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This article presents the political ideas of Zbigniew Brzezinski as they relate to his position on United States policy over the question of Poland’s western border in the 1960s. The main goal is to show to what extent Brzezinski’s advocacy of formal US recognition of the Oder-Neisse border was linked to his aim of overcoming the Cold War division of Europe and the problem of national borders. Brzezinski’s position on the border issue is also examined in relation to his views on Polish-German and Polish-Soviet relations, as well as Polish nationalism and communist ideology. Accordingly, the question of the Oder-Neisse Line is addressed here with reference to Brzezinski’s comments on US policies towards West Germany, the Soviet Union, and Europe as a whole. The main sources are Brzezinski’s political commentaries, publications and archival material from the 1960s concerning Poland’s western border. However this study extends beyond the purely diplomatic history of the Polish border question, examining the relationship between Brzezinski’s views on the Oder-Neisse Line and his internationalist concept of European political and economic relations. It is demonstrated that Brzezinski’s support for formal US recognition of the Oder-Neisse border in the 1960s developed within the framework of American political, geopolitical and economic designs for Germany, the Soviet Union and Europe as a whole, against the background of the Cold War. Although his arguments regarding Poland’s western border contributed to a desirable increase in US political interest in Poland and Central and Eastern Europe, Brzezinski favoured a kind of European interdependence of states and the “Europeanisation” of Poland, rather than the restitution of its full sovereignty based on anti-Soviet nationalism. This distinctive universalist vision of Central and Eastern Europe, coupled with socio-economic determinism, appears to have profoundly affected Brzezinski’s position on the Polish border question, which was based on the assumption that both the Cold War division of Europe and national borders would eventually diminish in political significance as a result of Western recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

O presente artigo apresenta elementos da caminhada profissional da Profa. Dra. Iria Brzezinski, com o objetivo de revisitar a trajetória de vida e da obra da autora, enfatizando os aspectos biográficos como professora, pesquisadora e militante. A biografia da professora Iria Brzezinski é permeada pelo misto entre a carreira docente, a militância política em defesa da formação de professores e o contexto histórico vivenciado pela sociedade. Para o presente artigo, julgamos necessário escrever sobre a trajetória de vida e sobre as pesquisas da professora Iria Brzezinski, enfatizando três aspectos que se complementam: os eventos da vida da autora; a relação de sua história de vida com o contexto histórico em que iniciou suas pesquisas; e a relação entre suas pesquisas, sua militância política e a sua defesa pela formação dos profissionais da Educação. As pesquisas de Iria Brzezinski contribuíram de modo significativo para a área de formação de professores, tanto no debate para as diretrizes dos cursos de licenciatura, como nas reflexões sobre os conceitos de docência, de formação inicial, formação continuada, formação tecnocrata e, ainda, para as concepções de identidade do pedagogo e da Pedagogia. As contribuições da autora para a área educacional são inegáveis, Brzezinski formulou definições que contribuíram para a reformulação do curso de Pedagogia e, consequentemente, dos demais cursos de licenciatura, defendendo ideias e conceitos que marcaram a trajetória da Educação no Brasil.

The review dissects a monograph on the intellectual biography of Z. Brzezinski. The author of the monograph systematically and comparatively considered the conceptual and theoretical approaches of this American strategist against the backdrop of Cold War era and the unipolar world after the victory of the United States over the USSR. Z. Brzezinski was a great promoter and visionary of Ukraine, consistently advocated the rapprochement of the Ukrainian and Polish peoples in a united democratic Europe. In our opinion, an important place in the historiography of research on the influence of Z. Brzezinski on world history will be occupied by the study of Taras A. Hryshchenko. The author of the monograph advanced into methodological agenda seven groups of typologically different sources related to the stages of formation, development and public perception of international strategic concepts of Z. Brzezinski. Z. Brzezinski’s world outlooks and anti-communist guidelines were optimal for the development and implementation of a course in the field of US national security during the administration of President J. Carter. Particularly relevant to current international relations is the author’s rethinking the comparative aspect of the concepts of globalization and the role of the United States in this process, which belong to Z. Brzezinski and his colleagues S. Huntington and G. Kissinger. Z. Brzezinski’s strategic concepts best meet the needs of preserving the global leadership role of the United States in the complex and contradictory world of the 21st century. The conclusions of the monograph brief why the hereditary generation of intellectual successors of the tradition of analysis of international relations, founded by Z. Brzezinski, was not formed clearly enough. These reasons include the declining interest in American society in grand strategy, the excessive social impact of the information technology sector and entertainment manufacturers, and the tendency toward self-destructive hostility among the American political establishment.

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RESUMO Este artigo recupera a crise nos anos 1960 nos Estados Unidos pela perspectiva de dois cientistas políticos críticos aos movimentos sociais e que tiveram destaque no debate político na década de 1970: Zbigniew Brzezinski (fundador da Comissão Trilateral e Conselheiro de Segurança Nacional do presidente Carter) e Samuel Huntington (editor e fundador da revista Foreign Policy e coordenador do Conselho de Segurança Nacional do mesmo governo). Com base em documentos encontrados em arquivos históricos e na obra dos autores, reconstrói o ponto de vista de ambos sobre a crise, o Vietnã, e os conflitos no interior do Partido Democrata. Os registros demonstram que eles eram contrários àqueles movimentos, mas buscaram absorver algumas de suas demandas. No pós-1968, Brzezinski e Huntington ajudaram a promover uma agenda de reformas, porém as demandas originais foram reformuladas e refreadas, inaugurando um projeto que representava simultaneamente a transformação e a conservação da ordem política.

Copyright of Revista da Faculdade de Letras: História is the property of Universidade do Porto, Faculdade de Letras and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Positive outcomes from undergraduate research experiences (UREs) have resulted in calls to broaden and diversify participation in research. However, we have little understanding of what demographics are reported and considered in the analyses of student outcomes from UREs. Without this information, it is impossible to assess whether participation in UREs has been diversified and how outcomes may vary by participant identity. Through a comprehensive literature search, we systematically identified 147 peer-reviewed research articles on student participation in UREs in the natural sciences, published between 2014 and 2020. We coded each paper to document which student demographic variables are reported and considered in analyses. The majority (88%) of articles on UREs reported at least one demographic variable and 62% incorporate demographics into their analyses, but demographics beyond gender and race/ethnicity were infrequently considered. Articles on independent research apprenticeships included demographics in their analyses more frequently than studies on course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs). Trends in reporting and analyzing demographics did not change from 2014 to 2020. Future efforts to collect these data will help assess whether goals to diversify UREs are being met and inform how to design UREs to meet the needs of diverse student groups.

This work aims to demonstrate the importance of geostrategic thinking developed by Zbigniew Brzezinski and his influence for the development of video games whose plot revolves around geopolitical issues. For this, we will analyze how Brzezinski's ideas were structured and how the games reflect the main guidelines outlined by this author. The game chosen was The Us and Them, because it was created to simulate the clash between the USSR and the USA during the cold war.

Abstract Background Cancer therapy is considered to cause accelerated ischemia. Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) measurement is an inexpensive, simple, available test for the early diagnosis of peripheral artery disease (PAD); however, it is not performed routinely. We aimed to evaluate the role of routine ABI measurement for the diagnosis of PAD among patients diagnosed with cancer and whether it correlates with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Methods A retrospective, single-center study including patients diagnosed with cancer at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center. The cohort included patients performing routine ABI and LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) echocardiography. The primary endpoint was the prevalence of PAD and whether it correlates with LV dysfunction, defined by LV GLS absolute value

The future of America and the world according to Zbigniew Brzezinski

Abstract Aerobic life is powered by membrane-bound redox enzymes that shuttle electrons to oxygen and transfer protons across a biological membrane. Structural studies suggest that these energy-transducing enzymes operate as higher-order supercomplexes, but their functional role remains poorly understood and highly debated. Here we resolve the functional dynamics of the 0.7 MDa III2IV2 obligate supercomplex from Mycobacterium smegmatis, a close relative of M. tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis. By combining computational, biochemical, and high-resolution (2.3 Å) cryo-electron microscopy experiments, we show how the mycobacterial supercomplex catalyses long-range charge transport from its menaquinol oxidation site to the binuclear active site for oxygen reduction. Our data reveal proton and electron pathways responsible for the charge transfer reactions, mechanistic principles of the quinone catalysis, and how unique molecular adaptations, water molecules, and lipid interactions enable the proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reactions. Our combined findings provide a mechanistic blueprint of mycobacterial supercomplexes and a basis for developing drugs against pathogenic bacteria.

Wojciech G Lesniak,1 Srikanth Boinapally,1 Gabriela Lofland,1 Zirui Jiang,1 Catherine A Foss,1 Babak Behman Azad,1 Anna Jablonska,1,2 Mauro A Garcia,1 Maria Brzezinski,1 Martin G Pomper1,3 1Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA; 2Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA; 3Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USACorrespondence: Wojciech G Lesniak, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA, Email wlesnia1@jhmi.eduIntroduction: Prostate cancer (PC) is the second most common cancer and the fifth most frequent cause of cancer death among men. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) expression is associated with aggressive PC, with expression in over 90% of patients with metastatic disease. Those characteristics have led to its use for PC diagnosis and therapies with radiopharmaceuticals, antibody-drug conjugates, and nanoparticles. Despite these advancements, none of the current therapeutics are curative and show some degree of toxicity. Here we present the synthesis and preclinical evaluation of a multimodal, PSMA-targeted dendrimer-drug conjugate (PT-DDC), synthesized using poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers. PT-DDC was designed to enable imaging of drug delivery, providing valuable insights to understand and enhance therapeutic response.Methods: The PT-DDC was synthesized through consecutive conjugation of generation-4 PAMAM dendrimers with maytansinoid-1 (DM1) a highly potent antimitotic agent, Cy5 infrared dye for optical imaging, 2,2′,2”-(1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triyl)triacetic acid (NOTA) chelator for radiolabeling with copper-64 and positron emission tomography tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), lysine-urea-glutamate (KEU) PSMA-targeting moiety and the remaining terminal primary amines were capped with butane-1,2-diol. Non-targeted control dendrimer-drug conjugate (Ctrl-DDC) was formulated without conjugation of KEU. PT-DDC and Ctrl-DDC were characterized using high-performance liquid chromatography, matrix assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry and dynamic light scattering. In vitro and in vivo evaluation of PT-DDC and Ctrl-DDC were carried out in isogenic human prostate cancer PSMA+ PC3 PIP and PSMA− PC3 flu cell lines, and in mice bearing the corresponding xenografts.Results: PT-DDC was stable in 1×PBS and human blood plasma and required glutathione for DM1 release. Optical, PET/CT and biodistribution studies confirmed the in vivo PSMA-specificity of PT-DDC. PT-DDC demonstrated dose-dependent accumulation and cytotoxicity in PSMA+ PC3 PIP cells, and also showed growth inhibition of the corresponding tumors. PT-DDC did not accumulate in PSMA− PC3 flu tumors and did not inhibit their growth. Ctrl-DDC did not show PSMA specificity.Conclusion: In this study, we synthesized a multimodal theranostic agent capable of delivering DM1 and a radionuclide to PSMA+ tumors. This approach holds promise for enhancing image-guided treatment of aggressive, metastatic subtypes of prostate cancer. Keywords: prostate cancer, PSMA, PAMAM dendrimer, targeted cancer treatment, theranostics

Abstract Plastic accumulation in the environment is rapidly increasing, and nanoplastics (NP), byproducts of environmental weathering of bulk plastic waste, pose a significant public health risk. Particles may enter the human body through many possible routes such as ingestion, inhalation, and skin absorption. However, studies on NP penetration and accumulation in human skin are limited. Loss or reduction of the keratinized skin barrier may enhance the skin penetration of NPs. The present study investigated the entry of NPs into a human skin system modeling skin with compromised barrier functions and cellular responses to the intracellular accumulations of NPs. Two in vitro models were employed to simulate human skin lacking keratinized barriers. The first model was an ex vivo human skin culture with the keratinized dermal layer (stratum corneum) removed. The second model was a 3D keratinocyte/dermal fibroblast cell co-culture model with stratified keratinocytes on the top and a monolayer of skin fibroblast cells co-cultured at the bottom. The penetration and accumulation of the NPs in different cell types were observed using fluorescent microscopy, confocal microscopy, and cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM). The cellular responses of keratinocytes and dermal fibroblast cells to stress induced by NPs stress were measured. The genetic regulatory pathway of keratinocytes to the intracellular NPs was identified using transcript analyses and KEGG pathway analysis. The cellular uptake of NPs by skin cells was confirmed by imaging analyses. Transepidermal transport and penetration of NPs through the skin epidermis were observed. According to the gene expression and pathway analyses, an IL-17 signaling pathway was identified as the trigger for cellular responses to internal NP accumulation in the keratinocytes. The transepidermal NPs were also found in co-cultured dermal fibroblast cells and resulted in a large-scale transition from fibroblast cells to myofibroblast cells with enhanced production of α-smooth muscle actin and pro-Collagen Ia. The upregulation of inflammatory factors and cell activation may result in skin inflammation and ultimately trigger immune responses.

El artículo analiza las posiciones de cuatro pensadores estadounidenses sobre los dilemas que enfrenta su país en el mantenimiento o en la transformación del presente sistema internacional. El autor interpreta esas posiciones a partir de dos ejes analíticos: el primero estudia el papel y el lugar específicos de Estados Unidos de América en un escenario internacional crecientemente globalizado, al que reconfiguran impredecibles dinámicas de cambio; el segundo, las alternativas que se le presentan a ese país para seguir ejerciendo una supremacía que, para algunos, se desvanece lenta pero indefectiblemente ante la confluencia de problemas internos y el fortalecimiento de nuevos polos de poder. Más allá de sus divergencias, los cuatro autores estudiados coinciden en que la gran potencia no podrá mantener su protagonismo si no es en los términos de una política de cooperación que incluya alianzas estratégicas y multilateralismo activo.

BackgroundElevated intracranial pressure (eICP) is a serious medical emergency that requires prompt identification and monitoring. The current gold standards of eICP detection require patient transportation, radiation, and can be invasive. Ocular ultrasound has emerged as a rapid, non-invasive, bedside tool to measure correlates of eICP. This systematic review seeks to explore the utility of ultrasound detected optic disc elevation (ODE) as an ultrasonographic finding of eICP and to study its sensitivity and specificity as a marker of eICP.MethodsThis systematic review followed the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines. We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central for English articles published before April 2023; yielding 1,919 total citations. After eliminating duplicates, and screening the records, we identified 29 articles that addressed ultrasonographically detected ODE.ResultsThe 29 articles included a total of 1249 adult and pediatric participants. In patients with papilledema, the mean ODE ranged between 0.6 mm and 1.2 mm. Proposed cutoff values for ODE ranged between 0.3 mm and 1 mm. The majority of studies reported a sensitivity between 70 and 90%, and specificity ranged from 69 to 100%, with a majority of studies reporting a specificity of 100%.ConclusionsODE and ultrasonographic characteristics of the optic disc may aid in differentiating papilledema from other conditions. Further research on ODE elevation and its correlation with other ultrasonographic signs is warranted as a means to increase the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound in the setting of eICP.

Book review of:Piotr L. Grotowski. Arms and Armour of the Warrior Saints: Tradition and Innovation in Byzantine Iconography (843-1261). Translated by Richard Brzezinski. Leiden, Boston: Brill, 2010. pp. XXV, 483. ISBN 978 90 04 18548 7.

IntroductionThe optimal pain management strategy after lung transplantation is unknown. This study compared analgesic outcomes of intercostal nerve blockade by cryoanalgesia (Cryo) versus thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA).MethodsSeventy-two patients who underwent bilateral lung transplantation via clamshell incision at our center from 2016 to 2018 were managed with TEA (N = 43) or Cryo (N = 29). We evaluated analgesic-specific complications, opioid use in oral morphine equivalents (OME), and pain scores (0-10) through postoperative day 7. Adjusted linear regression was used to assess for non-inferiority of Cryo to TEA.ResultsThe overall mean pain scores (Cryo 3.2 vs TEA 3.8, P = 0.21), maximum mean pain scores (Cryo 4.7 vs TEA 5.5, P = 0.16), and the total opioid use (Cryo 484 vs TEA 705 OME, P = 0.12) were similar in both groups, while the utilization of postoperative opioid-sparing analgesia, measured as use of lidocaine patches, was lower in the Cryo group (Cryo 21% vs TEA 84%, P