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The combination of micro- or nanofluidics and strong light–matter coupling has gained much interest in the past decade, which has led to the development of advanced systems and devices with numerous potential applications in different fields, such as chemistry, biosensing, and material science. Strong light–matter coupling is achieved by placing a dipole (e.g., an atom or a molecule) into a confined electromagnetic field, with molecular transitions being in resonance with the field and the coupling strength exceeding the average dissipation rate. Despite intense research and encouraging results in this field, some challenges still need to be overcome, related to the fabrication of nano- and microscale optical cavities, stability, scaling up and production, sensitivity, signal-to-noise ratio, and real-time control and monitoring. The goal of this paper is to summarize recent developments in micro- and nanofluidic systems employing strong light–matter coupling. An overview of various methods and techniques used to achieve strong light–matter coupling in micro- or nanofluidic systems is presented, preceded by a brief outline of the fundamentals of strong light–matter coupling and optofluidics operating in the strong coupling regime. The potential applications of these integrated systems in sensing, optofluidics, and quantum technologies are explored. The challenges and prospects in this rapidly developing field are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancement of quantum dot (QD) fluorescence in a hybrid system of a porous silicon microcavity (pSiMC) and silver nanoplatelets (AgNPs) has been estimated using numerical simulation. The system was simulated as a periodic unit cell made of a pSiMC with a resonant wavelength peak at 605 nm, an AgNP with a resonance at 604 nm and a quantum dot (QD) with an emission peak at 605 nm. For comparison, simulations were performed for an AgNP and a QD in a reference single-layered system with a high refractive index. The QD fluorescence was enhanced in the AgNP/pSiMC hybrid system, mainly due to the higher excitation rate.

Aim: to analyze information needs of specialists in health care administration, management and economics. Methods: sociological, statistical and content analysis. Objectives: 1. to analyze results of the questionnaire survey of specialists in health care administration, management and economics designed to identify their information needs; 2. to analyze requests for information to the WHO Documentation Center by specialists in health care administration, management and economics; 3. to identify and present topics and types of information recourses that specialists in health care administration, management and economics need. Results: Generally, specialists in health care administration, management and economics develop information and analytical updates for decision makers. Therefore, it is crucial to understand what topics this group of information consumers is most interested in, as well as what sources of information this group may need. To find out we conducted a questionnaire survey of this group of specialists and analyzed their requests for information to the WHO Documentation Center. The questionnaire helped identify major information needs of this group of specialists with the following findings. Topics of interest: mortality analysis and trends by age and cause of death; fertility analysis and trends; economic performance of health care facilities; quality performance of health care facilities; and analysis of the relevant international experience and comparative overviews. Types of information resources: Russian statistics digests; National health report; articles on health economics and management in the Russian journals; WHO statistical databases (Health for all) and EUROSTAT; WHO evidence reports on health economics and management; PubMed - articles on economics and quality of health care; Cochrane library etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The welfare of the country and its participation in the international division of labour, the level of integration into the world economy and ultimately its international competitiveness increasingly depend on success of transnational corporations' activities conducted in its economy. Purpose. To study the major international rankings and analyze the position of Ukraine in them which will make it possible to conduct a research of various influence groups on the country's competitiveness and economy. Research methods. The research is based on general scientific methods such as the comparison method to estimate the Human Development Index; the method of statistical analysis and synthesis to calculate the Global Competitiveness Index; the deduction and hypothetical methods to ground economic and social spheres of competitiveness. Research results. The most essential macroeconomic indicators, which were used to make the most popular international rankings, are revealed in the article. Analysis of these ratings gave the opportunity to follow the position of Ukraine, as well as to assess the real state of its economic indices as competitive factors. In particular, Ukraine should pay close attention to the strengthening of its financial markets and reduce the dependence of the national economy from export-oriented industries in order to create favourable conditions for the country's competitiveness. Scientific novelty of the research results. A research of Ukraine's competitiveness based on international rankings analysis has been conducted. The research is based on such rankings as the Ease of Doing Business Index, the Corruption Perceptions Index, the Human Development Index and the Global Countries Competitiveness Rating. The practical significance of the research results. International organizations and institutions' ratings allow to see the real situation in the country, to identify its weaknesses and find ways to improve the country's competitiveness. Conclusions. Ratings of international agencies and institutions clearly show the actual state of country's economics and finance as well as social picture. It is a reliable external source for analyzing strong and weak aspects of development. Our research of Ukraine's positions in different international ratings has shown that the Government should create policies oriented at strengthening of financial markets and dependence of the national economy from export-oriented industries reduction which will create more favourable conditions for corporate capital performance and decrease unproductive capital export from the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]