The aim of this work was to evaluate international trade with Manis. spp. according to the CITES database during the period 2002-2013. Manis spp. was classified in appendix II CITES in 1995. In 2000 there was an unsuccesfull attempt to reclassified Manis spp. to appendix I CITES. In this year the zero quota was set for Asian pangolins for commercial purpose. A rapid increase of an illegal trade was noticed after the setting of zero quota. The most frequent trade with pangolins was in these forms: 1) derivatives, 2) specimens, 3) scales, 4) live pangolins and 5) skins. Asian pangolins´ species were traded mostly in forms of derivatives, specimens, scales and skins in the period 2002-2013. M. javanica and M. pentadactyla with medium and large distribution area were quantitatively the most traded species, respectively. Main importers of Asian forms of pangolins were: USA (derivatives and specimens), China (scales in kg) and Indonesia (scales in pieces) and Mexico (skins). The African pangolin M. tricuspis was the third most frequent species in the international trade and was traded especially in form of live pangolins. M. tricuspis lives in one of the largest distribution area. Main importer of live pangolins was Italy. Breeding pangolins in captivity is due to the specific feeding requirements demanding. There are about 46 individuals of pangolins in Zoos all over the world, whereas in Europe there are only 2 pangolins in the Leipzig Zoo.

Different tracing techniques of the subperiosteal and endosteal contours (manual, automatic, semi-automatic) or their combinations taken along femoral length in adult individuals can produce different values of cross-sectional geometric (CSG) parameters. Various tracing techniques are widely used in CSG studies of non-adult individuals as well, however, the accuracy of CSG parameters estimated along femoral diaphysis is not yet known for non-adult individuals. In this study, we investigate whether the manual tracing of the subperiosteal and endosteal contours taken at 80% of the femoral diaphyseal length in non-adult individuals can be replaced by another type of tracing in relation to CSG parameters estimation. We examine the effect of anatomical localization on accuracy of the CSG parameters estimated in non-adult individuals femora. We digitized the subperiosteal and endosteal contours in the micro-CT scans from femoral diaphyseal cross-sections in Early Medieval sample of non-adult individuals (N = 46). The digitization and computation of CSG parameters were made in Fiji software with EPJMacro implementation. The assessment of estimates' accuracy was expressed by percentage prediction error (%PE) and limits of agreement. Five percent of CSG parameter obtained from manually traced contours was...

Title: The effect of one-off so called sensorimotor serie exercise on postural stability measured on Neurocom SMART Equitest Aim: The goal of this thesis is to evaluate the effect of one-off so-called sensorimotor serie exercise on postural stability on a healthy young human measured by computerized dynamic posturography (CDP). Methods: This experimental study is using a cross-over design, it means that participants got the intervention in randomized order. 20 healthy young subjects participated in the experiment, 12 women and 8 men aged 20 to 28 years (23,55± 1,63). The group of men and women was randomly divided into two groups. Group E1 was measured by Neurocom SMART Equitest using three testing protocols (SOT, MCT, LOS), went through the one-off so called sensorimotor serie, and was measured again immediately afterwards (almost 30 minutes after the first measurement) at the first appointment. In 1 week ± 1 day (wash-out period) participants from the group E1 were only measured without getting any intervention and after 30 minutes break measured again. Group E2 got the intervention in opposite order. Measured data were processed using the Neurocom Balance Manager Software. In the statistical analysis was used one-sample t-test respectively two-sample t-test (Welch's version) as a comparison...

SUMMARY: This thesis deals with canine assisted therapy as a support in the development of social skills and communication of children with autism spectrum disorder and is based on the professional literature and analysis of the therapy's influence on the development of personality in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. The introduction describes autism spectrum disorders, emphasising their social characteristics and communication of individuals with autism spectrum disorders. The second part deals with canine assisted therapy, its methods and forms, as well as, its specific pedagogical use. The third part of the thesis studies the case of a boy with autism spectrum disorder who regularly attended canine assisted therapy. This thesis uses the following methodology: analysis of professional literature, participant observation, informal interview, questionnaire, video analysis and the case study data analysis. This thesis concludes in the finding that canine assisted therapy supports the development of social skills and non-verbal communication of children with autism spectrum disorder. The support of canine assisted therapy in the development of verbal communication of children with autism spectrum disorder was not proven. The results gained in this thesis may contribute to a more frequent use of...

In this study, we aimed to determine the levels of cytokines IL-1β, IL-4, IL-10, IFN-γ, MIF and VEGF in tears derived from healthy subjects. We tested cytokines as potential markers of inflammation for their potential use in clinical practice. Having reliable method for measuring cytokine levels in tears would enable an early diagnosis of eye diseases. In two phases, cytokines in tears of healthy individuals were analyzed using Bio-Plex Cytokine Assay (Bio-Rad). We assessed the suitability of methods for diagnostic purposes as well as the suitability of our selected cytokines. Statistically significant positive correlations of cytokines were confirmed: IL-10 with IFN-γ (r = 0,81), MIF with VEGF (r = 0,42 / r = 0,49), IL-1β with IL-10 (r = 0,52), IL-1β with IFN-γ (r = 0,55), IL-1β with VEGF (r = 0,38), IFN-γ with VEGF (r = 0,45) and IL-4 with VEGF (r = 0,48) in healthy subjects in tears. IL-4 (r = -0,37) and IFN-γ (r = -0,42) correlate negatively with age. In healthy individuals, there seem to be no differences with regard to gender, BMI, body fat, time of meal consumption prior to tear collection, eye strain when using a computer, dry eyes. Thus, studied cytokines are suitable for diagnostic purposes. Significant differences in concentrations of four (IL-1β, IL-10, IFN-γ a VEGF) of the five...