Poola poliitiline huumor

This article is a survey of the most important communicative phenomena in the contemporary Polish political humour. It is also an attempt to describe political humour from a theoretical point of view and to compare it with political jokes from a period of the Polish People’s Republic (PRL). This article mainly describes amusing statements of contemporary politicians that were primarily used as the means of a political polemic, and secondarily after having been popularised by journalists (due to their comic content), achieved a status of “winged words” and appeared in various intertextual variants of the public and colloquial discourse

Ja wiem, że to przedmowa

Stanisław Barańczak’s collection I Know It’s Not Right (Ja wiem, że to niesłuszne), published as samizdat in 1978, included a preface by Adam Michnik. The article analyses this preface and attempts to determine itsaddressee and understand the author’s intentions

The structure and the formation of egg shells in the parthenogenetic species Dactylobiotus dispar Murray, 1907 (Tardigrada: Eutardigrada)

The eggs of Dactylobiotus dispar, similar to other Tardigrada eggs, are covered with two shells: the vitelline envelope and the chorion. Ultrastructural studies have shown that the oocyte actively participates in the formation of both shells. The process of egg capsule formation begins at the midpoint of vitellogenesis. The chorion at first appears as isolated cones resulting from the exocytotic activity of the oocyte and the ovarian epithelium. Subsequently, connections between the cones are formed. Three layers can be distinguished in the completely developed chorion: (1) the inner layer of medium electron density; (2) the middle, labyrinthine layer; (3) the outer layer of medium electron density with cones (future conical processes). After chorion formation, a vitelline envelope is secreted by the oocyte. The Dactylobiotus dispar egg is covered with small, conical processes with hooked tips. The surface of the chorion is covered with a mesh-like network consisting of elongated interstices. The egg capsule has no micropylar opening

Interpersonal differences in stress, coping, and satisfaction with life in the context of individual profiles of satisfaction and frustration of basic psychological needs

Background Basic psychological need theory has identified three basic needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Need satisfaction is necessary for development and well-being, while need frustration can lead to maladaptive functioning. The study investigated the significance of individual profiles of basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration in experiencing stress, coping, and satisfaction with life. Participants and procedure Participants (N = 622, Mage = 22.22 ± 4.30) completed the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Stress Appraisal Questionnaire, COPE Inventory, and Satisfaction with Life Scale. We performed exploratory factor analysis to identify coping styles, latent profile analysis to distinguish groups with specific need profiles, and MANOVA to demonstrate differences between these groups. Results Five coping styles were identified: (1) problem-focused, (2) emotion-focused, (3) meaning-focused, (4) escape-avoidance, and (5) religious. The following groups of individuals characterized by specific profiles of basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration were distinguished: (1) mainly low satisfaction and high frustration of relatedness; (2) high satisfaction and low frustration of all basic needs; (3) low satisfaction and high frustration of all basic needs; (4) average satisfaction and frustration of all basic needs; (5) mainly low satisfaction and high frustration of competence. These groups significantly differ in perceived stress, coping styles, and life satisfaction. Conclusions Individuals with profile 3 were the most stressed and tend to use escape-avoidance coping style. Participants with profile 2 coped using a  problem-focused style and had higher life satisfaction. These findings indicate that a person-centered approach leads to a better understanding of experiencing stress and coping.Background Basic psychological need theory has identified three basic needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Need satisfaction is necessary for development and well-being, while need frustration can lead to maladaptive functioning. The study investigated the significance of individual profiles of basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration in experiencing stress, coping, and satisfaction with life. Participants and procedure Participants (N = 622, Mage = 22.22 ± 4.30) completed the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Stress Appraisal Questionnaire, COPE Inventory, and Satisfaction with Life Scale. We performed exploratory factor analysis to identify coping styles, latent profile analysis to distinguish groups with specific need profiles, and MANOVA to demonstrate differences between these groups. Results Five coping styles were identified: (1) problem-focused, (2) emotion-focused, (3) meaning-focused, (4) escape-avoidance, and (5) religious. The following groups of individuals characterized by specific profiles of basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration were distinguished: (1) mainly low satisfaction and high frustration of relatedness; (2) high satisfaction and low frustration of all basic needs; (3) low satisfaction and high frustration of all basic needs; (4) average satisfaction and frustration of all basic needs; (5) mainly low satisfaction and high frustration of competence. These groups significantly differ in perceived stress, coping styles, and life satisfaction. Conclusions Individuals with profile 3 were the most stressed and tend to use escape-avoidance coping style. Participants with profile 2 coped using a  problem-focused style and had higher life satisfaction. These findings indicate that a person-centered approach leads to a better understanding of experiencing stress and coping

Structure and ultrastructure of the egg capsule of Thermobia domestica (Packard) (Insecta, Zygentoma)

Eggs of Thermobia domestica (Packard) were collected from a laboratory culture. They were prepared for analysis in light and electron microscopes (TEM, SEM). A few hours after oviposition the egg capsule starts to tarnish and changes its colour to brown. Polygonic shapes on its surface can be seen. The egg capsule consists of a thin vitelline envelope and the chorion. The chorion consists of a one-layered endochorion and a three-layered exochorion. There are minor and major mushroom-like structures placed on the surface of the chorion. Their function is proposed. One micropyle is observed on the anterior pole of the egg. The micropylar opening is formed on the process of a follicular cell

Analysis of Encystment, Excystment, and Cyst Structure in Freshwater Eutardigrade Thulinius ruffoi (Tardigrada, Isohypsibioidea: Doryphoribiidae)

Encystment in tardigrades is relatively poorly understood. It is seen as an adaptive strategy evolved to withstand unfavorable environmental conditions. This process is an example of the epigenetic, phenotypic plasticity which is closely linked to the molting process. Thulinius ruffoi is a freshwater eutardigrade and a representative of one of the biggest eutardigrade orders. This species is able to form cysts. The ovoid-shaped cysts of this species are known from nature, but cysts may also be obtained under laboratory conditions. During encystment, the animals undergo profound morphological changes that result in cyst formation. The animals surround their bodies with cuticles that isolate them from the environment. These cuticles form a cuticular capsule (cyst wall) which is composed of three cuticles. Each cuticle is morphologically distinct. The cuticles that form the cuticular capsule are increasingly simplified. During encystment, only one, unmodified and possibly functional buccal-pharyngeal apparatus was found to be formed. Apart from the feeding apparatus, the encysted specimens also possess a set of claws, and their body is covered with its own cuticle. As a consequence, the encysted animals are fully adapted to the active life after leaving the cyst capsule

Photostability of Topical Agents Applied to the Skin : a review

Topical treatment modalities have multiple advantages starting with the convenient application and non-invasive treatment and ending with the reduction of the risk of the systemic side effects. Active pharmaceutical substances must reach the desired concentration at the target site in order to produce a particular therapeutic effect. In contrast to other dosage forms topical agents applied to the skin may also be susceptible to photodegradation after application. That is why the knowledge of the susceptibility of these topical drugs to UV irradiation, which may contribute to their degradation or changes in chemical structure, is very important. Active pharmaceutical substances used in dermatology may differ both in chemical structure and photostability. Furthermore, various factors-such as light intensity and wavelength, pH, temperature, concentration-can influence the photodegradation process, which is reflected in particular in kinetics of photodegradation of active pharmaceutical substances as well as both the quantitative and qualitative composition of by-products. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the photostability of dermatological drugs, as well as of other substances commonly applied topically. The photostability of glucocorticosteroids, retinoids, and antifungal drugs as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs applied topically and selected UV-filters have been discussed. Furthermore, the impact of photoinstability on the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy and some photostabilization strategies have been also included

Slash. Uri Caine’s Mahler

In recent years, artistic projects combining a wide array of musical styles, such as jazz interpretations of classical music or orchestral arrangements of rock songs, have enjoyed considerable popularity. As their authors were focused mainly on sales profits, the artistic value of their works was often highly disputable. Nevertheless, some outstanding achievements in that field have also been made, among them reinterpretations of classical repertoire - Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Schumann, and, above all, Mahler - by American pianist Uri Caine. He recorded several CDs containing new versions of Mahler’s entire works or their excerpts. Sometimes Caine’s music moves far away from the originals, though such artistic experiments are always well-grounded and aesthetically convincing. Caine’s reinterpretations of Mahler have also some (auto)biographical overtones

Anthropomorphised freshly pickled gherkins. Attempts at the poem Behind glass

The last volume of poetry by Stanisław Barańczak, titled Chirurgiczna precyzja (Surgical precision) features the poem Za szkłem (Behind glass). It is an extremely ironic and ambiguous work. The interpretation provided in this paper points to the exceptional importance of this text for Barańczak’s poetry as a whole

Przestrzenie słowno-obrazowe w propagandowych drukach ulotnych lat 1918–1939. Próba analizy w świetle lingwistyki tekstowej i teorii wizualności

The article tackles the issue of verbal and non-verbal means of persuasion which appear in propaganda pamphlets of the interwar period. In the analysis, tools of text and multimodal linguistics, were used to sketch the communicative strategies aimed at persuasion which appear in propaganda texts from the studied period. In addition to linguistic means of persuasion, typography plays a special role in these texts. On the one hand, it reflects the characteristics of mass communication and logovisual genres of verbal creation of the period in question, on the other hand, the relationship between the verbal code of a text and its spatial, graphic organization. The article describes the mechanisms of visualization and graphization of meanings and paths of reading contained in the verbal layer of the message. Typography is understood in this article as an important component of the multimodal message.Artykuł podejmuje tematykę werbalnych i niewerbalnych środków perswazji, które pojawiają się w propagandowych drukach ulotnych dwudziestolecia międzywojennego. W analizie wykorzystano narzędzia lingwistyki tekstowej i multimodalnej, aby zarysować strategie komunikacyjne o charakterze perswazyjnym, które ujawniają się w tekstach propagandowych badanego okresu. Szczególną rolę – poza językowymi środkami o charakterze nakłaniającym – odgrywa w tych tekstach typografia. Z jednej strony odzwierciedla ona cechy komunikacji masowej i logowizualnych gatunków twórczości słownej badanego okresu, z drugiej zaś – relacje między kodem werbalnym tekstu a jego przestrzenną, graficzną organizacją. W artykule opisano mechanizmy wizualizacji i grafizacji znaczeń i ścieżek lektury zawartych w warstwie werbalnej przekazu. Typografia rozumiana jest w tym artykule jako ważny składnik przekazu multimodalnego