Multicolour CCD photometric study of galactic star clusters SAI 63 and SAI 75

We present U B V I CCD photometric observations obtained in the field of open clusters SAI 63 and SAI 75. CCD optical data obtained for the first time for these clusters are used to derive the fundamental parameters of the clusters. Stellar surface density profile indicates that radii of SAI 63 and SAI 75 are ∼3′.5 and 2′.5 respectively. The reddenings E(B−V) are 0.44±0.05 and 0.34±0.05 mag for SAI 63 and SAI 75 respectively while the corresponding distances are 2.2 ± 0.2 and 3.5±0.3 kpc. An age of 450 ± 50 Myr for SAI 63 and 90 ± 10 Myr for SAI 75 is determined using the theoretical isochrones of Z=0.019. Our analysis shows that reddening law is normal towards SAI 75

PROBLEMS OF DIAGNOSIS AND SURGICAL TREATMENT OF HALLUX VALGUS (LITERATURE REVIEW)

Treatment of valgus deformity of the first toe is today one of the intensively developing areas of modern orthopedics. The complexity of treatment of this pathology is predetermined, first of all, by its multicomponent nature. Forefoot deformities are often the main cause of a decreased quality of life, which makes the patient irritable, inactive, and also makes it impossible to use standard footwear, and sometimes even orthopedic one. The purpose of our study was the analysis of scientific literature devoted to the problems of diagnosis and surgical treatment of valgus deviation of the 1st toe (hallux valgus). The materials of the study were domestic and foreign articles, reviews and monographs on the surgical treatment of hallux valgus, with mandatory analysis of long-term treatment outcomes. The history of the development of treatment of this pathology is presented with the analysis of surgical treatment methods aimed at different links of pathogenesis, as well as complications arising from the use of different techniques. The article presents modern trends in development and ways to improve the methods of surgical treatment of valgus deviation of the first toe. The analysis of the literature data showed significant success in the surgical treatment of valgus deviation of the first toe. However the current percentage of relapses may be due to the lack of an accurate method for determining proximal articular set angle (PASA) in the preoperative period, as well as the lack of the hallux valgus treatment able to eliminate valgus deviation of the first toe and avoid recurrence of the disease due to a more accurate correction of PASA

Using biodegradable screws in treatment of hallux valgus

The aim of the research was to assess using biodegradable screws in treatment of hallux valgus. We managed 40 female patients (average age 50 ± 2.51) with hallux valgus who where admitted to the orthopedic unit of Irkutsk Scientific Center of Surgery and Traumatology for operative treatment. All patients had X-ray, MRI and intraoperational examination of affected foot before the surgery and in postoperative period. All patients were operated using own surgical technique. Patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (22 patients) - osteosynthesis using biodegradable (PLGA) screws; group 2 (18 patients) - osteosynthesis using metal cannulated screws. In group 1 postoperative values of M1P1 angle were within normal range (9.67 ± 0.78°). According to MRI, proximal articular set angle (PASA) was corrected from 21.5 ± 0.35 to 4.17 ± 0.09°. 6 patients of the group 1 were complaining of pain and discomfort in the area of screw-head contacting soft tissues. The result of operative treatment in the group 2 resulted in the correction of M1P1 angle from 34 ± 1.63 to 7.67 ± 0.75°. After the surgery intraoperative PASA was back to the normal range (4.33 ± 0.34°). The comparison of the results of treatment of patients of groups 1 and 2 didn't reveal any statistically significant differences in the values of М1Р1, М1М2, М1М5 angles and PASA. The advantage of using biodegradable screws, compared to the metal ones, in the treatment of hallux valgus is the possibility of postoperative MRI of the foot with calculation of PASA to evaluate treatment results. The disadvantage of using biodegradable screws is engineering deficiency preventing screw-head from dipping into bone tissue and causing soft tissue traumatizing. Biodegradable and metal screws allow to obtain similar results of hallux valgus treatment

SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING OF THE STAFF OF ENTERPRISES WITH DIFFERENT INVOLVEMENT IN INNOVATIVE PROCESSES: AGE ASPECT

The results of empirical investigations of subjective well-being of multi-age engineering staff at successful innovative enterprise and the enterprise with long-term problems of transition to innovative development format have been presented. Subjective well-being has been сonsidered as emotional regulator of labor activity and staff acceptance of innovations factor. Readiness for innovative changes, self-esteem of fatigue, health status, stress and age state of health has been studied as indicators of well-being. It has been shown that at ordinary enterprise the most unpleasant indicators of subjective well-being are typical for young staff, but at the innovative enterprise the staff regardless of age have a high level of subjective well-being which is manifested in a commitment to innovative values and personal involvement in the labor process

Surgical Treatment of Severe Deformities of the Toes in Rheumatoid Arthritis

The article presents the case of successful surgical treatment of a female patient with severe deformities of the toes arising from rheumatoid arthritis. After clinical and radiological examination the patient was diagnosed with a hallux valgus deviation of the first toe, with 64 degrees of valgus deviation angle, and a valgus-hammered deformity of the II, III, IV toes with a dislocation of the III and IV toes. There was a violation of the stato-dynamic function of the foot, severe pain. Two techniques of joint-preserving surgical treatment were selected. Correction of deformation of the first toe was carried out according to the author's technology, to correct the deformation of other toes, the Helal technique was used in the author's modification. The result of the treatment was the achievement of correction of the deformation of the first toe and the elimination of the deformation of the second, third, and fourth toes. The patient is satisfied with the outcome, the appearance of the left foot, its function, the ability to walk without pain and wear ordinary shoes.This clinical case of surgical treatment of severe deformities of the toes with rheumatoid arthritis shows the possibility and importance of joint-saving operations to obtain a good cosmetic and functional result. Performing osteotomy of the metatarsal bones in the proposed modifications allows to correct the hallux valgus deviation of the first toe and deformation of the other toes. As a result of using these technologies, it is possible to maintain metatarsophalangeal joints, eliminate dislocations and subluxations, restore joint function, form an arch of the transverse arch of the foot, relieve pain, thereby improving the anatomical and functional state of the entire foot

Structural And Extremal Properties of the Hot Rolling Batches Precedence Graph

In this paper we study structural properties and properties of maximal paths of the hot rolling batches precedence graph. The hot rolling batches precedence graph arises in the problem of planning and scheduling of a hot strip mill load. Slab batches are selected and sequenced in turns. Basic technological restrictions on batch sequencing in turns are represented by the rolling batches precedence graph. Some fundamental structural properties of this graphs are stated such as the local block structure and the maximal paths structure. Motivation and overview of the result application potential are also provided

Automated search for star clusters in large multiband surveys: II. Discovery and investigation of open clusters in the Galactic plane

Automated search for star clusters in J,H,K_s data from 2MASS catalog has been performed using the method developed by Koposov et. al (2008). We have found and verified 153 new clusters in the interval of the galactic latitude -24 < b < 24 degrees. Color excesses E(B-V), distance moduli and ages were determined for 130 new and 14 yet-unstudied known clusters. In this paper, we publish a catalog of coordinates, diameters, and main parameters of all the clusters under study. A special web-site available at http://ocl.sai.msu.ru has been developed to facilitate dissemination and scientific usage of the results.Comment: 9 pages, 3 tables, 5 figures, accepted to Astronomy Letter

Comparative Analysis of NS5 Protein for Tick Borne Encephalitis Virus Strains in three Virus Subtypes

Non-structural protein 5 (NS5) of tick-borne encephalitis virus is an enzyme which is responsible for a copying of viral RNA, and it has a strong structural similarity to RNA polymerases of another RNA virus families. The strains of the virus are separated into three subtypes, which differ by specific mutations in virus proteins, including NS5 protein. The methods of structural bioinformatics allow to construct a model of NS5 protein for several strains of the virus.The paper presents the comparative analysis of sequences and structures of NS5 protein, for three subtypes of the tick-borne encephalitis virus. The segments of protein were identified where the highest difference between subtypes and within subtypes is observed. These segments, where most of the mutations are accumulated, are located in methyltransferase domain, in the inter-domain interface, and in the three subdomains of polymerase domain. The association between the locations of mutations in NS5 protein and the flexibility of a protein backbone was observed using normal mode analysis. Namely, the most important mutations are located in the parts of protein where the amplitude of synchronous oscillations estimated using normal mode analysis is the highest: in the second zinc binding pocket within polymerase domain, in the N-terminal extension within inter-domain interface, and around an active site of methyltransferase domain

New method of surgical correction of lesser toes deformity

Background. Patients’ dissatisfaction with the results of surgical correction of lesser toes deformities, the shortcomings of methods aimed at eliminating the lateral deviation of the toe in the metatarsophalangeal joint necessitated the development of a new surgical method.The aim. To evaluate short-term results of the new surgical method for the treatment of patients with lesser toes deformity, accompanied with deviation of the toe.Materials and methods. A method of surgical treatment of deviated deformity of the small toes is proposed. The method includes precise marking of the metatarsal osteotomy line according to the previously calculated parameters of optimal shortening and displacement of the metatarsal bone, performing oblique diaphyseal osteotomy of the metatarsal bone, displacing its distal part along the osteotomy plane. According to the proposed method, nine patients were operated on who had a syndrome of nonrigid hammer-like deformity of the second toe with lateral deviation of the toe in the metatarsophalangeal joint. In all patients, the deformity of the second toe was associated with hallux valgus.Results. As a result of the application of the proposed method, it was possible to achieve deformity correction, eliminate the lateral deviation of the second toe in the metatarsophalangeal joint, restore congruence in the joint, achieve consolidation of bone fragments without loss of correction, and improve the appearance and function of the foot. Three months after the operation, a statistically significant improvement was determined, according to the AOFAS LMIS scale, having reached 94.5 ± 4.64 points, which made it possible to speak about the achievement of a good functional result of treatment. Patients noted the opportunity to wear standard footwear, to carry out their labor activity, to engage in physical culture, were satisfied with the result.Conclusion. The use of the proposed new surgical method for deflected deformity of the lesser toes makes it possible to correct the deformity, eliminate lateral deviation of the toe, relieve pain syndrome, achieve a good cosmetic and functional result, restoring the patients’ ability to wear standard shoes

Method for Surgical Treatment of Hammer Deformity of the Second Toe

The article presents a case of successful surgical treatment of a patient with hammer-like deformity of the second toe associated with deformity of the first toe. During the preoperative examination of the patient, the length of the required shortening of the second metatarsal bone relative to the length of the third metatarsal bone was calculated on the X-ray in frontal projection and the length of the required shortening of the first metatarsal bone was calculated using a known method. To eliminate the deformity of the first toe, the author’s method of surgical treatment was used. To correct the deformation of the second toe, the proposed method was used, which includes the following steps: marking the lines of osteotomies during the operation; performing osteotomies along the outlined lines; removal of a free bone fragment; precise implementation of  the required shortening of the second metatarsal bone; fixation of the osteotomized fragments of the second metatarsal bone with a cannulated screw. As a result of the performed surgical treatment, correction of the hallux valgus and hammer-like deformity of the second toe was achieved.The presented clinical case shows that in the surgical treatment of hammer deformity of the second toe, it is important to take into account the individual characteristics of the patient’s foot condition, namely, the ratio of the length of the second and adjacent third metatarsal bones. Preliminary calculation of the length of the required shortening of the second and first metatarsal bones on the roentgenogram, precise markings of the  osteotomy lines and the implementation of the necessary shortening contribute to achieving a balance in the ratio of the lengths of the metatarsal bones, restoring the optimal load distribution on the heads of the metatarsal bones, more accurate correction of the deformity of the second and first toes, and improving statodynamic function of the foot and reducing the risk of postoperative failures