"I (can) see myself… But what for?" : on live camera feeds in courtrooms (from the perspective of witnesses)

The paper’s aim is to present and critically discuss a peculiar practice noticed and studied in courtrooms in the Lower Court in Kraków, Poland. In courtrooms where different hearings take place, two cameras are installed on the wall or on the stand near the judge’s bench. One camera is aimed at the center of the courtroom, where non-professional participants such as witnesses or plaintiffs stand while being questioned by judge. The second camera’s view is more general—it covers the rest of the courtroom, including the benches for plaintiffs, claimants, defendants, and their legal representatives, and most notably the general public. Naturally, the mere presence of cameras in the modern courtroom is not surprising. What raises some questions is the presence of TV screens in the Kraków Lower Court’s courtrooms (and in Poland’s courts in general), which display the feed from both cameras during the hearing. Consequently, people gathered in the courtroom, especially people questioned by the judge (such as witnesses), can see themselves “live” in the TV screen. Even without raising the subtle details and differences between individual courtrooms, the system of displaying, in real time, live video feeds from a courtroom into the same courtroom begs for more detailed, critical analysis. For instance, one should address the system’s (presumably intended) functions (e.g. transparency, behavior control, and correction of time perception) and the real consequences for the dynamics during hearings, which are not assumptions or hypotheticals. The paper distinguishes the issues connected with the system and addressees them through the perspective of witnesses who participate in the hearings, using the collected opinions of witnesses

W stronę trójpoziomowej koncepcji dystansu władzy : rozszerzenie dystansu władzy Geerta Hofstedego poza kontekst międzykulturowy

Dystans władzy jest jednym z najczęściej badanych wymiarów kultury w podejściu Geerta Hofstedego. Jednak zdecydowana większość badaczy odnosi się do dystansu władzy jak do czegoś oczywistego. Pomimo setek badań nad dystansem władzy, do tej pory nikt nie próbował dokonać rekonceptualizacji tej koncepcji. Na tym tle w niniejszy artykule zaproponowano nowe rozumienie dystansu władzy. Wywód koncentruje się na sformułowaniu zarysu trójpoziomowej koncepcji dystansu władzy, która zasadniczo nawiązuje do tradycji Hofstedego, ale jednocześnie jest wolna od jej założeń ontologicznych i epistemologicznych dotyczących świata społecznego. Proponowany sposób rozumienia dystansu władzy stwarza przestrzeń, między innymi, do badań nad dystansem władzy skoncentrowanych na dynamice interakcyjnej w różnych warunkach. Daje także możliwość formułowania zupełnie nowych hipotez dotyczących psychologicznych i socjologicznych wymiarów władzy.Power distance is one of the most researched dimensions of culture in Geert Hofstede’s framework. The vast majority of scholars refer to power distance as though it were something self-evident. Despite the hundreds of studies conducted on the basis of power distance, to date no one has seriously tried to propose a reconceptualization of power distance. Against that background, this paper aims to redefine Hofstede’s concept of power distance. It focuses on formulating a sketch of the three-level concept of power distance that essentially refers to Hofstedian tradition, but is at the same time entangled in different ontological and epistemological assumptions on the social world. The proposed way of understanding power distance creates space for, among other things, a more interaction-focused study on power dynamics in various settings. It also provides the possibility of formulating completely new hypotheses concerning psychological and sociological dimensions of exercising power

Alkoholin palkitseviin ominaisuuksiin ja amfetamiinin myrkkyvaikutuksiin liittyvien hermostollisten järjestelmien funktionaalinen kuvantaminen

Alcohol addiction is one of the most prevalent brain disorders in the world. A major hurdle for reducing alcohol-related harms and developing effective treatments is the poor understanding of neural processes responsible for the development of dependence and addiction. Alcohol has been shown to affect various neurotransmitter systems; however, the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system, which projects from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the nucleus accumbens (NAc), has been thought to play a key role in producing the reinforcing effects of alcohol. The VTA region has also been suggested to be the anatomical site for the interaction of the dopaminergic system with the opioidergic and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) systems. Here, manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI) and behavioral tests were used to study drug-induced alterations in brain activity of the alcohol-preferring AA (Alko Alcohol) and heterogeneous Wistar rats. MEMRI is based on the ability of paramagnetic Mn2+ ions to accumulate in excitable neurons, thus enhancing the T1-weighted signal in activated brain regions. Mn2+ ions can also be transported anterogradely and retrogradely in neurons, released to the synaptic cleft, and taken up by other neurons. These properties allow MEMRI to measure long-term changes in brain activity, as well as map neural pathways involved in acute and long-term drug actions, including drug reward and toxicity. The AA rats exposed to alcohol compared to water controls displayed a widespread and persistent activation in brain regions that have been previously linked with alcohol reinforcement. Similarly, activity in neural pathways originating in the NAc and projecting caudally to the midbrain was enhanced in alcohol drinking rats. Moreover, this alcohol-induced activation was blocked by systemic naltrexone (NLX) administration. Comparison of naïve AA and Wistar rats revealed a lowered basal activity in the caudal linear nucleus (CLi) of AA rats, which was restored by voluntary alcohol drinking. The intra-CLi γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptor (GABAA) agonist muscimol produced a dose-dependent increase in alcohol drinking, blocked by co-administration of the GABAA antagonist bicuculline, suggesting that the CLi GABAergic system is involved in the regulation of alcohol reward. MEMRI was also employed for assessing stimulant-induced toxicity. Methamphetamine and mephedron displayed disparate effects on brain activity, as methamphetamine produced widespread decreases in activity, whereas mephedron increased activity in limited brain areas. Taken together, the use of MEMRI for mapping alcohol- and stimulant-induced alterations in functional brain activity revealed networks and specific pathways that have potential for guiding further translational efforts to develop medications for drug abuse disorders, as well as for evaluating drug-induced toxicity.Alkoholismi on maailman yleisimpiä aivosairauksia. Alkoholin aiheuttamien haittojen vähentämistä ja tehokkaiden hoitomuotojen kehittämistä haittaa se, että päihderiippuvuuden kehittymiseen vaikuttavat aivojen toiminnan muutokset ymmärretään yhä huonosti. Alkoholin vaikutukset syntyvät monien hermoston välittäjäaineiden toiminnan kautta, ja etenkin nk. mesolimbisellä dopamiinijärjestelmällä on arveltu olevan keskeinen rooli alkoholin tuottamassa mielihyvässä. Töissämme käytettiin mangaanitehosteista magneettiresonanssikuvantamista (MRI) selvitettäessä alkoholin ja stimulanttien vaikutuksia alkoholiin mieltyneiden AA-rottien ja normaalien Wistar-rottien aivoissa. Kyseinen kuvantamismenetelmä perustuu siihen, että magneettisia ominaisuuksia omaavat mangaani-ionit kulkeutuvat hermopäätteiden kalsiumkanavien kautta hermosoluihin niiden aktivoituessa. Mangaani-ioneja sisältävien hermosolujen muodostamat radat ja aivoalueet tuottavat mitattavissa olevan signaalin. Mangaani voi myös siirtyä synapsiraon ylitse viereiseen hermosoluun ja tuottaa siten MRI-kuvan aktiivisista hermoverkoista. Viikkoja kestänyt alkoholin juominen johti aivojen aktiivisuusmuutoksiin sellaisilla aivojen alueilla, joiden on aikaisemmin oletettu liittyvän alkoholin positiivisiin vaikutuksiin. Selvitettäessä tarkemmin yksittäisten hermoratojen merkitystä havaittiin, että etuaivojen accumbens-tumakkeen keskiaivoihin lähettävä rata aktivoitui alkoholin juomisen seurauksena, kun taas alkoholismin hoidossa käytettävä lääkeaine, naltreksoni, vähensi alkoholin aiheuttamaa aktivaatiota. Verrattaessa alkoholiin mieltyneitä rottia tavalliseen rottakantaan löydettiin keskiaivoista tumake (kaudaalinen lineaaritumake), jonka aktiivisuus oli ennen alkoholin juomista tavallista alhaisempi, mutta jota alkoholi aktivoi. Kun tähän tumakkeeseen annettiin ainetta, joka salpasi gamma-aminovoihapon (GABA) vastaanottokohdat, alkoholin kulutus lisääntyi huomattavasti. Tämä löydös viittasi keskiaivojen GABA-järjestelmän merkitykseen alkoholin kulutuksen säätelyssä. Kaikkiaan kehittämämme mangaanitehosteinen magneettiresonanssikuvantaminen tuotti uutta tietoa alkoholin juomista säätelevistä hermoradoista ja yksittäisistä aivojen alueista. Tätä tietoa voidaan käyttää hyväksi, kun suunnitellaan ja testataan alkoholismin hoitoon tarkoitettuja lääkeaineita

“Krik? Krak!” and “Brother, I’m Dying” by Edwidge Danticat: The Transnational Experience of Haitian Refugees

KRIK? KRAK! AND BROTHER, I’M DYING BY EDWIDGE DANTICAT: THE TRANSNATIONAL EXPERIENCE OF HAITIAN REFUGEES The article offers an interpretation of a collection of short stories entitled Krik? Krak! and an autobiographical family memoir entitled Brother, I’m Dying by the Haitian-American author Edwidge Danticat. It concentrates on two interconnected issues: the transnationality of Haitian immigrants living in the United States and their hybrid identities interpreted in the context of the theory of identity in narrative. Selected works of Steven Vertovec, Anna De Fina, and Stuart Hall serve as the theoretical basis for the interpretation herein. The text sees the problems of migrating and living in a diaspora depicted by Danticat as phenomena important for developing transnational identities and producing narratives of identity-forming experiences. Moreover, the article presents an analysis of changing modes of cultural reproduction and dynamic identities of subsequent generations of Haitian immigrants. Additionally, the interpretation treats narratives of migration and diasporic life — often depicted by Danticat as belonging to the feminine sphere — as significant elements of the processes of putting together, rethinking, and reconstituting, through various modes of cultural reproduction, disjointed and disrupted Haitian identities. It also attempts to explore the techniques used by Danticat to build a coherent narrative of her family’s immigrant experiences and mediate her perspective on immigrant reality.  KRIK? KRAK! I BROTHER, I’M DYING EDWIDGE DANTICAT: TRANSNARODOWE DOŚWIADCZENIA HAITIAŃSKICH UCHODŹCÓW Prezentowany artykuł proponuje interpretację zbioru opowiadań pt. Krik? Krak! oraz autobiograficznej powieści-memuaru pt. Brother, I’m Dying autorstwa haitańsko-amerykańskiej pisarki Edwidge Danticat. Tekst skupia się na dwóch połączonych problemach: transnarodowości haitańskich imigrantów żyjących w Stanach Zjednoczonych oraz ich hybrydowych tożsamościach interpretowanych w kontekście teorii tożsamości w narracji. Wybrane prace badaczy takich jak Steven Vertovec, Anna De Fina i Stuart Hall służą jako podłoże teoretyczne prezentowanej interpretacji. Postrzega ona problemy migracji i życia w diasporze opisywane przed Danticat jako zjawiska ważne dla rozwoju transnarodowych tożsamości i tworzenia narracji doświadczeń formujących tożsamość. Ponadto, prezentowany esej zawiera analizę zmieniających się metod kulturowej reprodukcji oraz dynamicznych tożsamości dalszych pokoleń haitańskich imigrantów. Dodatkowo, prezentowana interpretacja traktuje opowiadanie migracji i diasporycznego życia, które często jest przedstawiane przez Danticat jako należące do kobiecej sfery życia, jako znaczący element procesów ponownego łączenia, przemyśliwania i rekonstruowania poprzez różne metody kulturowej reprodukcji rozczłonkowanych i zakłóconych haitańskich tożsamości. Obecna analiza stara się również zbadać techniki użyte przez Danticat w celu skomponowania spójnych opowiadań dotyczących imigranckich doświadczeń swojej rodziny oraz przekazania swojego punktu widzenia na imigrancką rzeczywistość.

Identity and transnationalism: Narrating the Haitian - American home in selected works by Edwidge Danticat

In contemporary discourses, the lives of migrants are often marginalised and silenced. For this reason, bringing the theme of migrants’ identities to the foreground in literary research appears to be increasingly important. This article discusses the experiences of Haitian immigrants to the US as nar-rated by the Haitian-American author Edwidge Danticat. I explore the theme of making a transnational home in her novel Breath, Eyes, Memory (1994) and short stories from the collection Everything Inside(2019). The analysis is based on a combination of two theories: Steven Vertovec’s theory of transnation-alism and Paul Ricoeur’s philosophy of narrative identity, which enable interpreting intergenerational identity changes, certain methods of cultural reproduction, and “little” cultural cross-connectedness of “family and household” (Vertovec 2009: 3-18) in the context of personal identity understood as formed through narratives. This article focuses on the transition from a Haitian home to an American one as an important part of identity-formation processes. It also views a migrant’s journey as still incomplete after coming to the US and requiring “emplotting” (De Fina 2003: 17) its fragmented events into stories. The article attempts to demonstrate intangible ways of creating a transnational home and domestic methods of narrating and negotiating one’s cultural identity in Danticat’s fiction. I claim that Danticat’s works narrate personal experiences to generate a “refigured” understanding of time and transnational ties within the family [email protected] Dudek obtained his MA degree with distinction in 2020 in the field of liter-ary studies at the Department of English, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. He continues his academic education as a doctoral student at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. His research concentrates on analysing the issues of narrative and cultural identity in contemporary diasporic literature written in English. His publica-tions include: “2084. The End of the World. Subjectivity and Power in Boualem Sansal’s Vision of an Islamist Totalitarian Society”, published in a post-conference volume enti-tled Faces of Crisis in 20th- and 21st-Century Prose. An Anthology of Criticism (Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego, 2020) and “Krik? Krak! and Brother, I’m Dying by Edwidge Danticat: The Transnational Experience of Haitian Refugees”, published in Archiwum Emigracji Vol. 28 (Toruń, 2020). He is interested in political philosophy, the theory of transnationalism and diaspora studies, and the works of Edwidge Danticat, Boualem Sansal, and Philip Roth.Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland2019/20 winner & finalists. The Official Website of The Story Prize. http://thestoryprize.org/201920 (accessed 20 March 2021).Arendt, H. 2018 [1958]. The Human Condition. Chicago/London: The University of Chicago Press.Brah, A. 2005. Cartographies of Diaspora: Contesting Identities. London/New York: Routledge.Candelario, G.E.B., Danticat, E., Perez, L.M., Chancy, M.J.A., & Rosario, N. 2004. Voices from Hispaniola: A Meridians Roundtable with Edwidge Danticat, Loida Maritza Perez, Myriam J. A. Chancy, and Nelly Rosario. Meridians: Feminism, Race, Transnationalism5 (1): 68–91. doi:10.1353/mer.2004.0048.Danticat, E. 1998. Breath, Eyes, Memory. New York: Vintage Books.Danticat, E. 2008. Brother, I’m Dying. New York: Vintage Books.Danticat, E. 2019. Everything Inside. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. Kindle edition.De Fina, A. 2003. Identity in Narrative: A Study of Immigrant Discourse. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company.Garcia-Navarro, L. 2018. Author Edwidge Danticat on the immigrant experience. National Public Radio, January 14. www.npr.org/2018/01/14/577969701/author-edwidge-danticaton-the-immigrant-experience ?t=1553689399210 (20 March 2021).“have one’s way with.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/have%20one%27s%20way%20with (accessed 7 December 2021).Laguerre, M. S. 2005. Haitians in the United States. In: M. Ember, C. R. Ember & I. Skoggard (eds.), Encyclopedia of Diasporas. Immigrant and Refugee Cultures Around the World, 830. New York: Springer.Polyné, M. 2010. From Douglass to Duvalier: U.S. African Americans, Haiti, and Pan Americanism, 1870-1964.Gainesville: University Press of Florida.Ricoeur, P. 1984. Time and Narrative. Vol. 1. Chicago/London: The University of Chicago Press.Ricoeur, P. 1988. Time and Narrative. Vol. 3. Chicago/London: The University of Chicago Press.The Tonton Macoutes: The central nervous system of Haiti’s reign of terror. 2010. The Official Website of the Council on Hemispheric Affairs, March 11. www.coha.org/tonton-ma-coutes (accessed 15 November 2021).Vertovec, S. 2001. Transnationalism and identity. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 27(4): 573-582. doi.org/10.1080/13691830120090386.Vertovec, S. 2009. Transnationalism. London/New York: Routledge.White, H. 1973. Metahistory: The Historical Imagination in Nineteenth-Century Europe.Baltimore/London: The Johns Hopkins University Press.36 (1/2022)829

Functionalization of the NiTi Shape Memory Alloy Surface by HAp/SiO2/Ag Hybrid Coatings Formed on SiO2-TiO2 Glass Interlayer

The surface modification of NiTi shape memory alloys is a method for increasing their multi-functionalities. In our solution, hydroxyapatite powder was mixed with a chemically synthesized silicon dioxide/silver (nSiO2/Ag) nanocomposite in a di erent weight ratio between components (1:1, 5:1, and 10:1) and then electrophoretically deposited on the surface of the NiTi alloy, under various time and voltage conditions. Subsequently, uniform layers were subjected to heat treatment at 700 C for 2 h in an argon atmosphere to improve the strength of their adhesion to the NiTi substrate. A change in linear dimensions of the co-deposited materials during the sintering process was also analyzed. After the heat treatment, XRD, Raman, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) + Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) studies revealed the formation of completely new composite coatings, which consisted of rutile and TiO2-SiO2 glass with silver oxide and HAp particles that were embedded into such coatings. It was found that spalling characterized the 1:1 ratio coating, while the others were crack-free, well-adhered, and capable of deformation to 3.5%. Coatings with a higher concentration of nanocomposite were rougher. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests in Ringer’s solution revealed the capacitive behavior of the material with high corrosion resistance. The kinetics and susceptibility to pitting corrosion was the highest for the NiTi electrode that was coated with a 5:1 ratio HAp/nSiO2/Ag hybrid coating

Innovative bioactive Ag-SiO2/TiO2 coating on a NiTi-shape memory alloy : structure and mechanism of its formation

In recent years, more and more emphasis has been placed on the development and functionalization of metallic substrates for medical applications to improve their properties and increase their applicability. Today, there are many different types of approaches and materials that are used for this purpose. Our idea was based on a combination of a chemically synthesized Ag-SiO2 nanocomposite and the electrophoretic deposition approach on a NiTi-shape memory substrate. As a result, silver-silica coating was developed on a previously passivated alloy, which was then subjected to sintering at 700 C for 2 h. The micrometer-sized coat-forming material was composed of large agglomerates consisting of silica and a thin film of submicron- and nano- spherical-shaped particles built of silver, carbon, and oxygen. Structurally, the coatings consisted of a combination of nanometer-sized silver-carbonate that was embedded in thin amorphous silica and siloxy network. The temperature impact had forced morphological and structural changes such as the consolidation of the coat-forming material, and the partial coalescence of the silver and silica particles. As a result, a new continuous complex ceramic coating was formed and was analyzed in more detail using the XPS, XRD, and Raman methods. According to the structural and chemical analyses, the deposited Ag-SiO2 nanocomposite material’s reorganization was due to its reaction with a passivated TiO2 layer, which formed an atypical glass-like composite that consisted of SiO2-TiO2 with silver particles that stabilized the network. Finally, the functionalization of the NiTi surface did not block the shape memory effect

Assessment of electrocardiogram interpretation skills among Polish and English Division medical students

Introduction. An electrocardiography (ECG) examination is one of the most frequently performed diagnostic tests. Thecorrect interpretation of ECG, particularly in life-threatening scenarios (LTS) can influence decision-making on appropriateactions and so consequently can have an impact on the life and health of patients. The aim of this study was toevaluate ECG interpretation skills among a study population and to analyse factors determining their score. Material and methods. ECG interpretation skills were assessed using a self-prepared questionnaire including questionsabout demographic data and 20 ECG problems arising from 17 cases. Six of these cases were LTS. Three questionsevaluated basic understanding of heart rhythm, heart rate and axis. The survey was conducted via the internet. Thestudy population consisted of 551 medical, nursing and emergency medicine students. Results. The overall score among Polish medical students was higher than among nursing and emergency medicinestudents. English Division medical students scored almost the same as Polish medical students. Assessed in LTS, theyperformed better than the nursing students, but achieved similar results to those of the emergency medicine students.Analysis of Polish medical students showed that 4th-6th year students scored higher than their younger counterparts.72% of medical students claimed to have self-educated themselves on ECG interpretation. This group had better resultsthan students who had studied ECG only in the classroom. Less than 20% of students from each category of the studypopulation felt that there were enough classes on ECG. Conclusions. The level of ECG interpretative skills noted among medical students is unsatisfactory. Many factors influence ECG knowledge.Wstęp. Badanie elektrokardiograficzne (EKG) jest jednym z najczęściej wykonywanych testów diagnostycznych. Prawidłowa interpretacja zapisu EKG, zwłaszcza w sytuacjach zagrożenia życia, może wpływać na decyzję o wdrożeniu prawidłowego postępowania, a w konsekwencji — na zdrowie i życie pacjentów. Celem badania była ocena umiejętności interpretacji zapisu EKG wśród studentów kierunków medycznych oraz analiza czynników mających wpływ na ich rezultaty. Materiały i metody. Umiejętność interpretacji EKG zbadano za pomocą własnego kwestionariusza zawierającego pytania demograficzne oraz 20 pytań na temat EKG, w tym 17 przypadków klinicznych. Sześć z nich było przykładami stanów zagrożenia życia. Trzy pytania dotyczyły podstawowych parametrów EKG: częstości pracy serca, osi serca, pochodzenia rytmu serca. Ankietę przeprowadzono przez Internet. Zbadano 551 studentów kierunków lekarskiego, pielęgniarstwa oraz ratownictwa medycznego. Wyniki. Średni wynik osiągnięty przez polskich studentów medycyny był lepszy niż wynik studentów pielęgniarstwa i medycyny ratunkowej. Studenci English Division osiągnęli podobne wyniki. Polscy studenci medycyny byli lepsi od studentów pielęgniarstwa w rozpoznawaniu stanów zagrożenia życia, ale osiągnęli podobne rezultaty do studentów ratownictwa medycznego. Wśród polskich studentów medycyny studenci na IV–VI roku uzyskali lepsze wyniki niż studenci z lat I–III. Samonauczanie EKG zadeklarowało 72% studentów kierunku lekarskiego. Ta grupa osiągnęła lepsze wyniki niż studenci, którzy EKG uczyli się wyłącznie w czasie zajęć na studiach. Mniej niż 20% studentów z każdego kierunku uważało, że zajęć na temat EKG jest wystarczająco dużo. Wnioski. Stan wiedzy studentów kierunków medycznych w Polsce jest niski. Wiele czynników wpływa na umiejętność interpretacji zapisu EKG przez studentów