Virtual reality (VR) is widely used in training, simulations, and industrial applications, yet effective locomotion remains challenging due to its impact on spatial orientation and cybersickness. This study investigates the effects of three locomotion methods-hand-tracking (HTR) with teleportation, traditional VR controllers (CTR), and the mechanical interface Cybershoes (CBS)-on navigation performance, perceived usability, and cybersickness during navigation tasks in virtual mazes of three increasing difficulty levels. The experiment involved 15 participants (M = 22.6 years, SD = 1.64), performing a total of 9 trials each (3 methods × 3 mazes), resulting in 135 exposures overall. The HTR method had the longest average maze completion time (127 ± 54 s for the simplest maze), significantly longer compared to both CTR (52 ± 25 s, p < 0.01) and CBS (52 ± 22 s, p < 0.01). CBS showed comparable navigation performance to CTR, slightly outperforming CTR only in the most difficult mazes (108 ± 51 s vs. 115 ± 42 s, p < 0.05). Regarding usability, CTR received the highest ratings (SUS: 74.67 ± 18.52), followed by CBS (67.83 ± 24.07) and HTR (65.83 ± 22.22). However, CBS induced the highest cybersickness (2.9 ± 1.2), significantly higher than HTR (1.8 ± 0.9; p = 0.006), while CTR scored intermediate (2.3 ± 1.1). Results confirm that teleportation (HTR) minimizes cybersickness but negatively impacts spatial orientation. CBS support more efficient navigation in complex tasks but considerably increases cybersickness. Joystick locomotion (CTR) provides the best balance among navigation efficiency, usability, and user comfort. These findings contribute to optimizing locomotion strategies in VR applications.

• Keywords
• Cybersickness, Locomotion methods, Spatial navigation, User experience, Virtual reality,
• MeSH
• Maze Learning * physiology   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Locomotion * physiology   MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Spatial Navigation * physiology   MeSH
• User-Computer Interface MeSH
• Virtual Reality * MeSH
• Orientation, Spatial * physiology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Comparative analysis of the anuran pelvic and thigh musculoskeletal system revealed that the thigh extensors, responsible for the initial phase of jump, the propulsive stroke in swimming and, if used asynchronously, also for walking, are least affected by the transformations observed between anurans and their temnospondyl ancestors (as reflected in contemporary caudates). The iliac shaft and urostyle, two of the most important anuran apomorphies, represent skeletal support for muscles that are mostly protractors of the femur or are important in attaining a crouching position, a necessary prerequisite for rapid escape. All of these muscles originate or insert on the iliac shaft. As the orientation of the pubis, ischium and ilium is the same in anurans, caudates and by inference also in their temnospondyl ancestors, it is probable that the pelvis was shifted from the sacral vertebra posteriorly along the reduced and stiffened tail (urostyle) by the elongation of the illiac shaft. Thus, the original vertical orientation of the ilium was maintained (which is also demonstrated by stable origins of the glutaeus maximus, iliofemoralis and iliofibularis on the tuber superius) and the shaft itself is a new structure. A review of functional analysis of anuran locomotion suggests some clear differences from that in caudates, suggesting that terrestrial jumping may have been a primary locomotor activity, from which other types of anuran locomotion are derived.

• MeSH
• Biological Evolution * MeSH
• Phylogeny MeSH
• Adaptation, Physiological MeSH
• Muscle, Skeletal anatomy & histology   MeSH
• Locomotion physiology   MeSH
• Pelvis MeSH
• Thigh MeSH
• Anura anatomy & histology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Comparative Study MeSH

OBJECTIVES: Effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) on spontaneous motor activity was tested in young rats after intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of rhEPO, followed by induction of cellular brain edema (CE). Induced changes in the spontaneous horizontal locomotor activity was studied by open field test (OFT). METHODS: CE was induced by water intoxication (WI) using standard method of fractional hyperhydration accompanied with desmopressin administration. Using the accepted method of OFT average time spent in locomotion (s) was determined. 48 young rats at the age of 25, and 35 days were divided into three groups - controls, rats after WI (OFT followed after 44 hours), and rats administered with rhEPO prior to application WI (OFT after 48 hours). RESULTS: In 35-day-old rats rhEPO administration increased the spontaneous locomotor activity, previously decreased by cellular edema. In 25-day-old rats, rhEPO administration prior to the induced CE, decreased spontaneous locomotor activity. CONCLUSION: Presented results demonstrate the neuroprotective capacity of rhEPO, manifested by elimination of the suppressive influence of CE on the locomotion in 35-day-old rats. In 25-day-old rats the neuroprotective effect was not present. These results confirmed that the 10 day interval in the development may represent a different stage of brain maturation in the relation to the neuroprotective effect of rhEPO.

• MeSH
• Behavior, Animal drug effects   MeSH
• Brain Edema physiopathology   MeSH
• Erythropoietin pharmacology   MeSH
• Water Intoxication physiopathology   MeSH
• Rats MeSH
• Locomotion drug effects   MeSH
• Neuroprotective Agents pharmacology   MeSH
• Motor Activity drug effects   MeSH
• Rats, Wistar MeSH
• Recombinant Proteins pharmacology   MeSH
• Age Factors MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Rats MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• EPO protein, human MeSH Browser
• Erythropoietin MeSH
• Neuroprotective Agents MeSH
• Recombinant Proteins MeSH

One of the key factors that determine the interaction between hosts and their parasites is the frequency of their interactions, which depends on the locomotory behavior of both parts. To address host behavior we used natural infections involving insect pathogenic nematodes and Drosophila melanogaster larvae as hosts. Using a modified version of a recently described method (FIMTrack) to assess several parameters in larger sets of animals, we initially detected specific differences in larval food searching when comparing Drosophila strains. These differences were further influenced by the presence of nematodes. Given a choice, Drosophila larvae clearly avoided nematodes irrespective of their genetic background. Our newly developed methods will be useful to test candidate genes and pathways involved in host/pathogen interactions in general and to assess specific parameters of their interaction.

• Keywords
• Drosophila melanogaster, FIMTrack, behavior, entomopathogenic nematodes, locomtion, nematode,
• MeSH
• Drosophila melanogaster growth & development   parasitology   physiology   MeSH
• Host-Parasite Interactions MeSH
• Larva parasitology   physiology   MeSH
• Locomotion MeSH
• Rhabditida physiology   MeSH
• Feeding Behavior MeSH
• Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

OBJECTIVE: Locomotion, rearing and grooming represent different forms of behaviour and motor activity in rats. In this study, changes in these activities were analysed in relation to impaired function of the nervous system by single and/or concomitant lesions representing an experimental model of the dual diagnosis. METHODS: 32 rats were divided into 4 groups of 8 rats: intact rats, rats with single lesion of peripheral nervous system (PNS) - Marcaine neuropathy, rats with single CNS lesion - cellular brain edema induced by water intoxication, and the concomitant lesions (combination of CNS and PNS lesion in one rat). Water intoxication was performed in a standard way by fractionated hyperhydration. The average time spent by locomotion, rearing and grooming was registered and analyzed using an open field test. RESULTS: All activities of the rats after water intoxication became inhibited due to the generally suppressive effect of brain edema. Lesion of PNS reduced activity in locomotion only, because for rearing and grooming activities, the function of the forelimb is not dominant. Combination of lesions (dual diagnosis) reduced locomotion and rearing activity more than single lesions, and enhances the stressogenic effect, which was manifested by a long periods of grooming. CONCLUSION: Results of our study confirmed the physiological and pathophysiological differences in the movement stereotype between locomotion, rearing and grooming caused by the characteristics and algorithms of the movements, which are inborn to rats - the dominant role of the forelimbs in locomotion, the dominant exploratory activity in rearing, and the precise syntactic movement pattern in grooming.

• MeSH
• Bupivacaine MeSH
• Behavior, Animal physiology   MeSH
• Brain Edema physiopathology   MeSH
• Water Intoxication physiopathology   MeSH
• Rats MeSH
• Locomotion physiology   MeSH
• Peripheral Nervous System Diseases chemically induced   physiopathology   MeSH
• Grooming physiology   MeSH
• Motor Activity physiology   MeSH
• Rats, Wistar MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Rats MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Bupivacaine MeSH

RATIONALE: Augmentation therapy with serotonin-1A receptor (5-HT1A) partial agonists has been suggested to ameliorate psychotic symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of repeated administration of tandospirone (0.05 and 5 mg/kg) on locomotor activity in a novel environment and on sensorimotor gating in rats treated with the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist MK-801, which has been used in animal models of schizophrenia. Furthermore, we sought to determine whether the effect of tandospirone on these behavioural measures is blocked by WAY 100635 (0.3 mg/kg), a 5-HT1A receptor antagonist, and whether there is an interaction between haloperidol (0.1 mg/kg; a dopamine-D2 receptor antagonist) and tandospirone. RESULTS: Tandospirone at 5 mg/kg, but not 0.05 mg/kg, decreased locomotor activity in saline or MK-801-treated rats, which were not affected by co-treatment with WAY 100635. Haloperidol decreased locomotion both in saline and MK-801-treated animals, and this effect was not evident in the latter group receiving the higher dose of tandospirone. Tandospirone (5 mg/kg)-induced disruption of sensorimotor gating in saline or MK-801-treated animals was reversed by WAY-100635, but not by haloperidol. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that behavioural changes induced by tandospirone are not fully blocked by 5-HT1A antagonists and that tandospirone (5 mg/kg) potentiates the effect of MK-801. Overall, these findings point to an interaction between NMDA and 5-HT(1A) receptors. Part of the effect of tandospirone on locomotor activity may be mediated by the actions of its active metabolites on other neurotransmitter systems.

• MeSH
• Serotonin Receptor Agonists administration & dosage   pharmacology   MeSH
• Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists toxicity   MeSH
• Antipsychotic Agents pharmacology   MeSH
• Dizocilpine Maleate toxicity   MeSH
• Haloperidol pharmacology   MeSH
• Isoindoles administration & dosage   pharmacology   MeSH
• Rats MeSH
• Disease Models, Animal MeSH
• Piperazines administration & dosage   pharmacology   MeSH
• Motor Activity drug effects   MeSH
• Rats, Wistar MeSH
• Pyrimidines administration & dosage   pharmacology   MeSH
• Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A drug effects   metabolism   MeSH
• Schizophrenia drug therapy   physiopathology   MeSH
• Sensory Gating drug effects   MeSH
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Rats MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Comparative Study MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Serotonin Receptor Agonists MeSH
• Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists MeSH
• Antipsychotic Agents MeSH
• Dizocilpine Maleate MeSH
• Haloperidol MeSH
• Isoindoles MeSH
• Piperazines MeSH
• Pyrimidines MeSH
• Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A MeSH
• tandospirone MeSH Browser

Frog locomotion has attracted wide scientific interest because of the unusual and derived morphology of the frog pelvic girdle and hind limb. Previous authors have suggested that the design of the frog locomotor system evolved towards a specialized jumping morphology early in the radiation of the group. However, data on locomotion in frogs are biased towards a few groups and most of the ecological and functional diversity remains unexplored. Here, we examine the kinematics of swimming in eight species of frog with different ecologies. We use cineradiography to quantify movements of skeletal elements from the entire appendicular skeleton. Our results show that species with different ecologies do differ in the kinematics of swimming, with the speed of limb extension and especially the kinematics of the midfoot being different. Our results moreover suggest that this is not a phylogenetic effect because species from different clades with similar ecologies converge on the same swimming kinematics. We conclude that it is important to analyze frog locomotion in a broader ecological and evolutionary context if one is to understand the evolutionary origins of this behavior.

• Keywords
• Anura, Kinematics, Locomotion, Swimming,
• MeSH
• Biological Evolution MeSH
• Biomechanical Phenomena MeSH
• Ecosystem * MeSH
• Phylogeny MeSH
• Extremities anatomy & histology   MeSH
• Skeleton MeSH
• Swimming * MeSH
• Anura anatomy & histology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

Dermal armour, consisting of bony dermal structures known as osteoderms (ODs), is widespread in squamate reptiles. However, in some limbless taxa such as snakes, ODs are rare, probably due to a trade-off between mechanical protection and the demands of locomotion and consumption of large prey. Recent findings of ODs restricted to the distal body regions of sand boas (Eryx, Erycidae) challenge this paradigm, suggesting they provide passive mechanical protection against aggressive prey without significantly impairing locomotion. Building on these findings, we have continued the search and identified three additional snake species that have well-developed caudal ODs, including the first-ever discovery of ODs in shield-tailed snakes (Uropeltidae). In these fossorial species, which are characterised by their unique tail morphology, ecological adaptations and colouration, the ODs at the tail tip may serve as passive protection against predators. However, an alternative role in locomotion or occasional phragmosis cannot be ruled out. In the Javelin sand boa (Eryx jaculus), the ODs are hypothesised to function as a mechanical defence against aggressive prey. These results highlight the functional and evolutionary plasticity of ODs and emphasise the urgent need for further studies on their specific role and adaptive significance in the ecology and evolution of snakes.

• Keywords
• Squamata, antipredatory strategy, dermal armour, osteoderms, µCT,
• MeSH
• Biological Evolution MeSH
• Phylogeny MeSH
• Snakes * anatomy & histology   physiology   MeSH
• Bone and Bones anatomy & histology   MeSH
• Locomotion physiology   MeSH
• Tail * anatomy & histology   physiology   MeSH
• Predatory Behavior physiology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Migration and invasiveness are phenotypic characteristics of cells that contribute to physiological processes, such as wound healing or embryogenesis and they are involved in serious pathological processes, namely in tumor cell metastasis. Availability of methods for studying migration and invasiveness of the cells is important for understanding molecular basis of these processes. In the case of cancer, migration, invasiveness and metastatic potential of tumor cells are key factors that determine clinical prognosis of the patients. This communication provides an overview of in vitro and in vivo methods which are used to study cell migration, invasion and metastasis. In vitro meth-ods for studying cell migration include simple two dimensional assays (scratch - wound assay and the assay based on the effect of hepatocyte growth factor) and methods based on chemotaxis (Dunns chamber, videomicroscopy of cells, the use of carriers with chemoattractants). Methods for studying both cell migration and invasiveness in vitro include more complex systems based on the principle of the Boyden chamber (transwell migration/ invasive test, analysis of cell migration and invasion in xCELLigence system, confocal microscopy based approaches) as well as analysis of cell migration in microchannels. Our overview of in vivo methods provides an introduction into model organisms and methods used in this field, with an emphasis on the study of cancer metastasis in mouse models. The methods described in this review are mainly involved in larger research projects aiming at developing new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in oncology.

• MeSH
• Cell Migration Assays MeSH
• Neoplasm Invasiveness physiopathology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Neoplasm Metastasis physiopathology   MeSH
• Cell Movement physiology   MeSH
• In Vitro Techniques methods   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• English Abstract MeSH
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH

BACKGROUND: The physiotherapeutic technique of Vojta reflex locomotion is often accompanied by various autonomic activity changes and unpleasant sensations. It is unknown whether these effects are specific to Vojta Therapy. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare changes in cardiac autonomic control after Vojta reflex locomotion stimulation and after an appropriate sham stimulation. METHODS: A total of 28 young healthy adults (20.4 - 25.7 years) were enrolled in this single-blind randomized cross-over study. Participants underwent two modes of 20-minute sustained manual pressure stimulation on the surface of the foot on two separate visits. One mode used manual pressure on the lateral heel, i.e., in a zone employed in the Vojta Therapy (active stimulation). The other mode used pressure on the lateral ankle (control), in an area not included among the active zones used by Vojta Therapy and whose activation does not evoke manifestations of reflex locomotion. Autonomic nervous system activity was evaluated using spectral analysis of heart rate variability before and after the intervention. RESULTS: The active stimulation was perceived as more unpleasant than the control stimulation. Heart rate variability parameters demonstrated almost identical autonomic responses after both stimulation types, showing either modest increase in parasympathetic activity, or increased heart rate variability with similar contribution of parasympathetic and sympathetic activity. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate changes of cardiac autonomic control in both active and control stimulation, without evidence for a significant difference between the two.

• Keywords
• Vojta Therapy, heart rate variability, pressure stimulation, reflex locomotion, spectral analysis,
• MeSH
• Autonomic Nervous System physiology   MeSH
• Respiratory Rate physiology   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Physical Stimulation methods   MeSH
• Single-Blind Method MeSH
• Cross-Over Studies MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Foot physiology   MeSH
• Reflexotherapy methods   MeSH
• Heart Rate physiology   MeSH
• Pressure MeSH
• Healthy Volunteers MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Randomized Controlled Trial MeSH