O kreowaniu wirtualnych tożsamości w Second Life na przykładzie perypetii bohatera „Sali samobójców” w reżyserii Jana Komasy

"Od otwarcia serwisu w 2003 roku gra sieciowa Second Life zgromadziła miliony zarejestrowanych na całym świecie użytkowników. SL to nie tylko rozrywka, lecz także wirtualna symulacja życia i interakcji międzyludzkich, która stanowi zarówno warty badań fenomen, jak i natchnienie dla artystycznych wizji współczesnego społeczeństwa zachodniego świata. Second Life początkowo nazywane było grą (najczęściej klasyfikowaną jako MMORPG1), z czasem jednak utrwaliło się w świadomości użytkowników jako darmowy, wirtualny, trójwymiarowy świat, osobne uniwersum, istniejące obok namacalnej rzeczywistości. (...)" (fragm.

Youth rebellion and its modification under the influence of educational activities

In the whole process of growing up, socializing, and upbringing, it is about shaping a young person "on the pattern and similarity" expected by society. Shaping expected attitudes takes place, among others through various educational forms, including formal, informal, and non-formal. Thus, using the term "educational activities", one should remember about various activities in order to look at a young, growing person. It is worth, especially, to indicate those that concern the building of mutual relations, especially intra-generational ones. Often, disturbances in generational relations among youth are explained by a "youth rebellion" which has to be tempered through diverse educational interactions. Adolescents often react with rebellion to experienced limitations. They reveal opposition to the surrounding reality when they do not understand it or do not accept it and see the need to change it. As long as the rebellion is moderately strong, it is conducive to development because it is one of the ways in which teenagers build their identities (Oleszkowicz, 2006). However, very high severity of rebellion can have destructive effects (Luthar, Ansary 2007). The intensity of rebellion, criticism in the period of adolescence are associated with the young people's control over the efficiency of formal and operational thinking. On the other hand, such features of reasoning as relativism, dialectic, and systematism facilitate reconciliation of seemingly contradictory views and positions and, consequently, promote understanding and effective solutions to conflicts, especially in the social world (Sinnot 2009, Gurba 2011). To stimulate these thinking traits, high school students (average age = 16.08) conducted a series of classes (10 lessons) in which they solved hypothetical "everyday problems." The level of rebellion (Questionnaire of Youth Rebellion, by A, Oleszkowicz, 2006) was tested twice: before the beginning of training and one year after its completion. In the group of students undergoing stimulation, the level of rebellion decreased, while in the control group (in which the students did not participate in the training) remained unchanged compared to the first measurement. In the paper we will describe the research as such, as well as the results and their consequences

Dual-Stimuli-Sensitive Smart Hydrogels Containing Magnetic Nanoparticles as Antitumor Local Drug Delivery Systems—Synthesis and Characterization

The aim of this study was to develop an innovative, dual-stimuli-responsive smart hydrogel local drug delivery system (LDDS), potentially useful as an injectable simultaneous chemotherapy and magnetic hyperthermia (MHT) antitumor treatment device. The hydrogels were based on a biocompatible and biodegradable poly(ε-caprolactone-co-rac-lactide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone-co-rac-lactide) (PCLA-PEG-PCLA, PCLA) triblock copolymer, synthesized via ring-opening polymerization (ROP) in the presence of a zirconium(IV) acetylacetonate (Zr(acac)4) catalyst. The PCLA copolymers were successfully synthesized and characterized using NMR and GPC techniques. Furthermore, the gel-forming and rheological properties of the resulting hydrogels were thoroughly investigated, and the optimal synthesis conditions were determined. The coprecipitation method was applied to create magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MIONs) with a low diameter and a narrow size distribution. The magnetic properties of the MIONs were close to superparamagnetic upon TEM, DLS, and VSM analysis. The particle suspension placed in an alternating magnetic field (AMF) of the appropriate parameters showed a rapid increase in temperature to the values desired for hyperthermia. The MIONs/hydrogel matrices were evaluated for paclitaxel (PTX) release in vitro. The release was prolonged and well controlled, displaying close to zero-order kinetics; the drug release mechanism was found to be anomalous. Furthermore, it was found that the simulated hyperthermia conditions had no effect on the release kinetics. As a result, the synthesized smart hydrogels were discovered to be a promising antitumor LDDS, allowing simultaneous chemotherapy and hyperthermia treatment

Multigenerational Effects of Graphene Oxide Nanoparticles on <i>Acheta domesticus</i> DNA Stability

The use of nanoparticles like graphene oxide (GO) in nanocomposite industries is growing very fast. There is a strong concern that GO can enter the environment and become nanopollutatnt. Environmental pollutants’ exposure usually relates to low concentrations but may last for a long time and impact following generations. Attention should be paid to the effects of nanoparticles, especially on the DNA stability passed on to the offspring. We investigated the multigenerational effects on two strains (wild and long-lived) of house cricket intoxicated with low GO concentrations over five generations, followed by one recovery generation. Our investigation focused on oxidative stress parameters, specifically AP sites (apurinic/apyrimidinic sites) and 8-OHdG (8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine), and examined the global DNA methylation pattern. Five intoxicated generations were able to overcome the oxidative stress, showing that relatively low doses of GO have a moderate effect on the house cricket (8-OHdG and AP sites). The last recovery generation that experienced a transition from contaminated to uncontaminated food presented greater DNA damage. The pattern of DNA methylation was comparable in every generation, suggesting that other epigenetic mechanisms might be involved

Does age pay off? Effects of three-generational experiments of nanodiamond exposure and withdrawal in wild and longevity-selected model animals

Nanodiamonds (NDs) are considered a material with low toxicity. However, no studies describe the effects of ND withdrawal after multigenerational exposure. The aim was to evaluate ND exposure (in the 1st and 2nd generations) effects at low concentrations (0.2 or 2 mg kg_ 1) and withdrawal (in the 3rd generation) in the wild (H) and longevity-selected (D) model insect Acheta domesticus. We measured selected oxidative stress parameters, immunity, types of cell death, and DNA damage. Most of the results obtained in the 1st generation, e.g., catalase (CAT), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), heat shock proteins (HSP70), defensins, or apoptosis level, confirmed no significant toxicity of low doses of NDs. Interestingly, strain-specific differences were observed. D-strain crickets reduced autophagy, the number of ROS+ cells, and DNA damage. The effect can be a symptom of mobilization of the organism and stimulation of physiological defense mechanisms in long-living organisms. The 2nd-generation D-strain insects fed ND-spiked food at higher concentrations manifested a reduction in CAT, TAC, early apoptosis, and DNA damage, together with an increase in HSP70 and defensins. ROS+ cells and cells with reduced membrane potential and autophagy did not differ significantly from the control. H-strain insects revealed a higher number of ROS+ cells and cells with reduced membrane potential, decreased CAT activity, and early apoptosis. Elimination of NDs from the diet in the 3rd generation did not cause full recovery of the measured parameters. We noticed an increase in the concentration of HSP70 and defensins (H-strain) and a decrease in apoptosis (D-strain). However, the most visible increase was a significant increase in DNA damage, especially in H-strain individuals. The results suggest prolonged adverse effects of NDs on cellular functions, reaching beyond “contact time” with these particles. Unintentional and/or uncontrolled ND pollution of the environment poses a new challenge for all organisms inhabiting it, particularly during multigenerational exposure