Research on citizens’ behavior in relation to the use of re-use centers and re-use points

The article explores the attitudes and behavior of Czech consumers aged 18+ towards the adoption of secondhand goods within the framework of the circular economy. While the European Union’s Circular economy action plan emphasizes sustainable production and consumption, consumer resistance to re-used goods remains a barrier. The exploratory study aims to identify the perception/attitude/relationship of the Czech population towards the purchase of used items. Detailed knowledge of the customer is an elementary base for the market of re-used products to grow. The research objective is divided into three partial objectives: identifying the main customer segments in secondhand markets, evaluating the reasons for and against purchasing re- used items, and assessing the perceived suitability of various product categories for secondhand trading. Conducted in June 2024, the research involved an online survey of 1,300 respondents across the Czech Republic. Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior (TPB) was employed to structure the questionnaire, while data analysis utilized Pearson’s χ²-test of independence to examine relationships between categorical variables. In some instances, complementary methods were employed. The findings indicate that younger consumers and those actively employed are more inclined to purchase re-used goods, while older individuals and pensioners show higher reluctance. Cars, art, and books were viewed as highly suitable for secondhand markets, whereas casual footwear was ranked lower. The results also suggest that Czech consumers are generally open to the secondhand market and each product category has corresponding group of customers who find the product suitable to sell. This research contributes to the literature on the circular economy by highlighting how targeted business and marketing strategies can address consumer resistance, ultimately fostering sustainable consumption

Spatial perspective taking is impaired in spinocerebellar ataxias and Friedreich ataxia

Abstract Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA) are rare neurodegenerative diseases affecting the cerebellum and its connections, leading to progressive motor disability and cognitive impairment as part of the cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome. Spatial navigation, cognitive function important for everyday movement, relies on spatial perspective taking—the ability to imagine the environment from different viewpoints. While animal and neuroimaging studies suggest a crucial role of the cerebellum in spatial navigation, research on patients with cerebellar disorders is lacking. This study aimed to investigate perspective taking in patients with SCA and Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) using two tests. The Perspective-Taking/Spatial Orientation Test (PTSOT) was administered to 30 SCA patients, 30 FRDA patients, and 34 healthy controls (HC). In addition, SCA and HC completed the Directional-approach Task and a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. SCA patients performed significantly worse than HC on both perspective taking tests. FRDA patients performed better than SCA and differed from HC only in a subset of PTSOT measures. Perspective taking performance in SCA was associated with global cognition and multiple cognitive domains but not with cerebellar motor impairment. These findings are of potential clinical relevance, as spatial navigation deficits are known to negatively affect the mobility and independence of the affected individuals. Our findings expand the understanding of cognitive impairments in cerebellar diseases, adding spatial navigation to the spectrum of the cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome