The motivation of students toward learning is the important part of educational process. Main aim of the study is to realize psychometric validation of the Slovak version AMS – HS28 (Academic Motivation Scale – High School version) questionnaire, which was developed by Vallerand et al. (1992). This research tool contained seven scales, three of them were focused on intrinsic motivation, three of them on extrinsic motivation and one was focused on amotivation. The sample size was created by 201 high school students. The statistical analysis included the determination of internal consistency of questionnaire through Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and also confirmatory factor analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a seven-factor theoretical model and values of alpha coefficient showed on the internal consistency of whole questionnaire and also of all factors. and Motivácia žiakov k učeniu je významnou súčasťou edukačného procesu. Hlavným cieľom štúdie je realizovať psychometrické overenie slovenskej verzie dotazníku AMS – HS28 (Academic Motivation Scale – High School version), ktorá bola navrhnutá autormi Vallerand et al. (1992). Výskumný nástroj obsahoval sedem škál, tri boli zamerané na vonkajšiu motiváciu, tri na vnútornú a jedna na amotiváciu. Výskumného šetrenia sa zúčastnilo 201 žiakov stredných škôl. Štatistické spracovanie zahrňovalo stanovenie vnútornej konzistencie dotazníka prostredníctvom koeficientu Cronbachovo alfa, a ďalej konfirmačnú faktorovú analýzu. Konfirmačná faktorová analýza potvrdila sedemfaktorový teoretický model a hodnoty koeficientu alfa poukázali na vnútornú konzistenciu tak celého dotazníka, ako aj jednotlivých faktorov.
Reflex bleeding is one of the many anti-predation behavioural tactics used by insects. This behaviour is recorded widely in several insect taxa and provides scientists with an interesting opportunity for easily obtaining samples of haemolymph for physiological experiments. However, there is no good evidence that haemolymph and reflex blood have the same characteristics. In this study, we compared three basic characteristics of reflex blood and haemolymph collected from the body cavity, of three species of ladybirds: Harmonia axyridis, Coccinella septempunctata and Ceratomegilla undecimnotata. In the reflex blood we recorded the same concentration of haemocytes and total protein, and level of antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli as in samples of haemolymph collected from within the body cavity. Therefore, reflex blood is a promising source of haemolymph for use in many physiological and immunological studies. It is the best way of collecting haemolymph if one wants to avoid challenging the immune system and concurrently also enables one to repeatedly collect haemolymph from one individual without injuring it, which would initiate repair mechanisms. The interspecific comparison indicates significant differences among the species studied in three characteristics measured. Interestingly, the native species Ceratomegilla undecimnotata has nearly as effective immune system as the invasive Harmonia axyridis based on the level of antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli.
The expectation is that the phenology of an herbivore is influenced by abiotic factors and its own population density during development. In this study, we investigated how the pupal density affected the pupal traits and emergence of Thaumetopoea pityocampa moths over a period of 3 years in two clearings in a pine forest. The pupae were larger in years when the pupal density was high and in the clearing exposed to less solar radiation. There was no relationship between the time of pupation and pupal size. Large pupae were positively correlated with an early emergence of adult moths and a longer period of adult emergence. Up to 13.9% of the pupae developed without cocoons, especially in years when they were abundant, but this did not affect the emergence of the moths. Incidence of pupal diapause was density-dependent and only occurred at a low level in dense populations. Overall, our results indicate that gregariousness confers important fitness-related advantages in this species.
Proper renal blood flow (RBF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
are critical for maintaining normal blood pressure, kidney
function and water and electrolyte homeostasis. The renal
microvasculature expresses a multitude of receptors mediating
vasodilation and vasoconstriction, which can influence glomerular
blood flow and capillary pressure. Despite this, RBF and GFR
remain quite stable when arterial pressure fluctuates because of
the autoregulatory mechanism. ATP and adenosine participate in
autoregulatory control of RBF and GFR via activation of two
different purinoceptor families (P1 and P2). Purinoceptors are
widely expressed in renal microvasculature and tubules.
Emerging data show altered purinoceptor signaling in
hypertension-associated kidney injury, diabetic nephropathy,
sepsis, ischemia-reperfusion induced acute kidney injury and
polycystic kidney disease. In this brief review, we highlight recent
studies and new insights on purinoceptors regulating renal
microvascular function and renal hemodynamics. We also
address the mechanisms underlying renal microvascular injury
and impaired renal autoregulation, focusing on purinoceptor
signaling and hypertension-induced renal microvascular
dysfunction. Interested readers are directed to several excellent
and comprehensive reviews that recently covered the topics of
renal autoregulation, and nucleotides in kidney function under
physiological and pathophysiological conditions (Inscho 2009,
Navar et al. 2008, Carlstrom et al. 2015, Vallon et al. 2020).
Colour pattern influences behaviour and affects survival of organisms through perception of light reflectance. Spectrophotometric methods used to study colour optimise precision and accuracy of reflectance across wavelengths, while multiband photographs are generally used to assess the complexity of colour patterns. Using standardised photographs of sand lizards (Lacerta agilis), we compare how colours characterised using point measurements (using the photographs, but simulating spectrophotometry) on the skin differ from colours estimated by clustering pixels in the photograph of the lizard's body. By taking photographs in the laboratory and in the field, the experimental design included two 2-way comparisons. We compare point vs. colour clustering characterisation and influence of illumination in the laboratory and in the field. We found that point measurements adequately represented the dominant colour of the lizard. Where colour patterning influenced measurement geometry, image analysis outperformed point measurement with respect to stability between technical replicates on the same animal. The greater colour variation derived from point measurements increased further under controlled laboratory illumination. Both methods revealed lateral colour asymmetry in sand lizards, i.e. that colours subtly differed between left and right flank. We conclude that studies assessing the impact of colour on animal ecology and behaviour should utilise hyperspectral imaging, followed by image analysis that encompasses the whole colour pattern.
Reproduction and wing patterns (shape and colouration) in Polygonia c-aureum L. (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) are regulated by both photoperiod and temperature experienced during the immature stages, which result in the development of summer or autumn forms. The critical day length for this seasonal change in form was 13.5L : 10.5D at 21°C and 13L : 11D at 25°C. We investigated the connection between seasonal form and female reproduction. Under a 15L : 9D photoperiod at 21°C, reproductively active summer form butterflies are produced, whereas under an 8L : 16D photoperiod at 21°C autumn form butterflies with a strong tendency to enter diapause were produced. On the other hand, under the critical day lengths at 21 or 25°C, autumn form butterflies developed with a weak tendency to enter diapause. When the adult butterflies were transferred from a critical or a short photoperiod to a long photoperiod shortly after emergence, the former were more likely to terminate diapause than the latter. If individuals are reared throughout their entire life cycle under a short photoperiod at 21°C, all the adults have a strong tendency to enter diapause. These results reveal the quantitative effects of photoperiod on diapause in this butterfly and strongly indicate that the determination of the autumn form and induction and maintenance of diapause are not rigidly coupled, at least under laboratory conditions.
In this paper, I make the case for voluntary euthanasia of adults. My position is that this kind of euthanasia can be rationally justified. Firstly, I present an argument in favour of rationality of suicide and propose a set of general conditions for a rational suicide. Secondly, I argue that if suicide can be rational, then euthanasia can be rational. Then I anticipate counter-arguments against my position and suggest their refutations. I answer the following objections: that i) it is not possible to preferentially compare life and death and prefer the latter; that ii) it is not possible for life to not be worth living; and that iii) the judgement, that life is not worth living, is necessarily irrational. Concerning objection i) I show that it is possible to preferentially compare life and death and prefer the latter; concerning ii) I show that two possible justifications for this objection are untenable; and concerning iii) I show that three possible justifications for this objection are untenable. Finally, I conclude that euthanasia can be rational., V tomto článku obhajujem názor, že dobrovoľná eutanázia dospelých môže byť racionálna. Najprv ponúknem argument v prospech racionálnosti sebausmrtenia a následne navrhnem všeobecnú sadu podmienok pre racionálne sebausmrtenie. Potom argumentujem, že ak môže byť sebausmrtenie racionálne, tak aj eutanázia môže byť racionálna. Následne anticipujem námietky a reagujem na ne. Odpovedám na námietky, že i) nie je možné preferenčne porovnávať život a smrť a preferovať smrť; že ii) nie je možné, aby život nebol hoden žitia; a že ii) súd, že život nie je hoden žitia, je nevyhnutne iracionálny. Ohľadom námietky i) ukazujem, že je možné preferenčne porovnávať medzi životom a smrťou a preferovať smrť, ohľadom ii) ukazujem, že dva možné spôsoby zdôvodnenia tejto námietky nie sú udržateľné a ohľadom iii) ukazujem, že tri možné spôsoby zdôvodnenia tejto námietky nie sú udržateľné. Nakoniec uzatváram, že eutanázia môže byť racionálna., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
The aim of this study was to assess the effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF EMF) on heart rate variability (HRV) in rabbits with intensity slightly exceeding the limits for occupations. Totally 21 New Zealand white rabbits divided into two groups were used in this double-blind study. The first group of animals without general anesthesia was subjected to HRV examination under exposure to a device generated RF EMF source (frequency 1788 MHz, intensity 160 V/m, lasting 150 min.). The second group (premedications + α chloralose mg/kg) underwent the same protocol under the exposure to the real RF EMF signal from the base stations of mobile providers (frequency range 1805 - 1870 MHz - corresponding to the downlink signal of Slovak mobile providers, 160 V/m, 150 min., respectively). Individual 5-min records were used to analyze the HRV parameters: heart rate and root Mean Square of the Successive Differences (rMSSD) for time domain analysis and spectral powers in the low (LF-VFS) and high frequency (HF-VFS) bands for frequency domain analysis. Our study revealed the increased in HRV parameters (HF-HRV, rMSSD) associated with lower heart rate indicating increased cardiac vagal control under the exposure to RF EMF in experimental methods., Jakub Misek, Marcel Veterník, Ingrid Tonhajzerova, Viera Jakusova, Ladislav Janousek, Jan Jakus., and Obsahuje bibliografii