Laboratory studies allow studying the predictors of bribe-taking in a controlled setting. However, presently used laboratory tasks often lack any connection to norm violation or invite participants to role-play. A new experimental task for studying the decision to take a bribe was designed in this study to overcome these problems by embedding the opportunity for bribe-taking in an unrelated task that participants perform. Using this new experimental task, we found that refraining from harming a third party by taking a bribe was associated with lower offered bribes and higher scores of the participants on the honesty-humility scale from the HEXACO personality inventory. A trial-level analysis showed that response times were longer for trials with bribes and even longer for trials in which bribes were accepted. These results suggest that taking a bribe may require overcoming automatic honest response and support the validity of the honesty-humility scale in predicting moral behavior.

• Klíčová slova
• HEXACO, bribe-taking, corruption, morality, reaction times,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

This paper focuses on test procedures under corrupted data. We assume that the observations Z i are mismeasured, due to the presence of measurement errors. Thus, instead of Z i for i = 1 , … , n, we observe X i = Z i + δ V i, with an unknown parameter δ and an unobservable random variable V i. It is assumed that the random variables Z i are i.i.d., as are the X i and the V i. The test procedure aims at deciding between two simple hyptheses pertaining to the density of the variable Z i, namely f 0 and g 0. In this setting, the density of the V i is supposed to be known. The procedure which we propose aggregates likelihood ratios for a collection of values of δ. A new definition of least-favorable hypotheses for the aggregate family of tests is presented, and a relation with the Kullback-Leibler divergence between the sets f δ δ and g δ δ is presented. Finite-sample lower bounds for the power of these tests are presented, both through analytical inequalities and through simulation under the least-favorable hypotheses. Since no optimality holds for the aggregation of likelihood ratio tests, a similar procedure is proposed, replacing the individual likelihood ratio by some divergence based test statistics. It is shown and discussed that the resulting aggregated test may perform better than the aggregate likelihood ratio procedure.

• Klíčová slova
• Chernoff Stein lemma, Neyman Pearson test, composite hypotheses, corrupted data, divergence based testing, least-favorable hypotheses,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Many reports independently confirm that even more than a quarter of a century after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the results of research and development in those countries that were under its influence are insufficient in comparison to the rest of the world. Given that human intelligence is not distributed unevenly and that science is a powerful driving force for the future of an economy, there is a hidden problem, which, if it can be resolved, may release great economic potential. The first generation of researchers from Armenia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Slovakia and Ukraine, who successfully completed their education after the political revolution, were surveyed. The survey revealed many similarities with regards to ethics, but that there is mounting evidence that the main cause of the current situation is the state of the local legal systems. The conclusion was drawn that a conceptual change in staffing within the relevant legal systems is required to release potential and stimulate wealth creation.

• Klíčová slova
• Corruption, Economy, Justice, Moral basis, Science,
• MeSH
• ekonomický rozvoj MeSH
• etika výzkumu * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mravy * MeSH
• prosazení zákonů etika   MeSH
• průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
• sociální spravedlnost MeSH
• výzkum * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Arménie MeSH
• Česká republika MeSH
• Gruzie MeSH
• Slovenská republika MeSH
• SSSR MeSH
• Ukrajina MeSH

We investigated how selected electromorphological parameters of myelinated axons influence the preservation of interspike intervals when the propagation of action potentials is corrupted by axonal intrinsic noise. Hereby we tried to determine how the intrinsic axonal noise influences the performance of axons serving as carriers for temporal coding. The strategy of this coding supposes that interspike intervals presented to higher order neurons would minimally be deprived of information included in interspike intervals at the axonal initial segment. Our experiments were conducted using a computer model of the myelinated axon constructed in a software environment GENESIS (GEneral NEural SImulation System). We varied the axonal diameter, myelin sheath thickness, axonal length, stimulation current and channel distribution to determine how these parameters influence the role of noise in spike propagation and hence in preserving the interspike intervals. Our results, expressed as the standard deviation of spike travel times, showed that by stimulating the axons with regular rectangular pulses the interspike intervals were preserved with a microsecond accuracy. Stimulation with pulses imitating postsynaptic currents, greater changes of interspike intervals were found, but the influence of implemented noise on the jitter of interspike intervals was approximately the same.

• MeSH
• akční potenciály fyziologie   MeSH
• artefakty MeSH
• iontové kanály fyziologie   MeSH
• modely neurologické * MeSH
• nervová vlákna myelinizovaná fyziologie   MeSH
• počítačová simulace MeSH
• stochastické procesy MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• iontové kanály MeSH

We investigated how selected electromorphological parameters of myelinated axons influence the preservation of interspike intervals when the propagation of action potentials is corrupted by axonal intrinsic noise. Hereby we tried to determine how the intrinsic axonal noise influences the performance of axons serving as carriers for temporal coding. The strategy of this coding supposes that interspike intervals presented to higher order neurons would minimally be deprived of information included in interspike intervals at the axonal initial segment. Our experiments were conducted using a computer model of the myelinated axon constructed in a software environment GENESIS (GEneral NEural SImulation System). We varied the axonal diameter, myelin sheath thickness, axonal length, stimulation current and channel distribution to determine how these parameters influence the role of noise in spike propagation and hence in preserving the interspike intervals. Our results, expressed as the standard deviation of spike travel times, showed that by stimulating the axons with regular rectangular pulses the interspike intervals were preserved with a microsecond accuracy. Stimulating the axons with pulses imitating postsynaptic currents, greater changes of interspike intervals were found, but the influence of implemented noise on the jitter of interspike intervals was approximately the same.

• MeSH
• akční potenciály fyziologie   MeSH
• artefakty * MeSH
• modely neurologické * MeSH
• nervová vlákna myelinizovaná fyziologie   MeSH
• počítačová simulace * MeSH
• reprodukovatelnost výsledků MeSH
• stochastické procesy MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• upravené články MeSH

Games involving quantum strategies often yield higher payoff. Here, we study a practical realization of the three-player dilemma game using the superconductivity-based quantum processors provided by IBM Q Experience. We analyze the persistence of the quantum advantage under corruption of the input states and how this depends on parameters of the payoff table. Specifically, experimental fidelity and error are observed not to be properly anti-correlated; i.e., there are instances where a class of experiments with higher fidelity yields a greater error in the payoff. Further, we find that the classical strategy will always outperform the quantum strategy if corruption is higher than 50%.

• Klíčová slova
• Effect of noise on quantum advantages, Experimental realization of a quantum game, Quantum game, Three-party dilemma game,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

This paper presents a new approach to the blind deconvolution and superresolution problem of multiple degraded low-resolution frames of the original scene. We do not assume any prior information about the shape of degradation blurs. The proposed approach consists of building a regularized energy function and minimizing it with respect to the original image and blurs, where regularization is carried out in both the image and blur domains. The image regularization based on variational principles maintains stable performance under severe noise corruption. The blur regularization guarantees consistency of the solution by exploiting differences among the acquired low-resolution images. Several experiments on synthetic and real data illustrate the robustness and utilization of the proposed technique in real applications.

• MeSH
• algoritmy * MeSH
• interpretace obrazu počítačem metody   MeSH
• numerická analýza pomocí počítače MeSH
• reprodukovatelnost výsledků MeSH
• senzitivita a specificita MeSH
• ukládání a vyhledávání informací metody   MeSH
• umělá inteligence * MeSH
• vylepšení obrazu metody   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Transcranial sonography (TCS) of the brain parenchyma in patients with movement and other neurodegenerative disorders has developed with increasing dynamics during the past two decades. The specific advantages of TCS are the different visualization of brain structures compared to other neuroimaging methods due to the different physical imaging principle, high-resolution imaging of echogenic deep brain structures, on-time dynamic imaging with high resolution in time, relatively low costs of technical equipment, wide availability, short investigation time, noninvasivity, mobility and bedside availability, and little corruption by patients' movements. TCS proved sensitive and reliable in detecting disease-specific alterations of brainstem structures and basal ganglia in various movement disorders. Here, we give an overview on the technical requirements and recommendations on the standardized application of TCS of deep brain structures in movement disorders. We discuss methodological potentials and limitations of TCS, its validity, and future developments.

• MeSH
• diferenciální diagnóza MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• pohybové poruchy diagnóza   diagnostické zobrazování   patofyziologie   MeSH
• prediktivní hodnota testů MeSH
• reprodukovatelnost výsledků MeSH
• ultrasonografie dopplerovská transkraniální metody   normy   trendy   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

In this article, I examine the case of a viral film entitled "Plandemic," its sequel, and the epidemiologist that is its main subject, and develop a cultural sociology of conspiracy theorizing through the concept of "performative conspiracy." I argue that the Plandemic case represents a cultural performance within the (ongoing) serious social drama of the Covid-19 pandemic. I focus primarily on the "alternative" narrative put forth by the Plandemic case; however, the (Western/US) "mainstream" narrative becomes clear as well. Both call upon the same sets of binary oppositions, chief among them, science vs. blind faith, truth vs. deception, and evidence vs. supposition. Audiences, who are themselves fragmented and differentiated, are exposed to multiple narrative paths. Within the mainstream, they encounter an apocalyptic-turned romantic story, in which science, evidence, and the truth, the sacred trio, will lift humanity out of perilous danger. Plandemic's alternative narrative begins in a tragic tone and builds apocalyptically into a tale of terror, waged by the very same forces of science, truth, and evidence, to create a "plague of corruption" that will "kill millions." To conclude, I reflect on the potential implications of the increasing popularity of conspiracy theorizing about Covid-19.

• Klíčová slova
• Covid-19, Cultural performance, Narrative, Performative conspiracy, Social drama,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

All around the world, inequalities persist in the complex web of social, economic, and ecological factors that mediate food security outcomes at different human and institutional scales. There have been rapid and continuous improvements in agricultural productivity and better food security in many regions of the world during the past 50 years due to an expansion in crop area, irrigation, and supportive policy and institutional initiatives. However, in Sub-Saharan Africa, the situation is inverted. Statistics show that food insecurity has risen since 2015 in Sub-Saharan African countries, and the situation has worsened owing to the Ukraine conflict and the ongoing implications of the COVID-19 threat. This review looks into multidimensional challenges to achieving the SDG2 goal of "End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture" in Sub-Saharan Africa and the prosper policy recommendations for action. Findings indicate that weak economic growth, gender inequality, high inflation, low crop productivity, low investment in irrigated agriculture and research, climate change, high population growth, poor policy frameworks, weak infrastructural development, and corruption are the major hurdles in the sustaining food security in Sub-Saharan Africa. Promoting investments in agricultural infrastructure and extension services together with implementing policies targeted at enhancing the households' purchasing power, especially those in rural regions, appear to be essential drivers for improving both food availability and food access.

• Klíčová slova
• SDG2, Sub-Saharan Africa, food security, inequality, policy,
• MeSH
• COVID-19 * epidemiologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• zajištění potravin MeSH
• zásobování potravinami * MeSH
• zemědělství metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• subsaharská Afrika epidemiologie   MeSH