Empire by Consent: Strakhov, Dostoevskii, and the Polish Uprising of 1863

In this article author explores the circumstances surrounding the publication, in 1863 in the Dostoevskii brothers' journal Vremia, of a pro-Polish article by Nikolai Strakhov that led to the journal's closin

Relationship Between Anti-DFS70 Autoantibodies and Oxidative Stress

Background: The anti-DFS70 autoantibodies are one of the most commonly and widely described agent of unknown clinical significance, frequently detected in healthy individuals. It is not known whether the DFS70 autoantibodies are protective or pathogenic. One of the factors suspected of inducing the formation of anti-DFS70 antibodies is increased oxidative stress. We evaluated the coexistence of anti-DFS70 antibodies with selected markers of oxidative stress and investigated whether these antibodies could be considered as indirect markers of oxidative stress. Methods: The intensity of oxidative stress was measured in all samples via indices of free-radical damage to lipids and proteins such as total oxidant status (TOS), concentrations of lipid hydroperoxides (LPH), lipofuscin (LPS), and malondialdehyde (MDA). The parameters of the non-enzymatic antioxidant system, such as total antioxidant status (TAS) and uric acid concentration (UA), were also measured, as well as the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Based on TOS and TAS values, the oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated. All samples were also tested with indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and 357 samples were selected for direct monospecific anti DFS70 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) testing. Results: The anti-DFS70 antibodies were confirmed by ELISA test in 21.29% of samples. Compared with anti-DFS70 negative samples we observed 23% lower concentration of LPH (P =.038) and 11% lower concentration of UA (P =.005). TOS was 20% lower (P =.014). The activity of SOD was up to 5% higher (P =.037). The Pearson correlation showed weak negative correlation for LPH, UA, and TOS and a weak positive correlation for SOD activity. Conclusion: In samples positive for the anti-DFS70 antibody a decreased level of oxidative stress was observed, especially in the case of samples with a high antibody titer. Anti-DFS70 antibodies can be considered as an indirect marker of reduced oxidative stress or a marker indicating the recent intensification of antioxidant processes

Circulating β-endorphin, adrenocorticotrophic hormone and cortisol levels of stallions before and after short road transport: stress effect of different distances

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Since transport evokes physiological adjustments that include endocrine responses, the objective of this study was to examine the responses of circulating β-endorphin, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol levels to transport stress in stallions.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Forty-two healthy Thoroughbred and crossbred stallions were studied before and after road transport over distances of 100, 200 and 300 km. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein: first in a single box immediately before loading (pre-samples), then immediately after transport and unloading on arrival at the breeding stations (post-samples).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>An increase in circulating β-endorphin levels after transport of 100 km (<it>P </it>< 0.01), compared to basal values was observed. Circulating ACTH levels showed significant increases after transport of 100 km (<it>P </it>< 0.001) and 200 km (<it>P </it>< 0.001). Circulating cortisol levels showed significant increases after road transport over distances of 100, 200 and 300 km (<it>P </it>< 0.001). An effect of transport on β-endorphin, ACTH and cortisol variations was therefore evident for the different distances studied. No significant differences (<it>P </it>> 0.05) between horses of different ages and different breeds were observed for β-endorphin, ACTH and cortisol levels.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results obtained for short term transportation of stallions showed a very strong reaction of the adrenocortical system. The lack of response of β-endorphin after transport of 200–300 km and of ACTH after transport of 300 km seems to suggest a soothing effect of negative feedback of ACTH and cortisol levels.</p

Children’s and Adolescents’ Happiness Conceptualizations at School and their Link with Autonomy, Competence, and Relatedness

Previous research on children’s and adolescents’happiness either focused on their conceptualisations or the link between self-reported happiness with different outcomes. However, very few studies have connected both approaches to better understand children’s and adolescents’ happiness. To address this gap, we used a mixed-method approach, to investigate if the conceptualizations of happiness at school of 744 British children and adolescents could signal differences in autonomy, competence, and relatedness. An initial coding of the responses showed thirteen conceptualizations (i.e., positive feelings, harmony/balance, leisure, friends, getting good grades, non-violence, moral actions, purpose, autonomy, competence, teachers, emotional support, and learning). Log-linear models showed that some of the conceptualizations differed across both age groups and gender. Latent class analysis showed that happiness conceptualizations could be classified in five different groups. Interestingly, whereas for children there were no differences; for adolescents, there were differences between classes in their levels of autonomy and relatedness. The implications of these findings for promoting students' well-being at school are discussed

Ocena podatności transportowej produktów frakcjonowania śruty rzepakowej

Background: Having considered increasing production of liquid and solid biofuels from rapeseed and bearing in mind its stable and unquestionable position in the food and animal feed industries, a rational approach towards technologically and logistically efficient utilization of by-products from rapeseed processing is required. The aim of the research presented in the article is to assess the transport susceptibility of rapeseed meal fractions, varying according to particle size and chemical composition. Methods: Resistance to changes stimulating self-heating has been assumed as the main criterion of transport susceptibility. The following diagnostic variables have been experimentally determined: total protein, crude fat and crude fiber content, porosity, and water activity in the fraction of examined meal. In order to organize a set of particles and to indicate their optimal applications according to criteria chosen with regard to both utilization and transportation, two aggregate indicators have been calculated. Results: It has been proved that medium-sized particle fractions (0.075-0.4 mm) exhibit the lowest transport susceptibility, whereas the those with the largest granulations (>3 mm) -have the highest. One significant relationship is the decline of feeding value and concurrent increase in the transport susceptibility of meal fractions, which in practice means that those fractions least-favoured by the animal feed industry can be least cumbersome to transport. Conclusions: It has been suggested that there should be a division of rapeseed meal into two products with different applications and different transport susceptibility. The fractioning of meal can bring numerous, measurable benefits for the meal industry and logistics processes for solid biofuels, where storage and transport properties have considerable importance, alongside commodity price and transport costs.Wstęp: Wzrastająca produkcja biopaliw płynnych i stałych z nasion rzepaku, przy stałym znaczeniu tej rośliny w przemyśle spożywczym i paszowym, wymaga racjonalnego, a zwłaszcza efektywnego technologicznie i logistycznie zagospodarowania produktów ubocznych technologii przerobu rzepaku. Celem badań przedstawionych w artykule była ocena podatności transportowej zróżnicowanych ze względu na wielkość cząstek oraz skład chemiczny frakcji śruty rzepakowej. Metody: Jako kryterium podatności transportowej przyjęto odporność frakcji śruty na przemiany stymulujące samozagrzewanie. Wytypowano i oznaczono doświadczalnie następujące zmienne diagnostyczne: zawartość białka ogólnego, tłuszczu surowego oraz włókna surowego, porowatość, a także aktywność wody w poszczególnych frakcjach śruty. W celu uporządkowania zbiorów cząstek, a następnie wytypowania najkorzystniejszych ich zastosowań ze względu na przyjęte kryteria - cechy użytkowe i technologiczno-transportowe, obliczono dwa wskaźniki agregatowe. Wyniki: Stwierdzono, iż najmniejszą podatność transportową wykazują średnie frakcje pyłowe (0,075-0,4 mm), największą zaś frakcja o największej granulacji (d> 3 mm). Istotną zależnością jest spadek wartości paszowej frakcji śruty wraz ze wzrostem podatności transportowej, co oznacza w praktyce, że frakcje najmniej pożądane w przemyśle paszowym, mogą być najmniej uciążliwe w transporcie. Wnioski: Zaproponowano podział śruty rzepakowej na dwa produkty, różniące się przeznaczeniem oraz podatnością transportową. Frakcjonowanie śruty może przynieść wymierne korzyści zarówno dla przemysłu paszowego, jak i w sferze logistyki dostaw biopaliw stałych, w której obok kosztów surowca i jego transportu, istotną rolę w wykorzystaniu biomasowych źródeł energii odgrywają cechy przechowalniczo-transportowe

Motor vehicle pollution in the environment

Powszechnym źródłem skażenia środowiska są środki transportu i komunikacji. Większość pojazdów jest wyposażona w silniki spalinowe, które podczas pracy emitują do atmosfery szkodliwe substancje takie jak: tlenki węgla, tlenki azotu, sadze, metale ciężkie będące składnikami spalin i pyłów oraz węglowodory. Zastosowanie katalitycznych konwertorów spalin pozwala zredukować emisję zanieczyszczeń w ok. 90%, ale prowadzi do emisji platyny do środowiska. W pracy omówiono zanieczyszczenia występujące w środowisku na skutek oddziaływania motoryzacji.The means of transport and communication are the common source of environmental contamination. Most vehicles are equipped with internal combustion engines, which emit harmful substances such as carbon oxides, nitrogen oxides, soot, heavy metals which are components of the exhaust gases and particulates, and hydrocarbons during operation. The use of catalytic converters can reduce exhaust emissions, about 90%, but leads to the emission of platinum into the environment. The paper discusses pollution in the environment due to the impact of using motor vehicles