Arendtowska krytyka filozofii polityki Thomasa Hobbesa

W artykule przedstawiona została Arendtowska krytyka filozofii Thomasa Hobbesa. Przede wszystkim tekst koncentruje się na trzech zasadniczych zarzutach wysuniętych przez Arendt, mianowicie na zbudowaniu przez Hobbesa teoretycznych narzędzi uzasadniania konsumpcjonizmu, legitymizacji tyranii i stworzeniu systemu politycznego, w którym członkowie ludu pozbawieni są możliwości czynnego uczestnictwa w życiu publicznym, śmiałego artykułowania poglądów, a więc promowania zatomizowanej społeczności egoistycznych indywidualistów. Wykazana zostaje bezzasadność Arendtowskiej krytyki poprzez odwołanie w głównej mierze do tekstów źródłowych autora Lewiatana

Dyskurs uznania i wykluczenia w tragedii greckiej

The article is devoted to the controversy associated with the reception of Antigone, which despite of the passage of more than two thousand years, is one of the most discussed literary works. Liberating the interpretation of the tragedy from the meanings of the last ages involved in their culture, I emphasized the astonishingly didactic-political dimension of the drama by Sophocles, so that it turned out to be still current question of exclusion, power of cultural repression and social identity of man.Artykuł poświęcony jest kontrowersjom związanym z recepcją Antygony, która mimo upływu ponad dwóch tysięcy lat jest jednym z najbardziej dyskutowanych dzieł literackich. Oczyszczając interpretację tragedii z kulturowo uwarunkowanych znaczeń ostatnich wieków, podkreślam silny dydaktyczno-polityczny wymiar dramatu Sofoklesa, przez co okazuje się on wciąż aktualnym pytaniem o wykluczenie, siłę kulturowej represji i tożsamość społeczną człowieka

Chiral ionic liquids based on L-cysteine derivatives for asymmetric aldol reaction

POCI-01-0145-FEDER–007265 PTDC/QUI-QOR/32406/2017 022161Structure, and consequently properties, of ionic liquids can be easily tailored by changing cation/anion combinations and/or attaching functional groups. By grafting enantiopure moieties to the framework of ionic liquid it is possible to prepare bioinspired chiral molecules that can serve as a reaction medium, additive or even asymmetric catalyst. In this context, new chiral ionic liquids (CILs), based on biomolecules, such as aminoacids (L-cysteine derivatives), have been synthesised and tested in asymmetric aldol condensation of aldehydes and ketones. The best results were obtained for CILs composed of S-methyl-L-cysteine cation and bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide anion, in the reaction of 2-or 4-nitrobenzaldehyde with acetone or cyclohexanone, giving the aldol product in moderate yields 70–76% and high ee values (up to 96%).publishersversionpublishe

Development of L-proline-based Chiral Ionic Liquids for asymmetric Michael Reaction

co-financed by the ERDF under the PT2020 Partnership agreement (POCI-01-0145-FEDER–007265) The NMR spectrometers are part of the National NMR Network (PTNMR) and are partially supported by the Infrastructure Project N◦ 022161 (co-financed by FEDER through COMPETE 2020, POCI and PORL and FCT through PIDDAC).Different Chiral Ionic Liquids (CIL) based on L-proline have been developed. Simple and efficient synthetic methodologies are used, allowing preparation in good yields for twelve novel CILs using L-proline as a cation or anion combined with suitable counter-ions. A detailed physical and chemical characterization of the CILs was performed to evaluate the influence of counter-ions on the final properties. The most promissory CILs were tested as efficient chiral catalysts in IL media for asymmetric Michael addition reactions of ketones and aldehydes to nitro-olefins. Similar or even better conversions and enantioselectivities (ee up to 95%) compared to the original L-proline were achieved. Additionally, a good product extraction performance using supercritical CO2 processes was obtained.publishersversionpublishe

Analysis of the cytotoxicity of carbon-based nanoparticles, diamond and graphite, in human glioblastoma and hepatoma cell lines

Nanoparticles have attracted a great deal of attention as carriers for drug delivery to cancer cells. However, reports on their potential cytotoxicity raise questions of their safety and this matter needs attentive consideration. In this paper, for the first time, the cytotoxic effects of two carbon based nanoparticles, diamond and graphite, on glioblastoma and hepatoma cells were compared. First, we confirmed previous results that diamond nanoparticles are practically nontoxic. Second, graphite nanoparticles exhibited a negative impact on glioblastoma, but not on hepatoma cells. The studied carbon nanoparticles could be a potentially useful tool for therapeutics delivery to the brain tissue with minimal side effects on the hepatocytes. Furthermore, we showed the influence of the nanoparticles on the stable, fluorescently labeled tumor cell lines and concluded that the labeled cells are suitable for drug cytotoxicity tests

Hepatitis C virus epidemiology and prevention in Polish and Swiss population – similar and contrasting experiences

Objective The aim of the study was to review available data on HCV in Poland and Switzerland, in order to compare the two European countries with respect to epidemiological situation and efficiency of the response systems. Material and Methods A search of registries, published and grey literature was performed to assemble data on prevalence, rate of detection of new cases, identified risk factors for transmission, mortality due to HCV, prevalence of HCC and the consequent liver transplantations, as well as data on treatment in Poland and Switzerland. Results Overall, the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was similar, not exceeding 1%. However, the major transmission routes of HCV infections were different: medical procedures in Poland and drug injections in Switzerland. By combining the available information it was also possible to demonstrate important differences in efficiency of the response systems. There was approximately 1 new diagnosis per 100 estimated undiagnosed cases in the population in Poland per year, compared to 6 in Switzerland, and the treatment rate per 100 estimated active infections was 2 and 4, respectively. Conclusions Scaling up of the diagnosis and treatment is necessary in both countries; however, the means to achieve this might differ, taking into account the higher concentration of the infections in risk groups in Switzerland than in Poland

Arabidopsis DXO1 links RNA turnover and chloroplast function independently of its enzymatic activity

The DXO family of proteins participates in eukaryotic mRNA 5'-end quality control, removal of non-canonical NAD+ cap and maturation of fungal rRNA precursors. In this work, we characterize the Arabidopsis thaliana DXO homolog, DXO1. We demonstrate that the plant-specific modification within the active site negatively affects 5'-end capping surveillance properties of DXO1, but has only a minor impact on its strong deNADding activity. Unexpectedly, catalytic activity does not contribute to striking morphological and molecular aberrations observed upon DXO1 knockout in plants, which include growth and pigmentation deficiency, global transcriptomic changes and accumulation of RNA quality control siRNAs. Conversely, these phenotypes depend on the plant-specific N-terminal extension of DXO1. Pale-green coloration of DXO1-deficient plants and our RNA-seq data reveal that DXO1 affects chloroplast-localized processes. We propose that DXO1 mediates the connection between RNA turnover and retrograde chloroplast-to-nucleus signaling independently of its deNADding properties

Training healthcare professionals in LGBTI cultural competencies: Exploratory findings from the Health4LGBTI pilot project

Abstract Objectives Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people experience health inequalities and barriers to accessing healthcare at a greater rate than the general population. This paper aims to present the Health4LGBTI training course for healthcare workers and the results of its pilot implementation. Methods Funded by the European Parliament, the training course was developed by a multidisciplinary team including LGBTI organisations as part of the Health4LGBTI Project. 110 healthcare professionals from diverse medical fields attended the pilot training in six European Member States. Knowledge and attitudes were compared on the basis of a pre-post evaluation design utilising an ad hoc questionnaire. Results Knowledge scores increased after the training, irrespective of age and sexual orientation of participants. Attitudes scores generally improved, particularly in terms of inclusivity and a greater acknowledgement of LGBTI health needs and self-competence. Conclusion The Health4LGBTI training course is both feasible and effective in training healthcare professionals and support staff to improve cultural competence and thereby promoting inclusive healthcare practice. Practice Implications The Health4LGBTI training course can be implemented in different healthcare contexts. Piloting of the course provided an opportunity for healthcare professionals and for support staff to improve their knowledge of, and attitudes towards, LGBTI people

Pregnancy-related cardiac non-elective hospitalizations and pregnancy outcomes. A tertiary referral cardiac center experience

Background: Pregnant women with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and their offspring are at higher risk of morbidity and mortality.Aims: To provide data on pregnancy outcomes among women with different types of CVD requiring non-elective cardiac hospitalization in a tertiary referral cardiac center.Methods: We identified all records of non-elective hospitalizations of pregnant women hospitalized between January 2009 through March 2018, at our institution — a tertiary referral cardiac center. The incidence and types of cardiac complications during pregnancy, as well as the pregnancy and offspring outcomes, were determined.Results: One hundred and sixty-one out of 328 pregnancy-related hospitalizations in 140 pregnancies were non-elective. Cardiac complications occurred in 62 (44%) pregnancies, with the most frequent being episodes of arrhythmia (22.1% pregnancies), followed by heart failure exacerbations (6.4% pregnancies). Maternal mortality reached 2.1% and affected only women with primary cardiomyopathies (CMP). Offspring mortality was 2.8%. Newborns of mothers with cardiac complications had significantly lower Apgar scores and gestational age at delivery, compared to mothers without cardiac complications.Conclusions: In our series mortality and morbidity among pregnant women with CVD hospitalizations were high. An unfavorable maternal outcome mainly affected women with CMP. Offspring of mothers with cardiovascular complications are prone to have a lower gestational age and Apgar score