17 WRZEŚNIA 1939 ROKU NA KRESACH WSCHODNICH W PROPAGANDZIE RADZIECKIEJ ORAZ WE WSPÓŁCZESNYM SPOJRZENIU POLAKÓW I BIAŁORUSINÓW

On September 17, 1939, on the strength of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact established on August 23, 1939, Soviet troops carried out armed aggression on the Second Polish Republic without official declaration of war. As a result – Polish territories were divided between Germany and the USSR: the eastern territories of the country were influenced by the Kremlin and part of the eastern territories of the Second Polish Republic was incorporated into the Belorusian Soviet Socialist Republic. All war and aggressive activities required not only a deliberate military plan, but also the preparation of an appropriate propaganda ground: propaganda was a tool for creating the necessary background among the masses of the population and on the international arena. Propaganda was used by both the Polish and the Soviet sides: before, during and after the war. Before the war, Poles focused more on Nazi Germans, although some circles of the intelligentsia showed great interest in Soviet Russia. As for current awareness and official interpretation in relation to the events of September 17, 1939, they are considered an act of aggression. Propaganda has always been a strong weapon in the hands of the Soviets. Using this tool, they tried to create a ground and “justify” the aggression against Poland, a myth about the necessity of freeing the oppressed Ukrainians and Belarusians was invented, repeated until the collapse of the USSR. Currently, it is still possible to observe suchan interpretation in Belarus, although the situation is slowly changing, aiming at the recognition of historical truth.On September 17, 1939, on the strength of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact established on August 23, 1939, Soviet troops carried out armed aggression on the Second Polish Republic without official declaration of war. As a result – Polish territories were divided between Germany and the USSR: the eastern territories of the country were influenced by the Kremlin and part of the eastern territories of the Second Polish Republic was incorporated into the Belorusian Soviet Socialist Republic. All war and aggressive activities required not only a deliberate military plan, but also the preparation of an appropriate propaganda ground: propaganda was a tool for creating the necessary background among the masses of the population and on the international arena. Propaganda was used by both the Polish and the Soviet sides: before, during and after the war. Before the war, Poles focused more on Nazi Germans, although some circles of the intelligentsia showed great interest in Soviet Russia. As for current awareness and official interpretation in relation to the events of September 17, 1939, they are considered an act of aggression. Propaganda has always been a strong weapon in the hands of the Soviets. Using this tool, they tried to create a ground and “justify” the aggression against Poland, a myth about the necessity of freeing the oppressed Ukrainians and Belarusians was invented, repeated until the collapse of the USSR. Currently, it is still possible to observe suchan interpretation in Belarus, although the situation is slowly changing, aiming at the recognition of historical truth

Aleś Puszkin — czołowa postać białoruskiej awangardy?

Avant-garde, a rebellious band of new trends and tendencies in art that appeared in the early 20th century, lasted for years being transformed, yielding the new forms of expression. It is also a trend of art most often associated with contemporaryBelarusian art (partially due to “school of Vitebsk”, Marc Chagall and Kazimir Malevich), still enjoying popularity in the country. One of the most recognizable Belarusian artistsis Ales Pushkin, born in 1965 in Bobr, associated with the Achremczuk’s National Schoolof Music and the Arts in Minsk and Vitebsk artistic environment. Pushkin is known for his indomitable, rebellious attitude towards the state regime. For many observers, art amateurs and even art critics, the character of his work immediately resembles avant-garde. However, as some researchers noted, Pushkins’ art enters a new dimension,paving the way towards new horizons of contemporary (avant-garde?) art of Belarus

Cell cycle regulation in mammalian oocytes

An unusual feature of mammalian female germ cells is that they are arrested in meiotic prophase, equivalent to mitotic G2-phase, for an extended period of time. In this thesis I have investigated two aspects of this arrest. First, I examined whether cohesin replenishment is required for the maintenance of chromosome cohesion during protracted meiotic prophase arrest. Nipbl, an evolutionarily conserved protein, is a component of protein complex called kollerin, whose activity in loading cohesin onto chromosomes is necessary for accurate chromosome segregation during mitosis. However, until now its function in mammalian meiosis was unknown. I have showed that Nipbl is present on meiotic chromosomes throughout meiotic prophase in mouse spermatocytes and oocytes and it accumulates at chromosomal axes where it co-localises with cohesin. I employed conditional knockout strategy to inactivate Nipbl gene in mouse oocytes arrested in meiotic prophase. Although functional Nipbl transcripts were efficiently depleted, these oocytes underwent meiotic maturation with unaffected chiasmata and cohesion. Surprisingly, Nipbl-deleted eggs were fertile and the loading of mitotic cohesin containing Rad21 was unaffected in fertilized eggs. Aditionally, these eggs could develop into blastocysts upon parthenogenetic activation, however harbouring a high proportion of cells with misaligned chromosomes. These results suggest that Nipbl is very stable in the oocyte. In the second project we conceived that the maintenance of the cell cycle arrest in primordial oocytes is an important aspect of follicular survival. Previously proposed involvement of the anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), a cell cycle ubiquitin ligase complex in down-regulating the cyclin-dependent kinase activity in fully-grown oocyte led me to inactivate APC/C in dormant oocytes using conditional knockout system. I found that upon APC/C inactivation, primordial follicles were completely depleted before adulthood, within 5 weeks of birth, suggesting that the APC/C activity is required for the survival of primordial oocytes. These results propose the presence of previously unknown mechanism involving APC/C, essential for primordial follicle survival.Open Acces

The effects of diversified phosphorus nutrition on the growth of oat (Avena sativa L.) and acid phosphatase activity

We studied the effect of differential phosphorus (P) supply on the development of oat seedlings (Avena sativa L. ‘Arab’) as well as localization and activity of acid phosphatases in tissues and root exudates. Plants were grown for 1–3 weeks on nutrient media with inorganic phosphate (+P, control), reduced Pi (0.1 P), phytic acid (PA) as organic P source, and without P addition (−P), in standard conditions or in a split-root culture system. Phosphate starvation reduced shoot growth but increased root elongation and root/shoot ratio, whereas 0.1 P and PA oat plants had similar growth parameters to +P plants. The growth on −P medium significantly decreased Pi content in all tissues, but only a slight Pi decrease was observed in plants grown on 0.1 P and PA media or various split-root system conditions. Pi starvation led to an increase in acid phosphatase (APase) activity in root exudates when compared to +P, 0.1 P, and PA plant samples. APase activity was especially intensive in root cross sections in rhizodermis and around/in vascular tissues of −P plants. For plants grown on 0.1 P medium and on phytic acid, APase activity did not change when compared to the control. Three major isoforms of APases were detected in plant tissues (similar in all studied conditions, with a higher activity of one isoform under Pi deficit). Generally, lowered Pi content (0.1 P) was not stressful to oat plants for up to 3 weeks of culture. Oat plants grew equally well on nutrient media with Pi and on media with phytate, although phytate was considered not available for other plants. The oat plants activated mainly extracellular APases, but also intracellular enzymes, rather via nonlocal signals, to acquire Pi from external/internal sources under Pi deficiency

BMP and Hedgehog regulate distinct AGM hematopoietic stem cells ex vivo

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), the self-renewing cells of the adult blood differentiation hierarchy, are generated during embryonic stages. The first HSCs are produced in the aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM) region of the embryo through endothelial to a hematopoietic transition. BMP4 and Hedgehog affect their production and expansion, but it is unknown whether they act to affect the same HSCs. In this study using the BRE GFP reporter mouse strain that identifies BMP/Smad-activated cells, we find that the AGM harbors two types of adult-repopulating HSCs upon explant culture: One type is BMP-activated and the other is a non-BMP-activated HSC type that is indirectly controlled by Hedgehog signaling through the VEGF pathway. Transcriptomic analyses demonstrate that the two HSC types express distinct but overlapping genetic programs. These results revealing the bifurcation in HSC types at early embryonic stages in the AGM explant model suggest that their development is dependent upon the signaling molecules in the microenvironment

Electoral System of the Republic of Belarus after 25 Years of Independence

This paper aims to present a case study analysis of the condition of the electoral system in the Republic of Belarus after more than a quarter of a century of independence. The main purpose of the paper is to explain the discrepancies between legislation and practice. The author intended to note a real situation that dominates the country’s political scene in comparison to theoretical establishments. A Constitution of the Republic (created in 1994, with minor changes in 1996 and 2004) is the legal ground of the electoral system, however, procedural details were drawn up in the Electoral Code. The principles of Belarusian electoral code consist of some statements known from democratic models, such as universal suffrage, direct suffrage, secret ballot and equality. There are different types of elections in Belarus but the most important ones are presidential and parliamentary elections. Despite the detailed legal rules for conducting these elections, in fact, the principles of democracy, as well as the internal rules in Belarus, are not respected. Both presidential and parliamentary elections have shown this in recent years. Independent observers for a long time have been alarming about worrying electoral practices in Belarus. It is also worth emphasizing that since 1994, one man has been in power uninterruptedly, and Parliament has in fact a symbolic function. In the source materials, the author used Belarusian legal acts, analyses and reports, press notes as well as scientific papers

Between Russia and the West: Belarus as a Challenge for European Stability and Security

This paper aims to explain that the stable situation of Belarus is important for Western Europe and why any fluctuations may present a challenge for European integrity and stability. Belarus, since the beginning of its independence in 1991 seems to show a great willingness to cooperate closely with Russia, claiming Western Europe and NATO as a potential enemy. In reality, the Belarusian position is much more complicated and ambiguous. Despite it’s close military cooperation with Russia, different tensions between Minsk and Moscow regularly happen and Belarusian authorities are still looking for new foreign partners and new energy suppliers (what was clearly visible in the last months of 2016 and the first period of 2017). Russia, old Belarusian partner, may actually even pose a threat for Belarus, so the country’s authorities have a hard challenge to maintain its stability. Western countries may be open for a new chapter of cooperation with Minsk but any rapid changes in Belarusian foreign preferences may result in unpredictable results and Moscow reaction that – in turn – would be very challenging for the whole European stability and security

Polish education in Belarus in the years 1991-2016

Wydział HistoriiRozprawa traktuje o losach polskiego szkolnictwa na Białorusi w latach 1991-2016. Stanowi drugą Niniejsza praca jest drugą próbą opracowania problemu oświaty polskiej na Białorusi po 1991 r. oraz pierwszą próbą naukowego spojrzenia na kwestię oświaty polskiej na Białorusi w perspektywie ćwierćwiecza (1991-2016). Niniejsze opracowanie posiada charakter rzeczowo-chronologiczny. Praca podzielona została na 2 części: pierwsza z nich opisuje losy polskiej oświaty do roku 2005 (w tym omawiając sytuację mniejszości polskiej w momencie rozpadu ZSRR oraz drogę tworzenia podwalin pod nowy system polskiej oświaty w kraju). W roku 2005, wskutek działania władz białoruskich, doszło do rozłamu w największej polskiej organizacji w kraju – Związku Polaków na Białorusi. Druga część pracy opisuje losy oświaty polskiej po roku 2005, zawiera także informacje dotyczące oświaty polskiej na Białorusi na szczeblu przedszkolnym, akademickim, omawia kwestie związane z jej rozwojem oraz podstawowe problemy. Praca zawiera także opracowane wyniki badania jakościowego przeprowadzonego przez autorkę na grupie badawczej uczniów szkół polskich w latach 2017-2019. Rozprawę kończy podsumowanie całej pracy wraz z krótką analizą bieżącej sytuacji oświaty polskiej (2021) oraz prognozami na przyszłość.The dissertation is about the fate of Polish education in Belarus in the years 1991-2016. It is the second. This work is the second attempt to develop the problem of Polish education in Belarus after 1991 and the first attempt to scientifically look at the issue of Polish education in Belarus in the perspective of a quarter of a century (1991-2016). This study is of a substantive and chronological nature. The work is divided into two parts: the first one describes the fate of Polish education up to 2005 (including discussing the situation of the Polish minority at the time of the collapse of the USSR and the way of creating the foundations for a new Polish education system in the country). In 2005, as a result of the actions of the Belarusian authorities, there was a split in the largest Polish organization in the country - the Union of Poles in Belarus. The second part of the work describes the fate of Polish education after 2005, also contains information on Polish education in Belarus at the pre-school and academic level, discusses issues related to its development and basic problems. The work also contains the results of a qualitative research conducted by the author on a research group of Polish school students in 2017-2019. The dissertation ends with a summary of the entire work along with a short analysis of the current situation in Polish education (2021) and forecasts for the future

Polish education in Belarus in the years 1991-2016

Wydział HistoriiRozprawa traktuje o losach polskiego szkolnictwa na Białorusi w latach 1991-2016. Stanowi drugą Niniejsza praca jest drugą próbą opracowania problemu oświaty polskiej na Białorusi po 1991 r. oraz pierwszą próbą naukowego spojrzenia na kwestię oświaty polskiej na Białorusi w perspektywie ćwierćwiecza (1991-2016). Niniejsze opracowanie posiada charakter rzeczowo-chronologiczny. Praca podzielona została na 2 części: pierwsza z nich opisuje losy polskiej oświaty do roku 2005 (w tym omawiając sytuację mniejszości polskiej w momencie rozpadu ZSRR oraz drogę tworzenia podwalin pod nowy system polskiej oświaty w kraju). W roku 2005, wskutek działania władz białoruskich, doszło do rozłamu w największej polskiej organizacji w kraju – Związku Polaków na Białorusi. Druga część pracy opisuje losy oświaty polskiej po roku 2005, zawiera także informacje dotyczące oświaty polskiej na Białorusi na szczeblu przedszkolnym, akademickim, omawia kwestie związane z jej rozwojem oraz podstawowe problemy. Praca zawiera także opracowane wyniki badania jakościowego przeprowadzonego przez autorkę na grupie badawczej uczniów szkół polskich w latach 2017-2019. Rozprawę kończy podsumowanie całej pracy wraz z krótką analizą bieżącej sytuacji oświaty polskiej (2021) oraz prognozami na przyszłość.The dissertation is about the fate of Polish education in Belarus in the years 1991-2016. It is the second. This work is the second attempt to develop the problem of Polish education in Belarus after 1991 and the first attempt to scientifically look at the issue of Polish education in Belarus in the perspective of a quarter of a century (1991-2016). This study is of a substantive and chronological nature. The work is divided into two parts: the first one describes the fate of Polish education up to 2005 (including discussing the situation of the Polish minority at the time of the collapse of the USSR and the way of creating the foundations for a new Polish education system in the country). In 2005, as a result of the actions of the Belarusian authorities, there was a split in the largest Polish organization in the country - the Union of Poles in Belarus. The second part of the work describes the fate of Polish education after 2005, also contains information on Polish education in Belarus at the pre-school and academic level, discusses issues related to its development and basic problems. The work also contains the results of a qualitative research conducted by the author on a research group of Polish school students in 2017-2019. The dissertation ends with a summary of the entire work along with a short analysis of the current situation in Polish education (2021) and forecasts for the future

Cohesin loading factor Nipbl localizes to chromosome axes during mammalian meiotic prophase

Background Sister chromatid cohesion mediated by the cohesin complex is essential for accurate chromosome segregation during mitosis and meiosis. Loading of cohesin onto chromosomes is dependent on another protein complex called kollerin, containing Nipbl/Scc2 and Mau2/Scc4. Nipbl is an evolutionarily conserved large protein whose haploinsufficiency in humans causes a developmental disorder called Cornelia de Lange syndrome. Although the function of Nipbl homologues for chromosome cohesion in meiotic cells of non-vertebrate models has been elucidated, Nipbl has not been characterized so far in mammalian spermatocytes or oocytes. Findings Here we describe our analyses on the expression and localization of Nipbl in nuclei of mouse spermatocytes and oocytes at different stages of meiotic prophase. In both spermatocytes and oocytes we found that Nipbl is associated with the axial/lateral element of the synaptonemal complex (AE/LE) to which cohesin also localizes. Interestingly, Nipbl in spermatocytes, but not in oocytes, dissociates from the AE/LE at mid-pachytene stage coincident with completion of DNA double-strand break repair. Conclusions Our data propose that cohesin loading activity is maintained during early stages of meiotic prophase in mammalian spermatocytes and oocytes