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Biological and social predictors and correlates of human morality
Kopecký, Robin
In this dissertation, we delve into the multifaceted domains of biological and social factors influencing human morality. The connecting element of this collection of four studies is both an interest in human morality as a traditional philosophical topic and the use of methods from empirical sciences, particularly biology, behavioural, and cognitive sciences. The first study focuses on the moral algorithms in autonomous vehicles. We examined moral preferences regarding the choice between software types that differ in their built-in algorithms for dealing with lethal collisions. These are categorized into three specific types: selfish, altruistic, and conservative. Respondents exhibited a preference for the altruistic strategy, which is reinforced when signalled to others. The altruistic preference is the most pronounced when it applies to everybody else, weaker when it reflects only a personal choice, and the weakest when choosing for one's own child. We conclude that making a choice public significantly sways individuals towards a more socially beneficial solution. The second study investigates the relationship between parasite Toxoplasma gondii infection and its subsequent impact on human political beliefs and values. Infected participants exhibited a tendency towards heightened tribalism and...
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Biological and social predictors and correlates of human morality
Kopecký, Robin ; Flegr, Jaroslav (advisor) ; Špinka, Marek (referee) ; Houdek, Petr (referee)
In this dissertation, we delve into the multifaceted domains of biological and social factors influencing human morality. The connecting element of this collection of four studies is both an interest in human morality as a traditional philosophical topic and the use of methods from empirical sciences, particularly biology, behavioural, and cognitive sciences. The first study focuses on the moral algorithms in autonomous vehicles. We examined moral preferences regarding the choice between software types that differ in their built-in algorithms for dealing with lethal collisions. These are categorized into three specific types: selfish, altruistic, and conservative. Respondents exhibited a preference for the altruistic strategy, which is reinforced when signalled to others. The altruistic preference is the most pronounced when it applies to everybody else, weaker when it reflects only a personal choice, and the weakest when choosing for one's own child. We conclude that making a choice public significantly sways individuals towards a more socially beneficial solution. The second study investigates the relationship between parasite Toxoplasma gondii infection and its subsequent impact on human political beliefs and values. Infected participants exhibited a tendency towards heightened tribalism and...
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Knowledge of Pupils Secondary School in the Area of Selected Zoonoses
Svobodová, Barbora ; Pavlasová, Lenka (advisor) ; Říhová, Dagmar (referee)
The subject of the dissertation deals with the secondary school pupil's awareness of zoonoses. Zoonoses are the diseases transmited from animals to human beings. Those are one of the topics of biology study currently. The main aim of the dissertation is theoretical definition of the matter in the first place. For knowledge testing have been chosen these four illness: Toxoplasmosis, Lyme boreliossis, Rabies and Creuzfeldt-Jakobo disease. With these chosen illness the main research goal is to provide a comprehensive collection of information about the details such as disease transfer, spread of the disease, disease development, cure and avoidance. The research part of the dissertation tries to find out the extent of knowledge about the chosen kinds of zoonoses among the pupils at specialized secondary schools. As a tool of quantitative research has been used a pupil's didactic test. As based on the evaluated results we may say that the pupil's knowledge at explored schools is relatively satisfactory.
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Knowledge of Pupils Secondary School in the Area of Selected Zoonoses
Svobodová, Barbora ; Pavlasová, Lenka (advisor) ; Říhová, Dagmar (referee)
The subject of the dissertation deals with the secondary school pupil's awareness of zoonoses. Zoonoses are the diseases transmited from animals to human beings. Those are one of the topics of biology study currently. The main aim of the dissertation is theoretical definition of the matter in the first place. For knowledge testing have been chosen these four illness: Toxoplasmosis, Lyme boreliossis, Rabies and Creuzfeldt-Jakobo disease. With these chosen illness the main research goal is to provide a comprehensive collection of information about the details such as disease transfer, spread of the disease, disease development, cure and avoidance. The research part of the dissertation tries to find out the extent of knowledge about the chosen kinds of zoonoses among the pupils at specialized secondary schools. As a tool of quantitative research has been used a pupil's didactic test. As based on the evaluated results we may say that the pupil's knowledge at explored schools is relatively satisfactory.
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Influence of latent toxoplasmosis on sex ratio and pregnancy progression - search for proximate cause
Kaňková, Šárka ; Flegr, Jaroslav (advisor) ; Votýpka, Jan (referee) ; Calda, Pavel (referee)
The boy-to-girl ratio at birth (secondary sex ratio) is around 1.06 in most populations. The sex ratio may be influenced by many factors, such as stress and immunosuppression, age of parents, parity and sex of preceding siblings. The most common human protozoan parasite in developed countries, Toxoplasma gondii (prevalence 20% - 80%), is known to change the behaviour of its intermediate hosts, thereby increasing the probability of transmission to its definitive host (the cat) by predation. The results of our retrospective cohort study suggest that the presence of Toxoplasma gondii, can influence the secondary sex ratio in humans. Depending on the antibody concentration, the probability of the birth of a boy can increase up to a value of 0.72, which means that for every 260 boys born, 100 girls are born to women with the highest concentration of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies. In accordance with results on human subjects, laboratory mice with toxoplasmosis produced a higher sex ratio than controls, in the early phase of latent infection. Our further results showed that mice in the early phase of latent infection exhibited temporarily increased production of interleukin (IL)-12 and decreased production of IL-10. The mice showed decreased production of IL-2 and nitric oxide and decreased proliferation...
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Injuries caused by an animal in the pre-hospital emergency care and subsequent outpatient care
VOTRUBOVÁ, Kateřina
The topic of this bachelor thesis is the various types of injuries from animals in prehosptial emergency care and their subsequent treatment in outpatient clinics. The theoretical section includes the summary of possible predicaments, which various animals cause. It discusses anaphylactic reaction to insect stings and furthermore the poisoning by snake venom, which in the Czech Republic primarily concerns the common viper (otherwise known as the common adder). The next chapter deals with the illnesses caused by cats, specifically cat scratch disease (lymphadenopathy) and toxoplasmosis with acute childbirth. The acute condition caused by dog bites and rabies belong to the next section of the thesis. In the conclusion a brief summary of injuries is mentioned, which are a threat during the handling of domestic animals, where the thesis focuses on the polytraumatized patient, fractures and cranio-cerebral injuries. The practical section was carried out on two qualitative levels in the Central Bohemian Region in connection with the Region of the Capital City, Prague and the Southern Bohemian Region. The first of these was the verification of knowledge of paramedics about injuries caused by animals through a knowledge test, comprising of ten questions. These questionnaires were always filled in my presence. In total 40 knowledge tests were distributed, of which 38 were returned completed. The return rate was thus 95%. The second section determined the differences in outpatient care in the individual regions. It was carried out through managed interviews with outpatient medical doctors from the surgical and internal medicine departments, a traumatologist, general practitioner and paediatrician. In total, eight medical doctors were approached. Furthermore an identical questionnaire was given to all these medical doctors. The research was carried out from November 2013 to April 2014. The aim of this thesis is to ascertain the knowledge about these injuries of paramedics in the Central Bohemian Region in connection with Region of the Capital City, Prague and the Southern Bohemian Region and compare them. Furthermore, it intends to find the difference in outpatient care of patients in the same territorial units injured in this way. Three research questions were asked, specifically to the mid-level health services personnel, whether paramedics have the correct knowledge about this issue and whether their knowledge varied in the regions. Regarding the second aim, the question asked was whether outpatient care of injured patients varied in the relevant regions.
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Serological diagnosis of toxoplasmosis
KAASOVÁ, Eliška
Toxoplasmosis caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma Gondii is one of the most widespread parasitic infection in the world, occurring in organism of both warm-blooded animals and humans. The majority of healthy individuals have no symptoms, in some cases there are slight clinical signs. However, serious heath complications or even death may be caused either by infection or reactivation of the latent form of infection among people with immunodeficiencies. Toxoplasmosis can inflict a severe fetal damage when a female is infected for the very first time in the first trimester of pregnancy. This can be prevented by the risk group screening and an early detection of the protozoan. Laboratory diagnostics use two basic methods in order to prove toxoplasmosis, a direct one and an indirect one. The direct methods such as a microscopic evidence of the protozoan or the isolation of Toxoplasma Gondii on laboratory animals are not usually used in practice. In recent years methods of molecular biology focused on the proof of the protozoan?s nuclear acid in the biological material come to the fore. The methods of indirect evidence are based on the detection of specific traces left by the infectious agent in human organism. Among them, serological methods are the most commonly used ones in the routine operation in the majority of laboratories in the Czech Republic. A basic principle is reaction between antigen and antibody. It is possible to determine whether the infection is in acute or chronic phase and what type of infection it is. This test was utilized for serological evidence of toxoplasmosis for the first time. Then other tests were made. That includes intradermal and imunofluorecent tests, complement fixation test, indirect hemaglutination, microprecipitation or imunoenzymatic methods. The mere evidence of the presence of antibodies is not usually sufficient for diagnosis. Determination of the phase of infection is essential, therefore it is needed to prove if the value of each class of immunoglobulins (or titers of all antibodies) increases, decreases or if they have a stable value. In some cases the avidity IgG may be crucial. The aim of this bachelor thesis is to detect antibodies against Toxoplasma Gondii and to evaluate their prevalence by using serological methods. And finally, these methods will be compared. The patient samples originate from the department of parasitology and serology of Fakultní nemocnice Plzeň, therefore there is an evaluation of the incidence of infection in Pilsen region. The complement fixation test is the most commonly used in routine operation for determination of the total level of antibodies or this test is supplemented by determination of levels of individual immunoglobulin classes by using the Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. If there is the evidence of infection of toxoplasma by using KFR and the antibody titer is 1:8, it is necessary to supplement the determination by ELSA method to ascertain the level of immunoglobulin classes. This diagnosis has gradually developed from demanding and complex procedures towards fast and fully automated diagnosis. In total, 68 samples of patients with suspicion of toxoplasmosis were determined. The monitored group includes men, women and children. After consideration of the factors which may influence the reaction and on the basis of KFR, the infection of 26 persons was eliminated (negative results). The remaining 43 patients had a positive reaction for the presence of antibodies. After comparing the positive results and low titers with the clinical state of the patient or with the values measured in the past, the determination by the method of ELISA was indicated among 41 persons. The final result for August 2012 was the detection of acute toxoplasma infection of 4 people.
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