The Relationship Between Measures of Impulsivity and Clinical Characteristics of Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder

The current article presents findings on the interaction between impulsivity features and clinical characteristics of patients with alcohol use disorders (AUD). Patients (n = 88), who were completing detoxification program for the symptoms of AUD, were recruited for the study. They completed biographical questionnaire, Penn CravingScale (PACS), self-report screening measure of the symptoms of adult ADHD (ASRS v.1.1) and underwent a series of experimental tasks (Delay Discounting Task (DDT), Stroop Task, Continuous Performance Test-Identical Pairs (CPT-IP), Tower of London (ToL)). Two distinct groups of impulsivity features were identified using clusteranalysis. One group, which was comprised of DDT and ToL measures, described the level of impulsivity during the decision-making process. The second group included Stroop task and CPT-IP measures and expressed the level of response inhibition and interference control. In addition, the model of interaction between measuresof impulsivity and clinical characteristics of patients was developed. The self-report measure of inattention and hyperactivity had significant effect on the level of craving and the duration of remission. No significant relationships were observed between DDT clinical characteristics. Keywords: impulsivity, alcohol use disorder, delay discounting, stroop task, Tower of London, CPT-IP, craving, ASR

Wet-chemistry processing of powdery raw material for high-tech ceramics

The purpose of this study was to develop wet-chemistry approaches for the synthesis of ultradispersed and mesoporous metal oxide powders and powdery composites intended for usage in the production of ceramic materials with desired properties. The focus is on the development of template synthesis of mesoporous metal silicates as well as obtaining nano- and subnanopowders by a modified sol-gel technique and template methods. Families of mesoporous (2 to 300 nm) metal silicates and nano-oxides and subnanopowders (4 to 300 nm) were synthesized by the template method and modified sol-gel technique, respectively. Texture and morphology of the obtained objects have been studied by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis, and N2 adsorption-desorption. It was found that morphological parameters of the metal oxide obtained by the modified sol-gel technique depend nonlinearly on the initial molar ratio value of the sol stabilizer and metal in the reaction medium as well as the nature of the stabilizer. It has been shown that the nature of structure-directing components determines the morphology of the silicate obtained by the template method: dispersion and shape of its particles. The developed laboratory technology corresponds to the conception of soft chemistry and may be adapted to the manufacture of ultradispersed materials for catalysis, solar cells, fuel cells, semiconductors, sensors, low-sized electronic devices of new generation, etc

Liposomal formulations of antitumor drugs. II. effect of lipid compositions on membrane interactions of europium coordination complexes

Currently there is a growing interest in screening of new drugs, capable of destroying cancer cells effectively, without damaging health tissues. In this context the potential of liposomes as a drug carrier system is extensively investigated [1-3]. Liposomes are nanosize particles in which lipid bilayer encloses an aqueous internal compartment. Size, charge and surface properties of liposomes can be easily changed simply by adding new ingredients to the lipid mixture before liposome preparation or by variation of preparation techniques. Another important feature is that lipid vesicles can entrap both hydrophilic and hydrophobic pharmaceutical agents. Liposome delivery systems can enhance drug solubility, reduce toxicity associated with free anticancer drugs and improve stability of the drug by protecting the compound from chemical degradation or transformation. However, the therapeutic and toxic effects of drug are strongly determined by the degree or efficiency of its loading into the liposomes. For this reason, while using liposomes as delivery systems for hydrophobic drugs, it is necessary to know the character of a drug effect on the structure and physicochemical properties of a lipid bilayer. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of lipid composition on membrane interactions of europium coordination complexes, V3 and V4, the potential antineoplastic drugs. Liposomes were formed by egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (PC) and its mixture with cardiolipin (CL) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The membrane-partitioning properties of the investigated drugs were evaluated using the equilibrium dialysis technique in combination with absorption spectroscopy. To gain insight into the drug influence on physical parameters and molecular organization of lipid bilayer, two fluorescent probes have been employed, viz. pyrene and 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH). It was found that inclusion of anionic lipid cardiolipin and cationic detergent CTAB into PC bilayer gives rise to decrease of the drugs partition coefficients. The drug incorporation into liposomal membrane is accompanied by the alterations of pyrene spectral parameters and DPH anisotropy. The observed effects suggest that the influence of europium compounds on bilayer structural state can be modulated by CL and CTAB

Liposomal formulations of antitumor DRUGS. I. cholesterol effect on membrane interactions of europium coordination complexes

Among a wide variety of drug nanocarriers developed to date, liposome-based delivery systems are particularly attractive due to their advantageous features such as biocompatibility, complete biodegradability, low toxicity, ability to carry both hydrophilic and lipophilic payloads and protect them from chemical degradation and transformation, increased therapeutic index of a drug, improved pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles compared to free drugs, reduced side effects, etc. The efficiency of drug encapsulation is largely determined by its membrane-partitioning properties as well as physicochemical characteristics of the lipid vesicles. In the present study we concentrated our efforts on the pre-formulation studies of the two synthesized Eu(III) coordination complexes, V3 and V4, the potential anticancer drugs. More specifically, our goal was twofold: i) to characterize the membrane partition properties of these complexes, and ii) to assess how the lipid-associating ability of V3 and V4 depends on membrane structural state being varied by introducing the different amounts of cholesterol (Chol) into phosphatidylcholine (PC) lipid vesicles. To achieve this goal, several fluorescent probes including pyrene, 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH), and 4-p-(dimethylaminostyryl)-1-dodecylpyridinium (DSP-12) have been employed. Partition coefficients of lanthanides determined using the equilibrium dialysis technique proved to depend on the amount of Chol content. Formation of drug-lipid complexes was found to affect pyrene excimerization and DSP-12 spectral properties but exerted no influence on pyrene vibronic structure and DPH anisotropy. Membrane composition was shown to have an impact on the spectral responses of the probes in drug-lipid systems. This finding was interpreted as arising from the sterol condensing effect on the structural state of the lipid bilayer

Debt Burden of the Financial System of Ukraine and European Union Member-States

UK: Тенденція до зростання боргового навантаження фінансової системи України простежується упродовж вже декількох останніх років. Вітчизняні методичні положення та рекомендації, які мали призупинити нарощення боргового навантаження фінансової системи України через ефективне прогнозування, аналіз та оцінку змін кон’юнктури фінансових ринків, не забезпечили активного управління ринковою часткою бюджетного боргу на прийнятному рівні. Метою статті є обґрунтування сценаріїв послаблення тиску боргового навантаження фінансової системи України, з урахуванням елементів управління державним боргом країн-членів Європейського Союзу. Розкрито особливості боргового навантаження фінансової системи із допустимими ризиками ревальваційного тиску на платіжний баланс України та країн-членів Європейського Союзу. Методологічний базис ідентифікації взаємозв’язку між показниками економічного зростанням та індикаторами боргового навантаженням фінансової системи формує модель «боргова крива Лаффера». Побудовано залежність ВВП від рівня боргового навантаження фінансової системи для країн, які формують економічне ядро Єврозони та нових членів ЄС, що мають інший рівень боргового тиску, враховуючи їх національні особливості управління борговими ризиками та гарантованим державою боргом. Визначено критичний рівень допустимого боргового тягаря фінансової системи України в середньостроковій перспективі зовнішніх зобов’язань боргових операцій, відсоткових ризиків та додаткових виплат за реструктуризованими облігаціями. Рекомендовано ефективні дії щодо запозичення й розподілу фінансових ресурсів, ризикоорієнтовних сценаріїв управління гарантованими зобов’язаннями держави в частині коригування боргових показників до граничних меж. EN: The tendency to increase the debt burden of Ukraine's financial system has been traced for several years. Domestic methodical recommendations that should suspend the buildup of the debt burden of Ukraine's financial system through effective forecasting, analysis and assessment of changes in the financial markets, have not provided active management of the market share of the budgetary debt at an acceptable level. The purpose of the article is to justify the scenarios in easing the pressure of the debt burden of the Ukraine's financial system, taking into account the elements of public debt management in the countries of the European Union. The peculiarities of the regulating the debt burden of the financial system with the allowable risks of revaluation pressure on the payments balance of the Ukraine and European Union member-states were considered. The methodology used in the research is based on the principles of the relationship between the indicators of economic growth and the indicators of the debt burden of the financial system within the framework of the «Laffer debt curve» model. The «Laffer debt curve» shows the dependence of GDP changes on the level of debt burden of the financial system for countries which form economic core of the Eurozone and for new EU members with another level of debt pressure for period 2012-2017. The financial instruments were analyzed, which allow the effective management of debt risks taking into account national characteristics. It was determined that the critical level of permissible pressure of the debt burden of the financial system for the Ukrainian economy is within the limit of 51.2 %. Based on the dynamics of payments concerning the Ukraine public debt, the scenarios of the probable increase the debt burden in the medium-term perspective were estimated. Effective actions have been recommended to borrow and distribute financial resources, risk-based management scenarios for guaranteed state obligations in terms of adjusting debt indicators to the marginal limits

Liposomal forms of new antitumor drugs based on europium chelates examined by P-terphenyl fluorescence quenching

Europium chelates have been previously shown to possess pronounced cytotoxic activity. These compounds are of great interest for biomedical investigations and diagnostics, because their spectral characteristics are optimal for visualization of the occurred processes. Application of these pharmaceutical compounds in the free form is limited by their high toxicity and metabolic instability. In view of this, the development of the delivery systems for europium chelates becomes actual. Liposomes represent one of the most promising delivery systems, which allows to increase the efficiency of pharmacological agents. The use of liposomal formulations of antitumor drugs is currently in a focus of biomedical and biophysical research due to the following advantages: complete biocompatibility, ability to carry both lipophilic and hydrophilic compounds, protecting them from chemical degradation and transformation, decreased toxicity and increased therapeutic index of drug, etc. In the present work we explore the interaction between europium chelates (here referred to as V6 and V8) and model lipid membranes. Fluorescence intensity of membrane-incorporated probe p-terphenyl was found to decrease with enhancement of drugs concentration. The obtained results indicate that p-terphenyl fluorescence is quenched upon europium chelate incorporation into phosphatidylcholine liposomes. Quantitative characteristics of p-terphenyl fluorescence quenching by the drugs under consideration have been determined

Генетические типы песчаников красноцветной терригенной формации как основа для оценки их инженерно-геологических свойств

The mineral composition, structure and physical, and mechanical properties of sandstones of the Redstone Terrigenous Formation at the Eastern margin of the Russian Platform are analyzed taking into account their facial conditions. Specific features of the composition and structure of various genetic types are determined. The results of study make it possible to use the genetic typification of sandstones as a basis for their engineeringgeological classification and an explanation of nature of their strength.Проведен анализ минералогического состава, строения и физико-механических свойств песчаников красноцветной терригенной формации восточной окраины Русской платформы с учетом фациальных условий их образования. Определены особенности состава и строения пород различных генетических типов. Результаты выводов позволяют использовать генетическую типизацию песчаников как основу для их инженерно-геологической классификации и объяснения природы их прочности

Fluorimetric study of interaction between europium coordination complexes and DNA

Lanthanide coordination complexes have found numerous applications in a number of areas, including laser techniques, fluorescent analysis, biomedical assays. Likewise, they exhibit antitumor properties. Eu(III) tris-β-diketonato complexes (EC) are newly synthesized compounds with high anticancer activity. Despite extensive studies, the detailed mechanism of their biological effects is far from being resolved. Examining the interactions between EC and biological molecules in model systems is essential for deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind their biological activity. In the present work we employed fluorescent probe acridine orange (AO) to investigate EC-DNA interaction. AO-DNA binding was followed by the marked fluorescence increase detected at 530 nm. EC addition suppressed this fluorescent changes. EC were found to differ in their ability to modify AO-DNA interactions. EC4 and EC6 have demonstrated the most pronounced effect on AO-DNA binding. AO-DNA complexation occurs predominantly via intercalation mode. EC are large planar structures, whose DNA intercalating ability was reported to increase with the planarity of ligands. It seems likely that AO and EC can compete for the binding sites on DNA molecule

Partitioning of europium chelate into lipid bilayer as revealed by p-terphenyl and pyrene quenching

Fluorescence quenching method is an effective tool for obtaining important information about different properties of biophysical and biochemical systems. In the present study quenching of fluorescent probes p-terphenyl and pyrene by europium chelate were observed in phosphatidylcholine liposomes. Europium chelates (EC) belong to a new class of potential antitumor drugs with high cytotoxic activity. These compounds are of particular interest for biomedical investigations and diagnostics, since their spectral characteristics are optimal for decrease of light scattering in biological patterns and background signal. However, the application of such drugs in a free form is limited by their high toxicity and metabolic instability. One efficient way to increase drug efficiency is based on using different drug delivery systems such as liposomes. Highly adaptable liposome-based nanocarriers currently attract increasing attention, because of their advantages, viz. complete biodegradability, ability to carry both hydrophilic and lipophilic payloads and protect them from chemical degradation and transformation, increased therapeutic index of drug, flexibility in coupling with targeting and imaging ligands, improved pharmacodynamic profiles compared to the free drugs, etc. The present study was focused on examination of lipid bilayer interactions of europium chelate (here referred to as V10). Fluorescence intensity of membrane- incorporated probes – pyrene and p-terphenyl – was found to decrease with increasing concentration of the drug, suggesting that V10 represents an effective quencher for these probes. This finding was explained by the drug penetration into hydrophobic membrane core, followed by the collision between V10 and probe molecules and subsequent fluorescence quenching. The acquired fluorescence quenching data were quantitatively interpreted in terms of the dynamic quenching model

Ensuring security the movement of foreign direct investment: Ukraine and the EU economic relations

It is well known that an important positive result of attracting foreign direct investment for the country's economy can be the receipt and subsequent distribution of more advanced production and management technologies. That is why the injection of foreign capital is necessary not only for direct financing but also for the general development of the invested country. The purpose of this article is to consider the theoretical, methodological and practical aspects of ensuring the level of security of investment attractiveness of the world's economies in the polystructural space of foreign direct investment and to highlight the aggregated factors of the investment attractiveness index that characterize the investment climate, investment activity and the state of economic development of the country. To determine the synergistic impact of foreign direct investment on the indicator of the country's investment attractiveness the methods of analysis, synthesis, comparison and mental modelling were used. As a result, it was found that the EU countries are one of the largest investors (the share 65-90% of all investments) in the polystructural space of international investment. It was concluded that in the context of deepening cooperation and realizing the unique capabilities of the states in shaping the global investment climate, it is necessary to ensure a high level of employment of the population by creating new jobs, updating the transfer and introducing the latest technologies, solving social problems at the general level; to carry out an investment modernization of the economy to increase the fixed assets of enterprises; to implement a more effective investment policy