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Adverse life events and psychosocial stressors in functional neurological disorder
No full textBackground: Adverse life events and other stressors were central to historical \u27Freudian\u27 models of functional neurological disorder (FND), which have been increasingly replaced by more nuanced biopsychosocial models. Studies of the aetiological relevance of stressors have been limited by small sample sizes. Methods: Retrospective cohort analyses using a large international electronic health records network (TriNetX), including ICD-10 codes, were performed. Between 2015 and 2025, 147,595 individuals were diagnosed with FND. The rates of adverse life events and psychosocial stressors were compared to matched cohorts with migraine and generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) diagnoses. We also investigated associations between FND and the presence of stressors, including the stressor type and whether it occurred in childhood or adulthood. Findings: Rates of abuse or neglect (1·33%), assault (2·42%), and psychosocial and socioeconomic difficulties (10·63%) were significantly higher in FND compared to migraine (0·42%/0·93%/3·43%, respectively) and GAD (0·75%/1·29%/7·69%, respectively) (p < ·0001 for all comparisons). A history of physical and sexual abuse was more prevalent in FND than in comparison groups. Psychological abuse was more common in FND than in migraine, but not when compared to GAD. FND cases with recorded stressors were younger, more often female, and more frequently diagnosed with functional/dissociative seizures than those without stressors. Further, these stressors were associated with an increased prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities, pain, and fatigue. Different stressor types had distinct influences on clinical presentations. Adult-onset adversity was associated with higher rates of psychiatric comorbidities, pain and fatigue. Interpretation: A record of adversities was at least 2·5 times more common in FND than in migraine, and about 1·5 times more common than in GAD, varying by stressor type. Psychosocial stressors were particularly common. The presence of stressors, as well as their type, shapes the presentation of FND. Life history should therefore be considered when assessing individuals with FND
Preventing retraumatization in reporting and support procedures for victims of sexual abuse at social work centres
No full textMagistrsko delo obravnava preprečevanje retravmatizacije pri postopkih prijave in pomoči žrtvam spolne zlorabe na centrih za socialno delo. Izhaja iz ugotovitve, da so posamezniki z zgodovino travmatičnih izkušenj, zlasti spolne zlorabe v otroštvu, izpostavljeni povečanemu tveganju za ponovno travmatizacijo v kasnejših življenjskih okoliščinah, tudi znotraj sistemov pomoči. Teoretični del najprej razčleni pojma travme in retravmatizacije ter opozori na konceptualno nejasnost slednje v diagnostičnih klasifikacijah, ob hkratnem soglasju v literaturi, da retravmatizacija pomeni ponovno aktivacijo travmatičnih spominov, afektov in telesnih odzivov ob dražljajih, ki spominjajo na prvotno travmo (Butler idr. 2017, 2–4Duckworth in Follette 2012, 443–446Figley idr. 2012, 569).
Poseben poudarek je namenjen nevrobiološkim vidikom travme in retravmatizacije, pri čemer so predstavljene spremembe v delovanju amigdale, hipokampusa in prefrontalnega korteksa ter njihov vpliv na spomin, regulacijo afekta in odziv na stres (Bossé idr. 2018, 393–400Shin in Liberzon 2011, 311–322). Delo podrobno obravnava specifičnosti spolne zlorabe v otroštvu, njene dolgoročne posledice in načine, kako se travma kaže na afektivni, kognitivni in vedenjski ravni, vključno z disociacijo, samoregulacijskimi težavami ter tveganimi oblikami vedenja.
Nadalje je predstavljena praksa, ki temelji na razumevanju travme, kot ključen preventivni okvir za zmanjševanje tveganja retravmatizacije pri socialnem delu. V tem delu so izpostavljena temeljna načela tega pristopa, kot so zagotavljanje varnosti, predvidljivosti, spoštovanja, izbire in opolnomočenja, hkrati pa je obravnavana tudi nevarnost nenamernega ponavljanja dinamike moči in nadzora v institucionalnih postopkih (BloomLevenson 2017, 105–113, 105–113Harris in FallotSAMHSA 1-27). Pomemben del teoretične razprave je tudi umestitev relacijske družinske paradigme, ki poudarja pomen odnosa, regulacije afekta in nezavednih relacijskih mehanizmov pri delu z osebami z zgodovino travme (Repič in Gostečnik 2017, 422–434).
Empirični del temelji na kvalitativni raziskavi med socialnimi delavci, zaposlenimi na centrih za socialno delo, in raziskuje njihovo razumevanje travme, zaznavanje tveganj za retravmatizacijo ter izkušnje pri delu z žrtvami spolne zlorabe. Ugotovitve kažejo na ključno vlogo strokovnega znanja, etične drže in samozavedanja socialnih delavcev pri zmanjševanju stiske žrtev ter na potrebo po nadaljnjem razvoju sistematičnih, travmi senzitivnih pristopov.This master’s thesis addresses the prevention of retraumatization in reporting and support procedures for victims of sexual abuse within social work centres. It is grounded in the recognition that individuals with a history of traumatic experiences – particularly childhood sexual abuse – are exposed to an increased risk of retraumatization in later life circumstances, including within systems intended to provide help and protection.
The theoretical section first examines the concepts of trauma and retraumatization, highlighting the conceptual ambiguity of the latter within diagnostic classifications, while noting a broad consensus in the literature that retraumatization refers to the reactivation of traumatic memories, affects, and physiological responses when individuals are exposed to stimuli reminiscent of the original trauma (Butler et al. 2017, 2–4Duckworth & Follette 2012, 443–446Figley at al. 2012, 569).
Special emphasis is placed on the neurobiological aspects of trauma and retraumatization, presenting changes in the functioning of the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex and their impact on memory, affect regulation, and stress responses (Bossé et al. 2018, 393–400Shin & Liberzon, 2011, 311–322). The thesis further explores the specific characteristics of childhood sexual abuse, its long-term consequences, and the ways in which trauma manifests on affective, cognitive, and behavioural levels, including dissociation, difficulties in self-regulation, and engagement in high-risk behaviours.
The following section introduces trauma-informed practice as a key preventive framework for reducing the risk of retraumatization in social work. The thesis highlights the core principles of this approach – ensuring safety, predictability, respect, choice, and empowerment – and draws attention to the risk of unintentionally reproducing dynamics of power and control within institutional procedures (Bloom 2002, 19Levenson 2017, 105–113, SAMHSA 2014, 1–27). An important component of the theoretical discussion is also the inclusion of the relational family paradigm, which emphasises the significance of relationship, affect regulation, and unconscious relational mechanisms when working with individuals with a history of trauma (Repič in Gostečnik 2017, 422–434).
The empirical section is based on a qualitative study conducted among social workers employed in social work centres and explores their understanding of trauma, their perception of retraumatization risks, and their experiences in working with victims of sexual abuse. The findings point to the crucial role of professional knowledge, ethical stance, and self-awareness of social workers in reducing victims’ distress, as well as to the need for the further development of systematic, trauma-sensitive approaches
Brezžični sistem za ocenjevanje agilnosti na osnovi optičnih vrat in kinematičnih senzorjev
No full textAccurate, field-ready timing and motion capture are essential for assessing agility beyond the limits of manual stopwatches. We present a modular measurement system that fuses infrared (IR) optical gates for robust event detection with a trunkworn inertial measurement unit (IMU) for kinematic profiling. Each sensing node is built on an Adafruit Feather M0 Wi-Fi microcontroller and communicates via UDP to a laptop server. Time alignment is accomplished without internet connectivity: the server establishes a relative epoch and executes a triple-handshake broadcast protocol, while timestamps are generated at the edge to avoid latency bias from transport or processing. Module- and device-level characterization shows that IR-receiver processing combined with interrupt service routine latency yields a per-event timestamp error of 0.54 ms ± 0.14 ms (latency ± uncertainty), and local clocks remain stable over the durations relevant to agility trials. In wireless operation, accepted synchronization attempts form tight response clusters in favorable RF conditions, whereas congested environments may require retriesfor section times across different gates we therefore report a conservative inter-node uncertainty. End-to-end validation across laboratory, entryhall, and gym venues using the Agility T-test confirms that total test time measured on the same start/finish gate remains below 1 ms error over 10–20 s trials. Synchronized IMU waveforms add explanatory value beyond total and split times by revealing braking, change-of-direction, and re-acceleration phases. The system provides a deployable workflow with substantially improved precision over manual timing. Future work will target more robust synchronization and expanded analytics, including automated phase detection, asymmetry indices, and optional integration with indoor positioning.Natančno merjenje časa in zajem gibanja na terenu sta ključna za ocenjevanje agilnosti onkraj omejitev ročnih štoparic. Predstavljamo nizkocenovni, modularni merilni sistem, ki združuje infrardeča (IR) optična vrata za robustno zaznavanje dogodkov in na trupu nameščeni inercialni merilni senzor (IMU) za kinematično profiliranje. Vsako merilno vozlišče temelji na mikrokrmilniku Adafruit Feather M0 Wi-Fi in z uporabo UDP komunicira sstrežnikom na prenosniku. Časovno uskladitev izvedemo brez internetne povezave: strežnik vzpostavi relativno epoho in izvede oddajni protokol s trojnim rokovanjem, medtem ko se časovni žigi tvorijo na robu sistema (na napravi), da se izognemo pristranskosti zaradi zakasnitev prenosa ali obdelave. Karakterizacija na ravni modulov in naprav pokaže, da kombinacija obdelave v IR sprejemniku in zakasnitve prekinitvene rutine prinese napako časovnega žiga na dogodek 0.54 ms ± 0.14 ms (zakasnitev ± negotovost), lokalne ure pa ostanejo stabilne v časovnih intervalih, pomembnih za preizkuse agilnosti. Pri brezžičnem delovanju sprejeti poskusi sinhronizacije v ugodnih RF-razmerah tvorijo tesne skupke odzivov, medtem ko v zasičenih okoljih lahko zahtevajo ponovitvezato pri časih odsekov med različnimi vrati navajamo večjo negotovost. Celovita validacija v laboratoriju, avli in telovadnici z uporabo T-testa agilnosti potrjuje, da ima skupni čas testa, izmerjen na istih začetnih/končnih vratih, napako manjšo od 1 ms pri poskusih, dolgih 10–20 s. Sinhronizirani IMU signali dodajo pojasnjevalno vrednost onkraj skupnih in delnih časov, saj razkrivajo faze zaviranja, menjave smeri in ponovne pospešitve. Sistem omogoča enostavno uvedljiv potek dela z bistveno izboljšano natančnostjo v primerjavi z ročnim merjenjem. V prihodnje načrtujemo še zanesljivejšo sinhronizacijo in razširjeno analitiko, vključno s samodejnim zaznavanjem faz, indeksi asimetrije ter po potrebi integracijo s pozicioniranjem v zaprtih prostorih
Composers’ perspective on creating music for infants and toddlers
No full textMusic plays a crucial role in early childhood, supporting infants’ and toddlers’ cognitive, emotional, and sensory development. Yet, little is known about how composers approach creating music for this age group. This study investigates the creative processes of composers who compose music for infants and toddlers, exploring their perspectives on sources of inspiration, challenges encountered, and developmental considerations. Using purposive sampling, five composers, selected for creating music compositions for infants and toddlers in the B-AIR project, participated in this qualitative study. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and analyzed through thematic analysis. Findings reveal that composers drew inspiration from nature, unique communication styles of children, cultural influences, and personal introspection. Challenges face includes adapting their creative approach to the sensibilities of young listeners, managing technical constraints, and navigating copyright issues. Composers’ knowledge about infant and toddler development stemmed from formal education, professional workshops, personal experiences, and cultural observations. Although they reported varying levels of confidence in their understanding of child development, composers demonstrated an informed understanding of how young children perceive and respond to music. They emphasized the importance of creating music that aligns with young children’s auditory sensitivities and contributes meaningfully to their holistic development. These findings highlight the value of interdisciplinary collaboration and the need for clearer guidelines to support music composition for early childhood.La musique joue un rôle crucial dans la petite enfance, en soutenant le développement cognitif, émotionnel et sensoriel des nourrissons et des tout-petits. Pourtant, on sait peu de choses sur la manière dont les compositeurs abordent la création musicale pour ce groupe d’âge. Cette étude examine les processus créatifs de compositeurs qui composent de la musique pour les nourrissons et les tout-petits, en explorant leurs perspectives sur les sources d’inspiration, les défis rencontrés et les considérations développementales. À l’aide d’un échantillonnage raisonné, cinq compositeurs ayant créé des oeuvres musicales pour les nourrissons et les tout-petits dans le cadre du projet B-AIR ont participé à cette étude qualitative. Les données ont été recueillies par le biais d’entretiens semi-directifs et analysées selon une méthode d’analyse thématique.
Les résultats révèlent que les compositeurs ont puisé leur inspiration dans la nature, les styles de communication uniques des enfants, les influences culturelles et l’introspection personnelle. Parmi les défis rencontrés figurent l’adaptation de leur approche créative à la sensibilité des jeunes auditeurs, la gestion des contraintes techniques et les questions liées au droit d’auteur. Les connaissances des compositeurs sur le développement des nourrissons et des tout-petits proviennent de leur formation académique, d’ateliers professionnels, d’expériences personnelles et d’observations culturelles. Bien qu’ils aient exprimé des niveaux de confiance variables quant à leur compréhension du développement de l’enfant, les compositeurs ont démontré une compréhension éclairée de la manière dont les jeunes enfants perçoivent et réagissent à la musique.
Ils ont souligné l’importance de créer une musique adaptée aux sensibilités auditives des jeunes enfants et qui contribue de manière significative à leur développement global. Ces résultats soulignent la valeur de la collaboration interdisciplinaire et la nécessité de lignes directrices plus claires pour soutenir la composition musicale destinée à la petite enfance
Recent Regional Development of the Municipality of Podčetrtek
No full textV magistrskem delu smo se ukvarjali s preučevanjem razvoja občine Podčetrtek po letu 2014 z vidika regionalnega razvoja in ukrepov regionalne politike. Opisali smo temeljne pojme s področja regionalnega razvoja, pri čemer smo poleg znanstvene in strokovne literature uporabili tudi normativne vire, ki jih prinaša slovenska ureditev regionalne politike. Občino smo geografsko umestili in analizirali njene naravno- in družbenogeografske značilnosti. Na podlagi programskih delov Regionalnega razvojnega programa Savinjske regije za obdobje 2014–2020 in Območnega razvojnega programa Obsotelje in Kozjansko 2014–2020 ter aktualnih Regionalnega razvojnega programa Savinjske razvojne regije 2021–2027 in Območnega razvojnega programa Obsotelje in Kozjansko za obdobje 2021–2027 smo identificirali projektne predloge, ki se vežejo na območje občine Podčetrtek. Njihovo realizacijo smo nato proučili predvsem s pomočjo različnih uradnih dokumentov in medijskih objav, na ločenem mestu pa smo predstavili ukrepe in investicije, ki so bili v občini po letu 2014 izvedeni v sklopu regionalne politike, saj smo ugotovili, da projektni predlogi v primeru realizacije niso nujno izvedeni v okviru politik regionalnega razvoja. Za preučevano območje smo opredelili po sedem razvojnih dejavnikov in razvojnih procesov, predlagali in opisali pa smo tudi pet razvojnih možnosti za občino Podčetrtek v prihodnje.In our master\u27s thesis, we examined the development of the municipality of Podčetrtek after 2014 from the perspective of regional development and regional policy measures. We described the basic concepts in the field of regional development, using not only scientific and professional literature but also normative sources provided by Slovenian regional policy regulations. We geographically located the municipality and analyzed its natural and socio-geographical characteristics. Based on the programme parts of the Regional Development Programme of the Savinjska Region 2014-2020 and the Area Development Programme of Obsotelje and Kozjansko 2014-2020 and the current Regional Development Programme of the Savinjska Region 2021-2027 and the Area Development Programme of Obsotelje and Kozjansko 2021-2027, we identified project proposals related to the area of the municipality of Podčetrtek. We then examined their implementation primarily with the help of various official documents and media publications, and separately presented the measures and investments that were implemented in the municipality after 2014 as part of regional policy, as we found that the project proposals, if implemented, would not necessarily be carried out within the framework of regional development policies. We identified seven development factors and development processes for the area under review, and we also proposed and described five development opportunities for the municipality of Podčetrtek in the future
Advocacy in mental health: A case study
No full textV magistrski nalogi analiziram delovanje skupine pri zagovorništvu Joca Podlesnika, mojega prijatelja z dolgoletnimi izkušnjami z institucionalno psihiatrijo, ki mu je grozila deložacija iz bivalne enote. Osredotočen sem na odnos med članicami zagovorniške skupine, predvsem med Jocem in drugimi osebami. Zagovorniško akcijo sem razdelil na dva dela oziroma na zgodbo in predzgodbo oziroma na subtilnejši in konkretnejši del. Na podlagi Joceve zgodbe sem napisal roman Titov sin in še eno dokumentarno zgodbo. V prvem delu, ko še nismo vedeli, da se bo akcija nadaljevala v drugi del, sva z Jocem prek promoviranja literarnega dela in drugih dejavnosti v javnosti (v medijih in na javnih dogodkih) skušala osveščati o škodljivosti institucij in pomenu dezinstitucionalizacije. V tem delu sva bila del zagovorniške skupine le Joc in jaz, jasnega cilja pa nisva imela. Potem se je pojavil konkreten problem (grozila mu je deložacija iz bivalne enote), in takrat se je zagovorniška skupina razširila, cilj pa je postal jasen – preprečitev brezdomstva.
Magistrsko nalogo sem začel s pregledom teorije, povezane s temami, ki so bistvene za Jocevo življenje in našo zagovorniško akcijo – duševno zdravje, totalne ustanove, dezinstitucionalizacija, stigmatizacija, stanovanjska problematika, zagovorništvo, ter aktivistično socialno delo. Odločil sem se za kvalitativno raziskovanje, vrsta raziskovanja je bila študija primera, oprl sem se na akcijsko oziroma aktivistično raziskovanje. V empiričnem delu sem prek rezultatov in razprave o njih skušal odgovoriti na raziskovalna vprašanja: Kakšne so povezave med zagovorniško akcijo, usmerjeno v direktni problem, in osveščanjem javnosti? Kako (neprofesionalno, laično) zagovorništvo na obeh ravneh vpliva tako na krepitev moči osebe z izkušnjo duševne stiske kot na izhode iz krize?Kakšen pomen ima odnos med udeleženci zagovorniške akcije? Kako lahko ta odnos prispeva h krepitvi moči?Kako lahko k zagovorništvu in krepitvi moči prispeva (angažirano) leposlovje?Je naša zagovorniška akcija uspešna? Na vprašanja sem skušal odgovoriti s prepletom opisa zgodbe, ki se je stkala v prostoru med Jocem, mano in zagovorniško skupino ter teorijo povezano s to zgodbo. Na glavno vprašanje (ali je bila akcija uspešna) sem dobil pozitiven dogovor, saj je po Tanji Lamovec in Vitu Flakerju (1993) vsaka akcija uspešna, tudi cilj zagovorniške skupine je bil dosežen.In my master’s thesis (Advocacy in Mental Health: A Case Study), I analyse how a group operated in advocating for Joc Podlesnik, my friend with long-term experience of institutional psychiatry, who was threatened with eviction from a residential unit. I focus on the relationships between members of the advocacy group, especially between Joc and the other individuals involved. I divided the advocacy action into two parts - a story and a pre-story, that is, a more subtle and a more concrete part. Based on Joc’s story, I wrote a novel and an additional documentary story. In the first part, when we did not yet know the action would continue into a second phase, Joc and I tried to raise awareness of the harmfulness of institutions and the importance of deinstitutionalisation by promoting the literary work and engaging in other public activities (in the media and at public events). At this stage, the advocacy group consisted only of Joc and me, and we did not have a clear goal. Later, a concrete problem arose (he was threatened with eviction from the residential unit), and at that point the advocacy group expanded and the goal became clear - preventing homelessness.
I began the master’s thesis with a review of theory related to the themes essential to Joc’s life and to our advocacy action - mental health, total institutions, deinstitutionalisation, stigmatisation, housing issues, advocacy, and activist social work. I chose a qualitative research approach, specifically a case study, grounded in action or activist research. In the empirical section, through the results and their discussion, I sought to answer the research questions: What are the connections between advocacy focused on a direct problem and public awareness-raising? How does (non-professional, lay) advocacy on both levels influence both the empowerment of a person with lived experience of mental distress and the outcomes of their crisis? What is the significance of the relationship between participants in the advocacy action? How can this relationship contribute to empowerment? How can (engaged) fiction contribute to advocacy and empowerment? Was our advocacy action successful?
I aimed to answer these questions by interweaving the description of the story that unfolded between Joc, myself, and the advocacy group with the theory related to this story. I arrived at a positive answer to the main question (whether the action was successful?), since according to Vito Flaker and Tanja Lamovec (1993), every action is successful, and in this case the advocacy group also achieved its goal
Challenges and Opportunities of Waste Textile Management in Slovenia in Light of Green Transition
No full textTrajnostno gospodarjenje z odpadnim tekstilom v Sloveniji predstavlja izziv v luči zelenega prehoda in enega od ciljev krožnega gospodarstva. Magistrsko delo analizira obseg in stanje tekstilnih odpadkov v Sloveniji v zadnjih desetih letih in ocenjuje vpliv evropskih uredb in zakonodaje na upravljanje z njimi. Poseben poudarek je na analizi usklajenosti slovenskih politik z evropskimi cilji ter prepoznavanju strukturnih pomanjkljivosti v trenutnih rešitvah. V raziskavi smo s statističnim pregledom podatkov preučili tekstilno verigo v zadnjih dveh desetletjih, vključno s proizvodnjo, uvozom, izvozom, potrošnjo in odlaganjem tekstila. Prav tako smo analizirali objavljene raziskave in patente s področja recikliranja in ponovne uporabe. Glavne ugotovitve kažejo, da slovenska tekstilna industrija upada, medtem ko se količina uvoženega tekstila ohranja, vrednost uvoženih izdelkov pa narašča. V Sloveniji primanjkuje infrastrukture za ločeno zbiranje in recikliranje tekstilnih odpadkov, kar otežuje prilagoditev na zakonodajo Evropske unije (EU), ki z letom 2025 uvaja obvezno zbiranje tekstila iz gospodinjstev. Analiza praks v drugih evropskih državah kaže, da je boljše upravljanje odpadnega tekstila mogoče le s sistematično podporo politike in gospodarstva. Mednarodne prakse kažejo, da druge evropske države učinkoviteje upravljajo s tekstilnimi odpadki, saj imajo vzpostavljene boljše sisteme. Ključna dejavnika uspeha sta višja stopnja osveščenosti potrošnikov ter zakonodajni ukrepi za omejevanje hitre mode.
V Sloveniji potrebujemo celostni sistem zbiranja tekstilnih odpadkov, ki bo vključeval enotne zabojnike, centre za sortiranje in recikliranje ter večjo informiranost javnosti. Poleg tega je nujno finančno spodbujanje podjetij, ki želijo vlagati v rešitve na področju recikliranja in ponovne uporabe. Izboljšave področja s strani EU vključujejo uvedbo razširjene odgovornosti proizvajalca, zakonske prepovedi zelenega zavajanja, digitalne potne liste za izdelke in povečanje javnih subvencij za raziskave ter podjetja na področju recikliranja. Uspeh teh ukrepov bo odvisen od sodelovanja med zakonodajalci, podjetji in informiranimi potrošniki.Sustainable management of textile waste in Slovenia represents a challenge in the context of the green transition and one of the goals of circular economy. This master\u27s thesis analyses the scale and state of textile waste in Slovenia for the last 10 years and assesses the impact of European regulations and legislation on its management. Special emphasis is placed on analysing the alignment of Slovenian policies with European objectives and identifying structural shortcomings in current solutions. The research includes a statistical review of data on the textile value chain over the past two decades, covering production, imports, exports, consumption, and disposal of textiles. Additionally, published studies and patents in the fields of recycling and reuse were analysed. The main findings indicate that Slovenia’s textile industry is declining, while the volume of imported textiles remains stable, the value of imported products is increasing. Slovenia lacks adequate infrastructure for the separate collection and recycling of textile waste, making it difficult to adapt to European Union’s legislation, which mandates household textile waste collection in year 2025. An analysis of practices in other European countries suggests that better textile waste management is only possible with support of Politics and Economy. International practices show that other European countries manage textile waste more effectively, as they have established more advanced systems. A crucial success factor is greater consumer awareness and legislative measures to curb fast fashion.
In Slovenia we need to establish a comprehensive textile waste collection system, including standardized collection bins, sorting and recycling centres, and increased public awareness. Furthermore, it is essential to provide financial support to companies investing in recycling and reuse solutions. Proposed Improvements of the area by the EU include the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility, legal bans on greenwashing, digital passports for product, and increased public subsidies for research and businesses in the recycling sector. The success of these measures will depend on collaboration between policymakers, businesses, and informed consumers
Extra-territorial excursions of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) during the mating season across Europe
No full textExtra-territorial mating excursions (i.e. short-term movements beyond established home ranges to seek mating opportunities) represent an underexplored reproductive strategy in felids. Using telemetry data from 125 Eurasian lynx (172 lynx-years, 1995–2023) across Europe, we investigated sex-specific spatio-temporal patterns and drivers of these excursions during the mating season. Overall, 33% of males and 11% of females undertook excursions, with males having higher rates than females. Male excursions mostly occurred in March, coinciding with the peak of the conception period, while females tended to undertake excursions either before or after this peak. The median Euclidean distance travelled beyond the home range was 6.8 km for males and 2.6 km for females, with corresponding median durations of 119 h and 85 h, respectively. Translocated individuals exhibited higher excursion rates than those in established populations, suggesting mate-searching in novel environments. We found no evidence that human influences affected excursion rates or distances. Our findings highlight a mating tactic that is often overlooked and provide new insight into sex-specific and context-dependent movement strategies in Eurasian lynx. By linking extra-territorial excursions to reproduction patterns, our study informs future research on mate-searching behaviour in felids and offers implications for conservation planning, particularly in isolated or reintroduced populations
Enabling conditions for community hunting to deliver sustainable wild ungulate management in highland Scotland
No full textSustainable management of wild ungulate populations is key to maintaining ecosystem health. High ungulate densities across Europe pose growing ecological, social, and economic challenges, particularly where natural predators are absent. In highland Scotland, red deer (Cervus elaphus) have long been managed under a landowner-led system with limited community involvement and low regulatory oversight. As Scotland seeks to deliver sustainable land management, there is increasing momentum to reduce deer impacts and enhance community participation in land and wildlife management. We explore the potential for community hunting to contribute to sustainable deer management in highland Scotland. We compare Scotland with Slovenia, a largely highland country where community-based hunting is strongly embedded culturally and in law. Reviewing literature and expert local knowledge in both countries, we use the ‘social habitat for hunting’ concept to examine macro-, meso-, micro-, and individual-level factors that shape hunting participation. Significant structural, cultural, and institutional barriers to community hunting exist in Scotland, including weak social norms and cultural legitimacy, proprietary shooting rights, weak regulatory mechanisms, and low access to and uptake of training. In contrast, Slovenia’s hunting model illustrates how integrated governance, community empowerment, and intergenerational knowledge transfer maintains sustainable community-based hunting practices. Community hunting could help to deliver sustainable deer management in highland Scotland through building a supportive social habitat
Anatomical basis for choosing the site of intramuscular injection
No full textUvod: Intramuskularna injekcija je eden izmed parenteralnih načinov dajanja zdravil, ki omogoča hitro in zanesljivo učinkovanje. Zdravilo lahko vbrizgamo v deltoidno mišico, povrhnje glutealne mišice ter anteriorne stegenske mišice. Kljub rutinski uporabi intramuskularne injekcije so možni zapleti, ki se pojavljajo zaradi neustrezne tehnike ali napačne izbire mesta vbrizganja. Slednji so tesno povezani s topografijo posamezne regije. Namen: Namen diplomskega dela je bil s pregledom literature opisati mišične regije, v katere intramuskularno injekcijo apliciramo, predstaviti standardna mesta aplikacije, tehnike njihovega določanja ter morebitne novosti. Cilj je izpostaviti dejavnike, ki prispevajo k varnem in učinkovitem izvajanju posega. Metode dela: V podatkovnih bazah Medline, ScienceDirect, Pubmed in Google Schoolar, DiKUL in COBISS smo opravili iskanje ustrezne literature. Iskali smo anatomske opise, klinične smernice, raziskave o varnosti aplikacije standardnih mest in tehnik vbrizganja ter priporočeno dolžino igle. V analizo smo dokončno vključili 87 enot literature. Rezultati: V deltoidno mišico najpogosteje vbrizgamo zdravilo pri odraslih, predvsem pri intramuskularni aplikaciji cepiva. V glutealni regiji lahko zdravilo vbrizgamo v dorzoglutealni ali ventroglutealni mišični predel. Ventroglutealni predel velja za varnejšega in bolj priporočljivega.V področju stegna lahko zdravilo vbrizgamo v premo stegensko mišico ali v lateralni vastus, pri čemer je vbrizganje zdravila v premo stegensko mišico odsvetovano. Resni zapleti intramuskularne injekcije so poškodba aksilarnega živca v deltoidni regiji, ishiadičnega živca v glutealni regiji ter femoralnega živca v stegenski regiji. Rezultati kažejo na neskladja med klinično prakso in obstoječimi smernicami za intramuskularno aplikacijo. To je najbolj izrazito v glutealni regiji, kjer smernice dorzoglutealno področje svetujejo le v izjemnih primerih, v klinični praksi pa je vseeno največkrat uporabljeno. Nekatere raziskave predlagajo uporabo alternativnih tehnik določanja standardnih mest ali uporabo alternativnih mest aplikacije. Telesna teža, spol in mišična masa pacienta ter lastnosti zdravila pomembno vplivajo na izbiro mesta in tehnike aplikacije ter dolžino in debelino igle. Razprava in zaključek: Ugotovitve diplomskega dela poudarjajo potrebo po standardizaciji postopka intramuskularne injekcije. K večji varnosti bistveno prispevajo dobro poznavanje anatomije, uporaba preverjenih metod določanja varnega mesta, upoštevanje antropometričnih značilnosti pacienta in lastnosti zdravila pri izbiri mesta in dolžine igle. Pomemben dejavnik varne intramuskularne injekcije zdravil je torej strokovna usposobljenost zdravstvenih delavcev za ta poseg.Introduction: Intramuscular injection is a commonly used parenteral method that provides rapid and reliable drug action. Medications can be injected into the deltoid muscle, the superficial gluteal muscles, and the anterior thigh muscles. Although routinely practiced, the technique carries risks, often due to incorrect site selection or improper administration. These issues are closely related to regional anatomy. Purpose: This thesis aims to provide an overview of the muscle regions used for intramuscular injections, describe standard administration sites, and outline methods for locating them. It also highlights recent best practices in intramuscular injection. The goal is to identify factors that improve the safety and effectiveness of intramuscular injection, ultimately supporting better patient outcomes. Methods: A literature review was conducted using Medline, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Google Scholar, DiKUL, and COBISS. The review included anatomical descriptions, clinical guidelines, and studies examining safety in site selection, injection techniques, and needle dimensions. A total of 87 literature sources were included. Results: In adults, the deltoid muscle is the most frequently used, especially for vaccinations. In the gluteal region, injections are administered into the dorsogluteal or ventrogluteal areas, with preference for the ventrogluteal site due to greater safety. In the anterior thigh, injections can be placed into the vastus lateralis muscle and into the rectus femoris muscle, although the use of the rectus femoris muscle is generally discouraged. Serious complications include injury to the axillary nerve in the deltoid region, sciatic nerve in the gluteal region, and femoral nerve in the thigh region. Our results reveal discrepancies between clinical practice and existing guidelines, most notably in the gluteal region, where the dorsogluteal site remains frequently used despite limited recommendations. Several studies suggest alternate injection sites or improved site determination techniques. Factors such as body weight, sex, muscle mass, and drug properties significantly affect the site choice, technique, and needle dimensions. Discussion and conclusion: Our findings emphasize the need for standardization of this procedure. A thorough understanding of anatomy, careful site selection based on patient characteristics, and objective methods for needle selection are essential. The skill and competence of healthcare professionals also play a key role in ensuring safe and effective practice