Motivace k myslivecké činnosti ve vztahu k osobnostním rysům

Organized hunting activity has become a phenomenon in the Czech Republic during the 20th century. Foreign studies aimed at hunting disclosed various motives for hunting (e. g. Hinrichs et al., 2021). Motivation is closely related to personality traits, so we were interested in the relation between hunting motives and personality traits in Czech hunters. Research was oriented to study which motivational tendencies are applied in the motivation for hunting and how they relate to each other. It was also examined whether there were differences between men and women in motivation. The crucial question was the relation between motives for hunting and personality traits. The sample consisted of 503 respondents, of whom 112 were women (22.27 %) and 391 were men (77.73 %). The sample was obtained using snowball technique, self-selection, and occasional selection. The data were obtained by the original Scale of hunting motives (Scale HM) and the HEXACO questionnaire (Ashton & Lee, 2009). The introductory questions concerned demographics and information about hunting activities. The Scale of hunting motives consists of 30 items. Respondents answer on a five point Likert scale. The questionnaire was inspired by the Volunteer Motivation Inventory (McEwin & Jacobsen -D’Arcy, 2002). The HEXACO questionnaire consists of 60 items. It measures six basic dimensions of personality (honesty–humility, emotionality, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience). The data was obtained electronically using Google forms. The analysis of principal components of Scale HM identified five motivational tendencies: appreciation (self -esteem); prestige (excitement); distraction (relaxation); aggression (hostility) and sharing (affiliation). Appreciation and sharing proved to be the dominant motives, while aggression was the weakest. The results show different relationships between motives and personality dimensions. Negative correlations are more common. The motive of prestige negatively correlates with honesty – humility, similarly to the motive of aggression, which also correlates with conscientiousness. The strongest positive correlation is between distraction and emotionality. Other significant correlations can be observed, but most of them are weak. The findings showed significant differences in motives between men and women. Compared to men, women have stronger motives for sharing and relaxing. The men above score in the prestige motive. The connections between hunting motives and personality dimensions are mostly consistent with how the dimensions of the HEXACO model are characterized (Ashton et al., 2000; Ashton & Lee, 2007). But we observe rather weaker relations of the examined variables, pointing out that greater role in developing the motives of hunters can be attributed to other factors. Limits of the research is the use of Scale of hunting motives, which is in development and additional psychometric verification is required. The internal consistency of multiple subscales does not reach the optimal value. The sample was large, which is an indisputable advantage. On the other hand, it was not a random selection, and this reduces the possibility of generalization of the results

Neural correlate of spatial presence in an arousing and noninteractive virtual reality: an EEG and psychophysiology study

Using electroencephalography (EEG), psychophysiology, and psychometric measures, this is the first study which investigated the neurophysiological underpinnings of spatial presence. Spatial presence is considered a sense of being physically situated within a spatial environment portrayed by a medium (e.g., television, virtual reality). Twelve healthy children and 11 healthy adolescents were watching different virtual roller coaster scenarios. During a control session, the roller coaster cab drove through a horizontal roundabout track. The following realistic roller coaster rides consisted of spectacular ups, downs, and loops. Low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (LORETA) and event-related desynchronization (ERD) were used to analyze the EEG data. As expected, we found that, compared to the control condition, experiencing a virtual roller coaster ride evoked in both groups strong SP experiences, increased electrodermal reactions, and activations in parietal brain areas known to be involved in spatial navigation. In addition, brain areas that receive homeostatic afferents from somatic and visceral sensations of the body were strongly activated. Most interesting, children (as compared to adolescents) reported higher spatial presence experiences and demonstrated a different frontal activation pattern. While adolescents showed increased activation in prefrontal areas known to be involved in the control of executive functions, children demonstrated a decreased activity in these brain regions. Interestingly, recent neuroanatomical and neurophysiological studies have shown that the frontal brain continues to develop to adult status well into adolescence. Thus, the result of our study implies that the increased spatial presence experience in children may result from the not fully developed control functions of the frontal cortex

Biomechanical testing of a polymer-based biomaterial for the restoration of spinal stability after nucleotomy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Surgery for disc herniations can be complicated by two major problems: painful degeneration of the spinal segment and re-herniation. Therefore, we examined an absorbable poly-glycolic acid (PGA) biomaterial, which was lyophilized with hyaluronic acid (HA), for its utility to (a) re-establish spinal stability and to (b) seal annulus fibrosus defects. The biomechanical properties range of motion (ROM), neutral zone (NZ) and a potential annulus sealing capacity were investigated.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Seven bovine, lumbar spinal units were tested in vitro for ROM and NZ in three consecutive stages: (a) intact, (b) following nucleotomy and (c) after insertion of a PGA/HA nucleus-implant. For biomechanical testing, spinal units were mounted on a loading-simulator for spines. In three cycles, axial loading was applied in an excentric mode with 0.5 Nm steps until an applied moment of ± 7.5 Nm was achieved in flexion/extension. ROM and NZ were assessed. These tests were performed without and with annulus sealing by sewing a PGA/HA annulus-implant into the annulus defect.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Spinal stability was significantly impaired after nucleotomy (p < 0.001). Intradiscal implantation of a PGA-HA nucleus-implant, however, restored spinal stability (p < 0.003). There was no statistical difference between the stability provided by the nucleus-implant and the intact stage regarding flexion/extension movements (p = 0.209). During the testing sequences, herniation of biomaterial through the annulus defect into the spinal canal regularly occurred, resulting in compression of neural elements. Sewing a PGA/HA annulus-implant into the annulus defect, however, effectively prevented herniation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>PGA/HA biomaterial seems to be well suited for cell-free and cell-based regenerative treatment strategies in spinal surgery. Its abilities to restore spinal stability and potentially close annulus defects open up new vistas for regenerative approaches to treat intervertebral disc degeneration and for preventing implant herniation.</p

A new shoe sole technology that transfers the ground composition to the sole of the foot : a user experience evaluation

Introduction: Neither comfortable, shock-absorbing shoes nor minimal shoes do stimulate the mechanoreceptors of the sole of the foot. This lack of stimulation leads to worse proprioception, poor posture and risk of injuries [1] A new sole technology is introduced, which transfers the ground composition to the sole of the foot and may provide enough stability through an integrated footbed (Figure1). Methods: The stimuli transmitting shoe sole technology is performed mechanically. The shoe sole consists of hard plastic balls, which are pushed towards the sole of the foot due to uneven surfaces (Figure2). This technologies’ user experience was evaluated. The tests consisted of a two-week user study that evaluated three shoe sole in daily life as well as a one-hour monitored parcourse evaluating the shoe sole on specific grounds. All participants were healthy with shoe size EU38-43. The user study included 20 participants (Ø 64 years). Additionally, 10 persons (Ø 41 years) participated in the parcourse. Questionnaires covered intensity of sensory transmission, general walking comfort and complaints and the effect of the ground composition on comfort. Answering options were on a Likert scale as well as open questions. Results & Discussion Intensity: Most of the participants rated the stimulus transmission as very or rather strong. Nobody rated it as very weak. In the parcourse, the strongest sensation was on coarse stones and pavement transitions, followed by the forest floor (Figure3). Comfort & complaints: The majority perceived the shoe sole as very or rather comfortable. Participants perceived the stimuli strongest in the forefoot, where also most of the complaints occurred. The complaints were reported as tired feet, pain, pressure and burning feet, and occurred roughly every third day. Conclusions: All participants perceived the stimuli transmission of the shoe sole. However, the product polarizes. While some considered the stimuli as comfortable, others found them too strong. The forefoot was the part with the strongest stimuli sensation, but also with the most complaints

A Missense Change in the ATG4D Gene Links Aberrant Autophagy to a Neurodegenerative Vacuolar Storage Disease

Inherited neurodegenerative disorders are debilitating diseases that occur across different species. We have performed clinical, pathological and genetic studies to characterize a novel canine neurodegenerative disease present in the Lagotto Romagnolo dog breed. Affected dogs suffer from progressive cerebellar ataxia, sometimes accompanied by episodic nystagmus and behavioral changes. Histological examination revealed unique pathological changes, including profound neuronal cytoplasmic vacuolization in the nervous system, as well as spheroid formation and cytoplasmic aggregation of vacuoles in secretory epithelial tissues and mesenchymal cells. Genetic analyses uncovered a missense change, c.1288G>A; p.A430T, in the autophagy-related ATG4D gene on canine chromosome 20 with a highly significant disease association (p = 3.8 x 10(-136)) in a cohort of more than 2300 Lagotto Romagnolo dogs. ATG4D encodes a poorly characterized cysteine protease belonging to themacroautophagy pathway. Accordingly, our histological analyses indicated altered autophagic flux in affected tissues. The knockdown of the zebrafish homologue atg4da resulted in a widespread developmental disturbance and neurodegeneration in the central nervous system. Our study describes a previously unknown canine neurological disease with particular pathological features and implicates the ATG4D protein as an important autophagy mediator in neuronal homeostasis. The canine phenotype serves as a model to delineate the disease-causing pathological mechanism(s) and ATG4D function, and can also be used to explore treatment options. Furthermore, our results reveal a novel candidate gene for human neurodegeneration and enable the development of a genetic test for veterinary diagnostic and breeding purposes.Peer reviewe

Familial hypercholesterolaemia in children and adolescents from 48 countries: a cross-sectional study

Background: Approximately 450 000 children are born with familial hypercholesterolaemia worldwide every year, yet only 2·1% of adults with familial hypercholesterolaemia were diagnosed before age 18 years via current diagnostic approaches, which are derived from observations in adults. We aimed to characterise children and adolescents with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (HeFH) and understand current approaches to the identification and management of familial hypercholesterolaemia to inform future public health strategies. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, we assessed children and adolescents younger than 18 years with a clinical or genetic diagnosis of HeFH at the time of entry into the Familial Hypercholesterolaemia Studies Collaboration (FHSC) registry between Oct 1, 2015, and Jan 31, 2021. Data in the registry were collected from 55 regional or national registries in 48 countries. Diagnoses relying on self-reported history of familial hypercholesterolaemia and suspected secondary hypercholesterolaemia were excluded from the registry; people with untreated LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) of at least 13·0 mmol/L were excluded from this study. Data were assessed overall and by WHO region, World Bank country income status, age, diagnostic criteria, and index-case status. The main outcome of this study was to assess current identification and management of children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolaemia. Findings: Of 63 093 individuals in the FHSC registry, 11 848 (18·8%) were children or adolescents younger than 18 years with HeFH and were included in this study; 5756 (50·2%) of 11 476 included individuals were female and 5720 (49·8%) were male. Sex data were missing for 372 (3·1%) of 11 848 individuals. Median age at registry entry was 9·6 years (IQR 5·8-13·2). 10 099 (89·9%) of 11 235 included individuals had a final genetically confirmed diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolaemia and 1136 (10·1%) had a clinical diagnosis. Genetically confirmed diagnosis data or clinical diagnosis data were missing for 613 (5·2%) of 11 848 individuals. Genetic diagnosis was more common in children and adolescents from high-income countries (9427 [92·4%] of 10 202) than in children and adolescents from non-high-income countries (199 [48·0%] of 415). 3414 (31·6%) of 10 804 children or adolescents were index cases. Familial-hypercholesterolaemia-related physical signs, cardiovascular risk factors, and cardiovascular disease were uncommon, but were more common in non-high-income countries. 7557 (72·4%) of 10 428 included children or adolescents were not taking lipid-lowering medication (LLM) and had a median LDL-C of 5·00 mmol/L (IQR 4·05-6·08). Compared with genetic diagnosis, the use of unadapted clinical criteria intended for use in adults and reliant on more extreme phenotypes could result in 50-75% of children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolaemia not being identified. Interpretation: Clinical characteristics observed in adults with familial hypercholesterolaemia are uncommon in children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolaemia, hence detection in this age group relies on measurement of LDL-C and genetic confirmation. Where genetic testing is unavailable, increased availability and use of LDL-C measurements in the first few years of life could help reduce the current gap between prevalence and detection, enabling increased use of combination LLM to reach recommended LDL-C targets early in life