Objectives. The main aim of this study was to qualitatively explore the general population’s understanding of forgiveness with regard to its definition, factors, and effects. The special focus of the study was on comparing the views on forgiveness by two generations, young adults, and seniors. Participants and setting. Semi-structured interviews were done with 20 participants from two age groups: ten young adults aged 21 to 29 years (M = 23.4, SD = 2.79) and ten seniors aged 61 to 68 years (M = 64, SD = 2.47). Research questions. Research questions were focused on examining how laypersons conceptualize forgiveness; notably, how they view the factors and effects of forgiveness. It was also explored whether there are any specifics and differences in the views on forgiveness between young adults and seniors. Data analysis. The data obtained from semi-structured interviews were analyzed by Consensual Qualitative Research (Hill et al., 2005). Results. For most individuals in both generations, the basis of forgiveness was letting go of anger and pain. The most significant factor positively related to forgiveness was an apology and admitting the mistake. The most noteworthy negative factor was the depth of the hurt. Individuals perceive positive consequences of forgiveness, especially on their mental health and strengthening their relationships. It seems that young adults perceive forgiveness more as an interpersonal process, while seniors perceive it more as an internal process of an individual. Study limitations. The use of qualitative methodology and the sample size limit the generalization of the findings and comparing two samples at the level of statistical significance. Participants may have had various experiences dealing with hurt and forgiveness throughout their lives which could have influenced their views on forgiveness. Implications. Gaining a deeper understanding of how young adults and seniors understand forgiveness and its effects, what they perceive as helpful or blocking in their forgiving, can help counselors and therapists to improve their interventions aimed at promoting forgiveness., Ciele. Hlavným cieľom štúdie bola kvalitatívna analýza vnímania odpustenia u laickej populácie s ohľadom na jeho definíciu, faktory a dôsledky odpustenia. Vedľajším cieľom štúdie bolo porovnanie názorov na odpustenie u dvoch generácií, mladých dospelých a seniorov.Metóda. 20 participantov dvoch vekových skupín, desať mladých dospelých vo veku 21 až 29 rokov (M = 23,4, SD = 2,79) a desať seniorov vo veku 61 až 68 rokov (M = 64, SD = 2,47) absolvovali pološtrukturované rozhovory. Výskumné otázky. Výskumné otázky boli zamerané na vnímanie odpustenia u laickej po-pulácie; špecificky na vnímanie faktorov a dôsledkov odpustenia. Skúmané boli špecifiká a rozdiely v nazeraní na odpustenie u mladých dospelých a seniorov. Analýza dát. Dáta z pološtrukturovaných rozhovorov boli analyzované pomocou Konsenzuálneho kvalitatívneho výskumu (Hill et al., 2005). Výsledky. Pre väčšinu jednotlivcov oboch generácií bolo základom odpustenia pustenie hnevu a bolesti. Najdôležitejším faktorom pozitívne súvisiacim s odpustením bolo ospravedlnenie a priznanie chyby. Najvýznamnejším blokujúcim faktorom odpustenia bola hĺbka zranenia. Jednotlivci popisovali pozitívne dôsledky odpustenia, predovšetkých na ich psychické zdravie a posilnenie vzťahov. Zdá sa, že mladí dospelí vnímajú odpustenie viac ako interpersonálny proces, kým seniori ho vnímajú viac ako interný proces jednotlivca. Limitácie. Použitie kvalitatívnej metodológie a veľkosť výskumného súboru neumožňujú zovšeobecnenie výsledkov alebo porovnanie dvoch skupín na úrovni štatistickej signifikancie. Participanti mohli mať rôzne skúseností so zraneniami a odpustením v priebehu života, čo mohlo ovplyvniť ich postoje k odpusteniu. Implikácie. Získanie bližšieho porozumenia tomu, ako mladí dospelí a seniori koncipujú odpustenie, čo vnímajú ako nápomocné a rizikové v odpustení a ako popisujú jeho dôsledky, môže pomôcť poradcom a terapeutom k zlepšeniu intervencií zameraných na podporu odpustenia., Lucia Záhorcová, Božena Zelenáková., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
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
Knowledge of the patterns in the spatial distribution of species provides valuable information about the factors (resources and environment) that regulate the use of space by animals. Typically, the distribution of litter-dwelling scorpions in Atlantic forests is correlated with the structure of their microhabitats, although to better understand their natural history more studies on the patterns in their use of space are required. Therefore, we investigated the effect of rainfall on the patterns in the spatial distributions and population densities of two sympatric species of scorpion, Tityus (Archaeotityus) pusillus Pocock 1893 and Ananteris mauryi Lourenço 1982 in a fragment of Atlantic Forest in Brazil. The study was carried out during the dry (September) and rainy (June) months. We collected 501 individuals (268 T. (A.) pusillus and 233 A. mauryi) by actively searching at night using UV lanterns. We found that the spatial distribution and population density of T. (A.) pusillus, but not A. mauryi, were significantly affected by rainfall, with T. (A.) pusillus individuals showing a clumped pattern during the rainy month and random distribution in the dry month. We also found a different response in the population densities of the two species, with T. (A.) pusillus but not A. mauryi being affected by rainfall. Our results indicate that, although co-habiting in leaf litter, these species respond differently to rainfall, which affects their spatial distribution and abundance in this habitat., Gabriela Cavalcanti Silva de Gusmão Santos, Welton Dionisio-Da-Silva, João Pedro Souza-Alves, Cleide Maria Ribeiro de Albuquerque, André Felipe de Araujo Lira., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Congenital lung masses (CLM) the rare group of causes of acute respiratory insufficiency (RI) in newborns include congenital airway pulmonary malformation (CAPM), congenital overinflation, bronchopulmonary sequestration, and bronchial atresia. The presenting group consists of 13 newborns who were admitted to the Neonatal Department of Intensive Medicine (NDIM) during January 1st 2015-December 31st 2019 (8 males, 5 females, 2 premature/11 term newborns, spontaneous delivery: 2, caesarean section: 11) with positive prenatal diagnosis of CAPM in all cases. In 2 cases prenatal intervention was performed (drainage of the amniotic fluid, attempt of thoracentesis). Signs of acute RI immediately after delivery were seen in 5 newborns. Postnatal echocardiographic investigation confirmed the presence of increased pulmonary pressure in 8 patients, no patient had congenital heart abnormality. A thorax x-ray was positive also in asymptomatic patients. Computed tomography in patients brought detailed information about the position, size and character of CAPM. Six patients underwent surgery. In 15.4 % right lungs were affected by cystic malformation and in 23 % left lungs were affected. A final diagnosis of CAPM was confirmed in 5 patients using histopathologic examination. Multidisciplinary cooperation during prenatal as well as postnatal period is necessary.