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The symbolism of the spiral and the meander is well known from the ornaments on Minoan and Mycenaean artifacts, while the roots of this symbolism can be traced chronologically much deeper than these cultures and have been fixed since the Paleolithic era. This symbolism has always been of interest to researchers, as it is evidence of the archetypal use of these symbols in the process of formation of religious views of Homo sapiens from the Paleolithic era to the present. In the proposed work, possible ways of formation of this symbolism are considered on the basis of the trajectory of the Sun's movement above the horizon line observed by the priests of various cultures and the represented path of the Sun's movement below the horizon line.

Subject and Purpose. The paper presents results of numerical modeling and experimental studies of a disk-shaped microstrip antenna involving ‘meander’ type slotted inhomogeneities. The work has been aimed at optimizing the operating range of the antenna and matching it to external circuits through the use of additional structural elements and appropriate feeding techniques. Methods and Methodology. The design features a circular disk-shaped microstrip resonator containing within its plane groups of slotted inhomogeneities which form a segmented meander line, with the segments oriented relative one another at an angle of 120°. The antenna could be fed through a segment of a screened coplanar line. The location of the screening plane of the coplanar line, as well as its dimensions, were variable. Numerical simulation was carried out within the ‘semi-open resonator’ technique using the finite element method. The degree of optimization of the operating range was estimated, based on analyzing spectral characteristics of the antenna, for a variety of its geometric parameters, and the magnitude of the return loss over a given frequency range. Measurements of the VSWR were carried out with reflectometers. Results. Frequency and power characteristics of a monopole, disk-shaped microstrip antenna have been analyzed and optimized over a wide frequency range. Mechanical dimensions of the additional shielding plane and location thereof have been identified as factors having significant influence upon the frequency-dependent, polarizational and power characteristics of the antenna. Conclusions. The operating frequency range, spectral and power characteristics of a monopole, disk-shaped microstrip antenna have been studied both theoretically and experimentally. Numerical simulations were carried out with the use of the fi nite element method. Experimental studies of the frequency characteristics were performed using reflectometry techniques. The antenna considered can find practical application over a wide frequency range, either as a single radiating element in a device or system, or a constituent part of an antenna array.

Aim. In this work, the main aim was a retrospective analysis of the geo‐ecological state and problems of natural territorial complexes (NTC) of the valley of the plains area of the Kuma River in the context of hydrological and morphological dynamics for the period from the 18th century to the present.Material and Methods. The paper analyses the state of the landscape’s natural components in the region, for which topographic, sectoral and cadastral maps, digital relief model, satellite images were used. Openly available data of ministries, departments, archival and stock materials were used. The degree of anthropogenic transformation of the natural‐territorial complexes was calculated based on the coefficient of ecological stability of landscapes.Result. Using the example of the plains area of the Kuma River for the period of the 18th‐21st centuries, the geo‐ecological features of valley NTC were analysed. Studies have shown that at the present stage meandering remains an important condition for land use in the Kuma River valley in terms of both agricultural land and residential areas. Cartographic schemes of land use of a modelled plot in the valley of the Kuma River were constructed, allowing the assessment of the efficiency of the economic use of the fields of oxbow lakes.Conclusion. For the last two hundred years, valley NTC have remained significant for settlement purposes and related economic activities. The modern meandering belt together with the fields of the older such features create special environment forming conditions for the functioning of the stabilising components of the landscape, floodplain forest being a basic integral factor in the preservation of regional biodiversity. It is recommended that when organising the sustainable use of the land resources of river valleys for the purposes of territorial planning, the regional features of placement of meanders and oxbow lakes be taken into account.

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