Сучасний стан пенсійного забезпечення в Україні

У статті розглянуто сучасний стан солідарної системи загальнообов'язкового державного пенсійного страхування та проаналізовано основні показники функціонування недержавних пенсійних фондів.In the article the current state of solidarity system of obligatory slate pension insurance is considered. The basic indicators of functioning of non-stale pension funds are analyzed

Pleistocene landscape evolution in the Avon valley, southern Britain: optical dating of terrace formation and Palaeolithic archaeology

This paper presents the first comprehensive Optically Stimulated Luminescence dating programme from a sequence of Pleistocene river terraces in the Avon valley (Wiltshire-Hampshire-Dorset), southern Britain. These results offer the most complete chronometric framework for Pleistocene landscape evolution and Palaeolithic occupation in the Avon valley, allowing for the first time: (1) an assessment of the timing of terrace formation and landscape evolution, (2) the dating of hominin presence in the area, and (3) an investigation of the relationship between terrace formation and Quaternary climatic change. Analysis of 25 samples collected from terraces 10 and 7 to 4 show that the middle Avon terraces formed in response to the main Pleistocene climatic oscillations (Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 10, 8, 6) and that fluvial mechanisms changed through time, resulting in three different types of terrace architecture. The highest and oldest deposits are compound terraces deposited during the Early Pleistocene before the Mid Pleistocene Transition. The middle reach of the valley is characterised by well-developed strath terraces overlain with thick fluvial deposits, reflecting the greater degree of incision in response to the increased amplitude of climate cycles in the Middle Pleistocene. The youngest deposits in the confined modern floodplain represent cut-and-fill terraces deposited after MIS5e. The results indicate that the two main Palaeolithic sites in the area, Milford Hill and Woodgreen, date to between at least MIS 10 and 8 with a pre-MIS 10 human occupation at a third main site at Bemerton. This is significant because the sites date to a period previously associated with a decline in hominin presence in Britain. The dating of the Avon valley terrace sequence highlights the complex nature of terrace formation during the Pleistocene and the need to critically reassess the chronological understanding of these fluvial archives in southern Britain. This research demonstrates that with a detailed and multidisciplinary approach shifts in hominin landscape use can be discovered, providing new information on hominin behavioural change during the Pleistocene

Molecular dynamics simulations of a fully hydrated dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine bilayer with different macroscopic boundary conditions and parameters

We compared molecular dynamics simulations of a bilayer of 128 fully hydrated phospholipid (DPPC) molecules, using different parameters and macroscopic boundary conditions. The same system was studied under constant pressure, constant volume, and constant surface tension boundary conditions, with two different sets of charges, the single point charge (SPC) and extended single point charge (SPC/E) water model and two different sets of Lennard-Jones parameters for the interaction between water and methyl/methylene. Some selected properties of the resulting bilayer systems are compared to each other, previous simulations, and experimental data. It is concluded that in relatively high water concentration it is possible to use ab initio derived charges with constant pressure boundary conditions. The SPC water model gives a larger area per head group and a broader interface than the SPC/E model. Increasing the repulsion between water oxygens and CH2/CH3 groups has a large effect on the width of the interface and the area per head group. There is little difference between simulations with constant pressure and constant surface tension. The use of constant volume, using a reasonable estimate for the initial box dimensions, easily introduces artefacts. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics

Ю.О. Митропольський — вчений та вихователь молоді

Висвітлено наукову діяльність та роботу з підготовки наукових кадрів академіка Ю.О. Митропольського. Змальовано його риси як вченого та вихователя молоді.Освещены научная деятельность и работа по подготовке научных кадров академика Ю.А.Митропольского. Обрисованы его черты как ученого и воспитателя молодежи.The paper highlights research and tutorial activities by Academician Yu.O. Mitropolsky. His qualities as a scientist and a tutor of youth are outlined

Expression and Temperature-Dependent Regulation of the Beta2-Microglobulin (Cyca-B2m) Gene in a Cold-Blooded Vertebrate, the Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

Expression of beta2-microglobulin (β 2m) in the common carp was studied using a polyclonal antibody raised against a recombinant protein obtained from eukaryotic expression of the Cyca-B2m gene. β 2m is expressed on peripheral blood Ig+ and Ig- lymphocytes, but not on erythrocytes and thrombocytes. In spleen and pronephros, dull- and bright-positive populations could be identified correlating with the presence of erythrocytes, thrombocytes, and mature leucocytes or immature and mature cells from the lympho-myeloid lineage, respectively. Thymocytes were shown to be comprised of a single bright-positive population. The Cyca-B2m polyclonal antiserum was used in conjunction with a similarly produced polyclonal antiserum to an MHC class I (Cyca-UA) α chain to investigate the expression of class I molecules on peripheral blood leucocytes (PBL) at different permissive temperatures. At 12℃, a temporary downregulation of class I molecules was demonstrated, which recovered to normal levels within 3 days. However, at 6℃, a lasting absence of class I cell-surface expression was observed, which could be restored slowly by transfer to 12C. The expression of immunoglobulin molecules on B cells was unaffected by temperature changes. The absence of the class cell-surface expression was shown to be the result of a lack of sufficient Cyca-B2m gene transcription, although Cyca-UA mRNA was present at comparable levels at all temperatures. This suggests that class I expression is regulated by a temperature-sensitive transcription of the Cyca-B2m gene

Angle-Resolved Environmental X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy: A New Laboratory Setup for Photoemission Studies at Pressures up to 0.4 Torr

The paper presents the development and demonstrates the capabilities of a new laboratory-based environmental X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy system incorporating an electrostatic lens and able to acquire spectra up to 0.4 Torr. The incorporation of a two-dimensional detector provides imaging capabilities and allows the acquisition of angle-resolved data in parallel mode over an angular range of 14° without tilting the sample. The sensitivity and energy resolution of the spectrometer have been investigated by analyzing a standard Ag foil both under high vacuum (10−8 Torr) conditions and at elevated pressures of N2 (0.4 Torr). The possibility of acquiring angle-resolved data at different pressures has been demonstrated by analyzing a silicon/silicon dioxide (Si/SiO2) sample. The collected angle-resolved spectra could be effectively used for the determination of the thickness of the native silicon oxide layer

Guidance by physicians and pharmacists during antidepressant therapy: patients' needs and suggestions for improvement

OBJECTIVE Guidance of patients treated with antidepressants is paramount for successful therapy. The aim was to assess patients' needs and suggestions for improvement of guidance by physicians and pharmacists during second generation antidepressant (SGA) therapy. DESIGN Five focus group discussions were held with a total of 34 patients using an SGA. METHODS The discussions were conducted flexibly and responsrvely using a semistructured topic list. All focus group discussions were video-recorded and transcripts were analysed using ATLAS.ti for coding, thematic and open analysis. RESULTS Participants stated they were in need of better guidance. They suggested improving content of information during decisional moments, patient-health care professional communication and communication in-between health care professionals, and finally, organisation of guidance. Barriers to achieving improved guidance were cited. CONCLUSION Content, communication and organisation of guidance are pivotal for achieving optimal guidance. Participants mentioned that their current experienced guidance had limitations and brought up solutions for improvement. A next step would be to discuss the suggested solutions with health care professionals to assess their views and to discuss the possibility for implementation. After implementation, future studies could be aimed at determination of its impact on patients' treatment efficacy, quality of life, treatment satisfaction and healthcare costs