Politics of Memory and the State of Education Before and After Poland Regains Independence Using the Example of the City of Białystok – Contexts of Regional Education

In this paper, we attempt to present how dominant countries weave memory policy in their educational activity in order to gain control over the members of subordinate groups. This is an important topic in the context of the 100th anniversary of Poland’s independence being celebrated this year. We refer to the educational policy of the invaders to Poles and the Polish state towards minorities in the interwar period. We will illustrate this through the example of Białystok, the city of north-eastern Poland. Polityka pamięci a sytuacja szkolnictwa przed i po odzyskaniu przez Polskę niepodległości na przykładzie miasta Białystok – konteksty edukacji regionalnejW tekście podejmujemy próbę pokazania sposobów używania przez dominującą władzę polityki pamięci w działaniach edukacyjnych w celu podporządkowania sobie członków podległych grup. Jest to temat ważny w kontekście obchodzonej w tym roku setnej rocznicy odzyskania niepodległości przez państwo polskie. Na przykładzie Białegostoku poruszamy zagadnienie polityki oświatowej zaborców wobec Polaków oraz państwa polskiego wobec mniejszości w okresie międzywojennym

Borderland Culture in the Scholarly Activities of the Employees of the Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology of the University of Białystok

In the article, the authors presented different approaches to the concept of borderland. Based on the general definition of the borderland, they describe the scientific activity of the staff of the Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology at the University of Bialystok, which deals with this topic. They analyse research tasks and research projects as well as the results of international and regional cooperation.Kultura pogranicza w działalności naukowej pracowników Wydziału Pedagogiki i Psychologii Uniwersytetu w BiałymstokuW artykule, przyjmując szerokie rozumienie kategorii pogranicza, przez pryzmat teoretycznych ujęć podjętej problematyki, zaprezentowano działalność pracowników Wydziału Pedagogiki i Psychologii Uniwersytetu w Białymstoku w zakresie badań nad pograniczem kulturowym. Wiele uwagi poświęcono aktywności naukowej, realizowanym zadaniom i projektom badawczym oraz współpracy międzynarodowej i regionalnej

Formation, properties and stability of poly(hexamethylene biguanide) stabilised silver nanoparticles from the perspective of novel antimicrobial agents

Rising antimicrobial resistance has increased pressure to develop novel antimicrobial agents. Poly(hexamethylene biguanide) stabilised silver nanoparticles have been suggested as a potential candidate exhibiting strong biocidal properties. This study researches the formation, properties, and stability over time of the PHMB-AgNPs complex. Silver nanoparticles were synthesised from silver nitrate using a chemical reduction procedure with sodium borohydride in the presence of a stabiliser, PHMB. The obtained complex was characterised by a wide range of complementary methods relying on different analytical principles such as scattering, spectroscopy and microscopy. This allowed for a determination of the physical properties of the complex and the monitoring of changes over time. The preliminary antimicrobial efficacy was assessed using a well diffusion technique and flow cytometer. AgNPs stabilised with PHMB (concentration from 20 μg/mL to 200 μg/mL) were successfully synthesised and characterised. A noticeable shift in the peak position from typically observed 390 nm for Bare-AgNPs to 420 nm evidenced by UV-Vis and the change in the direction of electrophoretic mobility, confirmed that AgNPs were indeed stabilised with PHMB. The size of spherical silver nanoparticle cores was calculated from Small-Angle X-ray Scattering patterns to be around 13 nm for Bare-AgNPs and 4 nm for PHMB-AgNPs. However, the two-population distribution observed with Dynamic Light Scattering exhibited significant number fluctuation indicating flocculation caused by the polymer. Limits of the PHMB concentration available for complexing were observed at around 60 μg/mL, beyond which polymer presence was recorded in the filtrate residue following membrane filtration. The antimicrobial activity indicated that silver nanoparticles did not exhibit any activity against E. Coli or S. Aureus, in contrast to the PHMB stabiliser and the PHMB-AgNPs. Long term stability has shown that a minimum PHMB concentration at 60 μg/mL must be achieved to prevent the flocculation of AgNPs over time

Tożsamość i pamięć społeczna z perspektywy edukacji międzykulturowej – na podstawie badań przeprowadzonych wśród polskich i izraelskich licealistów

In the article I refer to the issue of social memory and collective identity. The theoretical context of work is intercultural education. The conclusions presented in the text are based on research conducted in 2013 with the participation of high school students from Poland and Israel using the diagnostic survey method. The subject of research is the memory of Bialystok’s past as an element of the collective identity of Poles and Jews. The research was conducted in high schools in Bialystok and in the Kiryat Bialystok district in Yehud in Israel. The purpose of the analysis was to discover those elements of identity identification that facilitate intercultural communication and allow cultural groups – in particular Poles and Jews – to cooperate to learn about the common heritage of their ancestors. It turned out that the sense of belonging to many different cultural groups declared by high school students is connected with the occurrence of a monumental type of memory characterized by rich knowledge and functionality. This is the most desirable memory in educational work. The strong display of continental and global identification, but also national identification, correlates with desemanantisation of social memory. The more clearly young people are oriented towards the world and Europe and express their attachment to the nation, the more often they withdraw from involvement in the affairs of the local environment and the region. Social changes require a diagnosis of identity and social memory, detection of elements that cause communication problems.W artykule odnoszę się do kwestii pamięci społecznej i tożsamości zbiorowej. Kontekstem teoretycznym pracy jest edukacja międzykulturowa. Wnioski prezentowane w tekście opierają się na badaniach prowadzonych w 2013 roku z udziałem licealistów z Polski i Izraela metodą sondażu diagnostycznego. Przedmiotem badań jest pamięć przeszłości Białegostoku jako element tożsamości zbiorowej Polaków i Żydów. Badania były prowadzone w szkołach średnich w Białymstoku i w dzielnicy Kiryat Białystok w miejscowości Yehud w Izraelu. Celem analizy było odkrycie tych elementów identyfikacji tożsamościowej, które ułatwiają komunikację międzykulturową i pozwalają grupom kulturowym, w tym szczególnie Polakom i Żydom współpracować na rzecz poznawania wspólnego dziedzictwa ich przodków. Okazało się, że deklarowane przez licealistów poczucie przynależności do wielu różnych grup kulturowych łączy się z występowaniem monumentalnego typu pamięci charakteryzującego się bogatą wiedzą i funkcjonalnością. Jest to pamięć najbardziej pożądana w pracy edukacyjnej. Natomiast silne eksponowanie identyfikacji kontynentalnej i globalnej, ale też narodowej, koreluje z desemantyzacją pamięci społecznej. Im wyraźniej młodzież orientuje się na świat i Europę oraz wyraża swoje przywiązanie do narodu, tym częściej wycofuje się z angażowania w sprawy środowiska lokalnego i regionu. Zmiany społeczne wymagają diagnozy tożsamości i pamięci społecznej, wykrywania elementów powodujących problemy komunikacyjne

Hypertensive effect of downregulation of the opioid system in mouse model of different activity of the endogenous opioid system

The opioid system is well-known for its role in modulating nociception and addiction development. However, there are premises that the endogenous opioid system may also affect blood pressure. The main goal of the present study was to determine the impact of different endogenous opioid system activity and its pharmacological blockade on blood pressure. Moreover, we examined the vascular function in hyper- and hypoactive states of the opioid system and its pharmacological modification. In our study, we used two mouse lines which are divergently bred for high (HA) and low (LA) swim stress-induced analgesia. The obtained results indicated that individuals with low endogenous opioid system activity have higher basal blood pressure compared to those with a hyperactive opioid system. Additionally, naloxone administration only resulted in the elevation of blood pressure in HA mice. We also showed that the hypoactive opioid system contributes to impaired vascular relaxation independent of endothelium, which corresponded with decreased guanylyl cyclase levels in the aorta. Together, these data suggest that higher basal blood pressure in LA mice is a result of disturbed mechanisms in vascular relaxation in smooth muscle cells. We believe that a novel mechanism which involves endogenous opioid system activity in the regulation of blood pressure will be a promising target for further studies in hypertension development

6-Acetyl-5-hydroxy-4,7-dimethylcoumarin derivatives : design, synthesis, modeling studies, 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A and D2 receptors affinity

Molecular docking studies using appropriate 5-HT$_{1A}$, 5-HT$_{2A}$ and D$_{2}$ receptors models were used to design sixteen new 5-hydroxycoumarin derivatives with piperazine moiety (3–18). The microwave radiation have been used to synthesize them and their structures have been confirmed using mass spectrometry, $^{1}$H and $^{13}$C NMR. All newly prepared derivatives were evaluated for their 5-HT$_{1A}$, 5-HT$_{2A}$ and D$_{2}$ receptor affinity. Seven of the synthesized derivatives showed very high affinities to 5-HT$_{1A}$ receptor (3–4.0 nM, 6–4.0 nM, 7–1.0 nM, 9–6.0 nM, 15–4.3 nM, 16–1.0 nM, 18–3.0 nM) and one of them showed high affinities to 5-HT$_{2A}$ receptor (16–8.0 nM). In the case of the D$_{2}$ receptor none of the tested derivatives showed high affinity. Compounds 7 and 16 were identified as potent antagonists of the 5-HT$_{1A}$ receptor as shown by the [35S]GTPcS binding assay but they didn’t show any antidepressant effect at the single dose tested (10 mg/kg) in the tail suspension tests

Wpływ treningu i biegu półmaratońskiego na prawą komorę u biegaczy amatorów

Introduction. Endurance running may lead to heart remodelling. There are little data on the right ventricular (RV) changes in amateur athletes running shorter than marathon distances. The study aimed to investigate whether training and running a half marathon affect the anatomy and function of the RV in amateur runners and whether these changes affect the athlete's competitive performance. Material and methods. The study included 45 recreational runners with a mean age of 32.96 (5.12) years, 27 men. Echocardiography was performed before the ten-weeks training period and before and after the half marathon run. The morphological and functional parameters of the RV were analysed, including two-dimensional, Doppler and speckle-tracking echocardiography. Results. In training period, the RV outflow tract (27.98 [5.46] vs. 30.07 [4.90]; p = 0.003) and the RV index of myocardial performance (0.36 [0.29; 0.45] vs. 0.39 [0.33; 0.52]; p = 0.017) increased significantly and no changes were found for E/e’. After the half marathon run, the absolute value of the RV free wall global longitudinal strain increased significantly (–25.89 [3.08] vs. –27.20 [3.42]; p = 0.008). Athletes who trained more intensively during the training period achieved significantly better half marathon results (r = –0.4; p ≤ 0.05). Conclusions. More enhanced physiological RV remodelling under exercise in amateur athletes results in better half marathon finishing times. The preparation period and 21.0975 kilometres run do not affect the diastolic function of the RV in recreational runners. The RV systolic function improves immediately after the half marathon performance.Wstęp. Biegi długodystansowe mogą prowadzić do przebudowy serca. Niewiele jest danych na temat zmian w prawej komorze u sportowców amatorów biegających na dystansach krótszych niż maratoński. Celem pracy było wykazanie, czy trening i ukończenie półmaratonu wpływają na anatomię i funkcję prawej komory u biegaczy amatorów oraz czy zmiany te wpływają na osiągany przez sportowca wynik. Materiał i metody. Badaniem objęto 45 biegaczy amatorów w średnim wieku 32,96 (5,12) lat, w tym 27 mężczyzn. Echokardiografię wykonano przed 10-tygodniowym okresem treningowym oraz przed i po biegu półmaratońskim. Analizie poddano parametry morfologiczne i czynnościowe prawej komory. Wykonano echokardiografię dwuwymiarową, dopplerowską i stosowano technikę śledzenia plamki akustycznej. Wyniki. W okresie treningowym droga odpływu prawej komory (27,98 [5,46] vs. 30,07 [4,90]; p = 0,003) oraz wskaźnik sprawności prawej komory (0,36 [0,29; 0,45] vs. 0,39 [0,33; 0,52]; p = 0,017) wzrosły znacząco i nie stwierdzono zmian dla E/e’. Po półmaratonie wartość bezwzględna globalnego podłużnego odkształcenia wolnej ściany prawej komory istotnie wzrosła (–25,89 [3,08] vs. –27,20 [3,42]; p = 0,008). Sportowcy, którzy w okresie treningowym trenowali intensywniej, osiągnęli istotnie lepsze wyniki w półmaratonie (r = –0,4; p ≤ 0,05). Wnioski. Silniejsza fizjologiczna przebudowa prawej komory serca pod wpływem ćwiczeń u sportowców amatorów skutkuje lepszym czasem ukończenia półmaratonu. Okres przygotowań i przebiegnięcie 21,0975 km nie wpływa na funkcję rozkurczową prawej komory u biegaczy rekreacyjnych. Funkcja skurczowa prawej komory poprawia się natychmiast po ukończeniu półmaratonu

The role of opioid receptor antagonists in regulation of blood pressure and T-cell activation in mice selected for high analgesia induced by swim stress

Opioid peptides and their G protein-coupled receptors are important regulators within the cardiovascular system, implicated in the modulation of both heart and vascular functions. It is known that naloxone—an opioid antagonist—may exert a hypertensive effect. Recent experimental and clinical evidence supports the important role of inflammatory mechanisms in hypertension. Since opioids may play a role in the regulation of both blood pressure and immune response, we studied these two processes in our model. We aimed to evaluate the effect of selective and non-selective opioid receptor antagonists on blood pressure and T-cell activation in a mouse model of high swim stress-induced analgesia. Blood pressure was measured before and during the infusion of opioid receptor antagonists using a non-invasive tail–cuff measurement system. To assess the activation of T-cells, flow cytometry was used. We discovered that the non-selective antagonism of the opioid system by naloxone caused a significant elevation of blood pressure. The selective antagonism of μ and κ but not δ opioid receptors significantly increased systolic blood pressure. Subsequently, a brief characterization of T-cell subsets was performed. We found that the blockade of μ and δ receptors is associated with the increased expression of CD69 on CD4 T-cells. Moreover, we observed an increase in the central memory CD4 and central memory CD8 T-cell populations after the δ opioid receptor blockade. The antagonism of the μ opioid receptor increased the CD8 effector and central memory T-cell populations