing the distances of each voxel to its nearest vessel. Greater values of VDM-metrics, which reflected higher vessel distances, were associated with poorer cognitive outcomes in subjects affected by vascular pathology, while this relation was not observed in healthy controls. Therefore, a mixed contribution of vessel pattern and vessel density is proposed to confer cognitive resilience, consistent with previous research findings. In conclusion, VDM provides a novel platform, based on a statistically robust and quantitative method of vascular mapping, for addressing a variety of clinical research questions

СРАВНИТЕЛЬНЫЙ АНАЛИЗ ХИРУРГИЧЕСКОГО ЛЕЧЕНИЯ НЕСТАБИЛЬНЫХ ПЕРЕЛОМОВ КЛЮЧИЦЫ

Introduction. Study of different treatments effectiveness of these injuries allows to distinguish the rational side of medical factors, which directly reflect the key pathogenetic mechanisms. A substantial portion of the currently used methods of clavicle fractures surgical treatment allow one to achieve rapid recovery of structural and functional patterns of the patient in most cases.The purpose of the study is to improve the results of surgical treatment of patients with fractures of the clavicle in the middle third. Material and methods. The study included 104 patients with fractures of the clavicle in the middle third.In the main group (48 patients) the clavicle lockable rod of the original design was used for osteosynthesis, in the comparison group (56 patients) plate osteosynthesis was performed.Results and discussion. The proposed technology of operative treatment of clavicle fractures in the middle third using the original hip compression-locking rod must improve the results of treatment in this group of patients. The developed algorithm of diagnostics, treatment and rehabilitation of patients with clavicle fractures allows to improve the results of treatment, provides domestic and social reintegratie patients. Conclusion. Analysis of the clinical studies results have revealed a reliable advantage of the results on a scale DASH and a lower frequency of complications in the main group (p&lt;0.05).Введение. Изучение эффективности различных способов лечения данных повреждений позволяет выделить рациональные стороны лечебных факторов, что прямо отражает ключевые патогенетические механизмы. При этом значительная часть используемых в настоящее время методик оперативного лечения переломов ключицы позволяют достичь быстрого восстановления структурно-функциональных стереотипов пациента в большинстве случаев. Цель исследования: улучшение результатов хирургического лечения пациентов с переломами ключицы в средней трети.Материал и методы. В исследование вошли 104 пациента с переломами ключицы в средней трети. В основной группе (48 пациентов) для остеосинтеза ключицы использовался блокируемый стержень оригинальной конструкции, в группе сравнения (56 пациентов) проводился накостный остеосинтез. Оценка результатов проводилась по шкале DASH через 3, 6 и 12 месяцев после остеосинтеза. Результаты и их обсуждение. Предложенная технология оперативного лечения переломов ключицы в средней трети с использованием оригинального компрессирующего блокируемого стержня повысила результативность лечения данной группы пациентов. Разработанный алгоритм диагностики, лечения и реабилитации пострадавших с переломами ключицы позволяет улучшить результаты лечения, обеспечивает бытовую и социальную реинтеграцию пациентов.Заключение. Анализ результатов клинического исследования выявил достоверное преимущество результатов по шкале DASH и меньшую частоту осложнений в основной группе (p&lt;0,05)

Detection of Cerebral Microbleeds With Venous Connection at 7-Tesla MRI

Objective: Cerebral microbleeds (MBs) are a common finding in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) and Alzheimer disease as well as in healthy elderly people, but their pathophysiology remains unclear. To investigate a possible role of veins in the development of MBs, we performed an exploratory study, assessing in vivo presence of MBs with a direct connection to a vein. Methods: 7-Tesla (7T) MRI was conducted and MBs were counted on quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM). A submillimeter resolution QSM-based venogram allowed identification of MBs with a direct spatial connection to a vein. Results: A total of 51 people (mean age [SD] 70.5 [8.6] years, 37% female) participated in the study: 20 had CSVD (cerebral amyloid angiopathy [CAA] with strictly lobar MBs [n = 8], hypertensive arteriopathy [HA] with strictly deep MBs [n = 5], or mixed lobar and deep MBs [n = 7], 72.4 [6.1] years, 30% female) and 31 were healthy controls (69.4 [9.9] years, 42% female). In our cohort, we counted a total of 96 MBs with a venous connection, representing 14% of all detected MBs on 7T QSM. Most venous MBs (86%, n = 83) were observed in lobar locations and all of these were cortical. Patients with CAA showed the highest ratio of venous to total MBs (19%) (HA = 9%, mixed = 18%, controls = 5%). Conclusion: Our findings establish a link between cerebral MBs and the venous vasculature, pointing towards a possible contribution of veins to CSVD in general and to CAA in particular. Pathologic studies are needed to confirm our observations

Assessment of the effectiveness of anti-inflammatory therapy in patients with osteoarthritis of the contralateral joint

Presents the results of a prospective study of the effectiveness of Diacerein in osteoarthritis (OA) of the contralateral hip in 68 patients (age 52-70 years) who underwent hip arthroplasty of the hip joint. The results showed that 3-month course of diacerein reduces inflammation in the contralateral hip joint, stabilizing the parameters of the biomechanics of the segment of the lower limb and that further enhances the quality of life. Thus, there is a direct link between the presence of the operated limb and function of the contralateral TBS in the balance of the musculoskeletal system. The mechanism of action of diacerein is associated with a decrease in the intensity of the inflammatory process in the joint in the formation of a new kinematic node. Further study the influence of prosthetic limbs on the contralateral hip and prospects preoperative medication correction of degenerative-dystrophic changes.Представлены результаты проспективного исследования эффективности Диацереина при остеоартрозе (ОА) контралатерального тазобедренного сустава у 68 больных (возраст 52-70 лет), перенесших артропластику тазобедренного сустава. Результаты исследования показали, что 3-х месячный курс диацереина снижает воспалительный процесс в контралатеральном тазобедренном суставе, стабилизируя параметры биомеханики сегмента нижней конечности и что последующим повышает качество жизни. Таким образом, имеется прямая связь между наличием оперированной конечности и функцией контралатерального ТБС в балансе опорно-двигательной системы. Механизм действия диацереина связан со снижением интенсивности воспалительного процесса в суставе в условиях формирования нового кинематического узла. Требуются дальнейшие изучения влияния протезированной конечности на контралатеральный тазобедренный сустав и перспективы дооперационной медикаментозной коррекции деструктивно-дистрофических изменений в суставах