Popular Hobby Research Articles

Game Changer: Exploring the Role of Board Games in the Lives of Autistic People.

This mixed methods paper reports findings from three studies examining the overlap between autism and hobbyist board gaming. The first was a quantitative survey of over 1600 board gamers, showing that autistic individuals are overrepresented in this hobby compared to the general population and that autistic traits measured by the AQ are significantly elevated amongst board gamers. Study 1 also assessed gamers' motivations and preferences and reported key differences as well as similarities between autistic and non-autistic gamers. The second was a qualitative study that reported the results of 13 interviews with autistic individuals who are hobbyist board gamers. Using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), four key themes were uncovered, including a preference for systemising, escapism and passions, the social lubrication effect of games and difficulties with deception. In the third, 28 autistic individuals were introduced to board games in groups of 5-10 over an afternoon. Subsequent focus groups were then analysed using IPA. This analysis uncovered themes around how board games are challenging but encouraged growth and how they were an alternative vehicle for forging social relationships. Through this paper, we discuss how and why board games may be a popular hobby amongst the autistic population, and its potential utility for improving autistic wellbeing.

Практики исторической реконструкции в городской среде

This article studies the potential of historical reenactment festivals as an increasingly popular hobby and way of life that revives the history and identity of medieval cities through crafts, costumes and customs. Participation in these festivals educates people about the historical significance of their city and promotes community participation. Despite the fact that Veliky Novgorod can provide favorable conditions for largescale events, there are no targeted projects for the development of historical reconstruction there yet. The resurgence of historical festivals after the decline caused by Covid-19 highlights the need for suitable venues to integrate re-enactments into Novgorod's event calendar. These events provide educational benefits through practical, live historical presentations and aim to balance historical accuracy and entertainment value. Historical reconstruction festivals can bring different benefits to the cities being cultural holidays and tools for urban regeneration, improving the global image of the city. Successful integration of historical reenactment festivals into the city's event agenda requires balancing the needs of redevelopers, the host city and the local population.

Olympic Philately: Reading the 1896 Athens Olympics from Postage Stamps

A postage stamp is principally used to demonstrate that postage has been paid. However, governments also use postage stamps to convey various messages to the world, and the message the stamp contains reaches many people. Therefore, postage stamps are frequently used to embrace and disseminate an idea or belief, to convey information to a target audience, or to announce or promote an event. Additionally, philately (or stamp collecting) remains a popular hobby. Stamp collectors, who consider stamps as works of art, meticulously collect, classify, and scrutinize the details linked to stamps. Philately also has deep ties to the Olympic games. Olympic postage stamps, which were first introduced to offer financial assistance in organizing the 1896 Athens Olympics, have also served the purpose of promoting the Olympics at the international level. Furthermore, the works of ancient Greek culture and art were admirably depicted on the first Olympic postage stamps. These stamps, which also contribute to the revival of the Olympics, have rich symbolic meanings behind their visuals.

ПЕРСТЕНЬ С ПСЕВДОГЕРАЛЬДИЧЕСКОЙ ПЕЧАТКОЙ ИЗ СОБРАНИЯ БАРНАУЛЬСКОГО МУЗЕЯ "ГОРОД"

In the collection of the Barnaul museum “Gorod” there is a small selection of rings with various images on the work site. The ring with the image of the heraldic coat of arms aroused the greatest interest. This article provides a description of the actual ring and the analysis of the image on it. Initially perceived as the personal seal of a representative of a certain noble family, the ring, as it turned out as a result of his research, turned out to be a sample of the so-called “pseudo-heraldry” (the term originated among dactylophilists) - a popular hobby for making rings and rings decorated with the image of heraldic figures, but having nothing to do with either heraldry or a specific generic coat of arms. The manufacture of pseudo-heraldic products, the beginning of which dates back to the XVIII century, has become quite widespread in Russia.

In Vitro Antioxidant Activity of Areca Nut Polyphenol Extracts on RAW264.7 Cells.

Chewing areca nuts is a popular hobby in the Asian region, and areca nuts are rich in polyphenols, although some alkaloids are included. In this study, we explored the antioxidant activity of areca nut polyphenols (ANP) in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. The results revealed that ANP reduced the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells and enhanced the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1). RNA-seq analysis showed that ANP down-regulated the transcription of genes related to the cancer pathway at 160 μg/mL, and the inflammatory pathway as well as viral infection pathway at 320 μg/mL. The cellular signaling analysis further revealed that the expressions of these genes were regulated by the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, and ANP downregulated the activation of the MAPK signaling pathway stimulated by LPS. Collectively, our findings showed that ANP inhibited the MAPK pathway and activated the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant pathways to reduce ROS generation induced by LPS.

Uprooting Racial Health Disparities

Genealogical researchers are the largest user group of archives and library special collections. Although the pursuit of family history is a popular hobby in North America, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that many patients do not collect family health history (FHH). Adequate FHH supports diagnosis and risk assessment for hereditary cancers. Referrals to genetic testing services and counseling reflect glaring racial disparities that are partially attributed to inadequate FHH. Library and information science (LIS) education may offer opportunities to introduce archives curriculum in undergraduate programs and foster synergies with community health outreach program design. Supporting the development of accurate FHH and meeting the genealogy needs of diverse communities is a critical example of the influence LIS education may wield in the reduction of racial disparities in hereditary cancer care.

Price Determinants of Collectable U.S. Commemorative Stamps: An Examination of Philatelic Demand

Philately, the collecting of postage stamps, is a popular hobby throughout the world. Stamp collectors’ motivations vary from the simple pursuit of leisure and recreation to financial investment and speculation. This study explores the demand for vintage U.S. commemorative stamps by examining the determinates of retail prices across alternative categories of sellers. Using regression analysis and a cross-sectional sample of the first 250 commemorative stamps issued by U.S. postal authorities, we estimate price equations for representative national dealers, regional dealers, and for electronic auction sites. The results indicate that production quantities, age, and specific attributes of individual stamp issues are the primary determinants of retail price. However, the pricing structures across categories of sellers are significantly different in a hierarchical manner indicating that dealers may successfully segment the collectable stamp market across different types of collectors but alternative explanations for our conclusions cannot be excluded without additional research.

Low-level laser therapy for treatment of tinnitus in Red Sea scuba divers: a randomized clinical study

BackgroundScuba diving has become a popular hobby. However, diving puts the auditory system at the risk of a wide variety of complaints including tinnitus. Low-level laser therapy is a new modality in treatment of tinnitus. This study evaluates effect of laser therapy on tinnitus of scuba divers in Red Sea. This randomized study included 200 scuba diving patients with tinnitus without any other audiological symptoms. They were randomly divided into two groups: GI (n=100) patients were subjected to 60 sessions of laser therapy, and in the other group GII (n=100), the machine was off while doing the procedure. The Tinnitus Questionnaire (TQ) was done every 20 days to evaluate the severity of the tinnitus for both groups.ResultsBoth groups were matched regarding age and sex distribution. GI group experienced significantly decreased tinnitus severity compared to GII after laser therapy. There was no relation between duration of diving and laser therapy effect in GI.ConclusionLaser therapy is effective in treatment of tinnitus of scuba divers and its effect is increased by number of laser sessions.

The passion and pleasure of information sharing in pottery practice

The paper reports selective findings from a broader study about information behaviour in the context of the pottery hobby as a form of serious leisure. Among all the information activities in this context, the paper focuses on the affective and emotional aspects of information sharing. The Serious Leisure Perspective (SLP) is the theoretical framework of the study. The required data were collected via a purposeful and criteria-based sampling method. A sample of user-generated content (UGC) on YouTube was collected to form the dataset. The collected data were analysed through inductive content analysis to identify patterns of embedded concepts and themes in the dataset. Seven categories were identified. These categories summarise the major emotional reactions that viewers expressed and shared in their comments: (1) amazement, (2) excitement, (3) gratitude, (4) joyfulness, (5) admiration, (6) serenity, (7) inspiration. The overall ambience of the videos and commenters’ reactions were positive and joyful. The paper concludes that information sharing on a popular hobby via a publicly available platform, like YouTube, can evoke a range of positive emotions and establish social bonds. These social ties are the building blocks to form communities of interest and communities of practice to produce and share information on the chosen activity.

Marine Ornamental Aquaculture: Measure Towards Biodiversity Conservation and Livelihood Promotion

Marine ornamental fishes are associated with the coral reef ecosystem, and they possess attractive colours, shapes, behaviours and aesthetic values. In recent days, aquarium tanks with a variety of marine ornamental organisms could be seen in homes, public places and commercial complexes, due to the developments in aquarium technologies. This indicates how this industry has been customized and became a popular hobby around the world. Aquarium business supports significant livelihood for millions of coastal and island communities across the world. Using destructive methods involving explosives and toxic substances (cyanides) for the collection of marine ornamental fishes from coral reefs damage the ecosystem and its biodiversity. Hence, aquaculture of the marine ornamentals would be encouraged as an alternative. The culture of marine ornamental fishes could be elevated from the small-scale backyard system with local coastal and island communities to big scale enterprises, by adopting feasible technologies. This article presents the overview of aquaculture of marine ornamental organisms and marine ornamental trade. The suggestions made here are intended to inform decisions on marine biodiversity conservation and livelihood promotion in coastal and island regions. Marine ornamental fisheries have been projected as an opportunity to sustainably breed marine species for the aquarium trade, while simultaneously generating employment for local communities.

Risks associated with the global demand for novel exotic pets: A new and emerging trade in snakehead fish (Channa spp.) from India

Ornamental fish keeping is a popular hobby worldwide, supporting a significant global aquarium industry. Using export records of live snakeheads (Channa spp.) from India, we show a six-fold increase in the numbers of these (wild-sourced, freshwater) species exported worldwide between 2014 and 2019, driven by an increase in exports from West Bengal to China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. We highlight issues associated with exploitation of a poorly-known taxonomic group (in this case, the genus Channa), species that have restricted ranges, are rare, recently described, and difficult for non-experts to distinguish from others, and the risks associated with global transport of a potentially invasive species. We outline knowledge gaps relevant to national-level management; more broadly, we suggest a fundamental change of approach whereby traders of ‘luxury’ wildlife products (e.g. exotic pets) are required to demonstrate that trade is sustainable and safe, rather than conservationists to demonstrate that it is not.

Retrospective analysis of post-mortem findings in domestic ducks and geese from non-commercial flocks in Sweden, 2011\u20132020

BackgroundSmall poultry flock ownership has become a popular hobby in Europe and North America in recent years but there is a general lack of information regarding bird health and welfare. This retrospective analysis of routine post-mortem cases of non-commercial anseriform poultry aimed at providing information on causes of mortality mostly in relation to mortality events. For this purpose, birds that were submitted for routine post-mortem diagnostics to the National Veterinary Institute (SVA) in Sweden in 2011–2020 were retrospectively reviewed to determine main causes of mortality.ResultsRecords from 79 necropsy submissions involving 120 birds (domestic ducks n = 41, Muscovy ducks n = 45, hybrid ducks n = 2 and domestic geese n = 32) were retrieved and analysed. Most submissions (72.2%) represented flock disease events and unexpected mortality was the most common cause of submission (70.9% of submissions). Twenty-two submissions (27.8%) were referred by veterinarians. There was a wide range of diagnoses of infectious and noninfectious aetiologies. Infectious causes of mortality included parasitic (19.2%), bacterial (13.3%), fungal (10.0%) and viral infections (3.3%) (at bird level of all 120 birds). Some of these infections such as duck virus enteritis (DVE), highly pathogenic influenza (HPAI H5N8) in Muscovy ducks and leucocytozoonosis (Leucocytozoon sp.) in all three species were most likely acquired from contact with wild free-living waterfowl. Generalised yeast infection (Muscovy duck disease) was diagnosed in Muscovy ducks and in a Muscovy duck/domestic duck hybrid. Other diseases were related to generalised noninfectious causes (27.5% of all birds) including diseases such as kidney disease, amyloidosis, cardiac dilatation, reproductive diseases and idiopathic inflammatory conditions. Nutritional or management-related diseases were diagnosed in 14.2% of all birds including rickets and gastrointestinal impaction/obstruction. Congenital/developmental, neoplastic, toxic and traumatic causes of mortality were rare.ConclusionsThe information obtained in this study can be used to identify and evaluate risks and help owners and veterinarians to prevent disease and provide adequate veterinary care for non-commercial anseriform poultry.

Enigmatic armoured catfishes (Siluriformes: Callichthyidae and Loricariidae) in ornamental aquaculture: A new insight into Neotropical fish diversity

Globally, ornamental aquaculture is a multi-million-dollar industry and popular hobby. There are circa 6700 fish taxa being exploited and traded. Various species are traded under commercial names or codes such as certain armoured catfish of families Callichthyidae (C and CW codes or numbers) and Loricariidae (L and LDA codes). Many of these species are imported, reared and multiplied in captivity without their species identification. Here we present a detailed survey of this group of armoured catfish with a special focus on pairing of commercial codes with scientific names. In this context, both species with valid names and scientifically undescribed taxa contributed significantly to the total number of ornamental fish species by circa 25%. In total, 176 species of loricariids and 47 species of small callichthyids were paired with codes used in ornamental aquaculture. The total number of loricariids introduced as ornamentals was estimated to be more than 1000 taxa while more than 500 in small callichthyids. We recommend present findings to all stakeholders and especially taxonomists, conservationists and wildlife managers who are focused on this group of Neotropical fishes. Moreover, formal descriptions of unidentified taxa are required for feasible future monitoring and appropriate management measures of wild populations.

Unforeseen consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic: Increased frequency of kite-string injuries in magnificent frigatebirds (Fregata magnificens) in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil

AbstractKite flying is a popular hobby and sport for children and adults. Despite being illegal in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, the use of abrasive threads remains widespread and poses a health risk to both humans and animals. In this study, we analysed the records of 462 magnificent frigatebirds (Fregata magnificens) submitted to rehabilitation centres or found dead along the southern coast of Rio de Janeiro state from October 2016 to August 2020. Of these, 244 individuals (52.8%) presented wing lesions consistent with kite-string injury, which can have a critical impact on the ability of frigatebirds to fly and will ultimately cause their death. Even when veterinary care is provided, only a small proportion of the individuals (2%) will fully recover the ability to fly in order to be released back to the wild. In 2020, an atypical increase in the number of individuals with kite-string injuries (~1,200% increase compared to other years) was noted in the weeks following the suspension of school activities and commerce in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of frigatebirds with kitestring injuries recorded in a given week was positively correlated with internet searches for kite-related terms, which also peaked during the quarantine period of the COVID-19 pandemic. This illustrates how pandemic events may aggravate existing human-wildlife conflicts, and how preparedness plans need to incorporate measures to help communities cope with boredom and isolation during quarantine in ways that do not negatively impact the welfare and conservation of wildlife.

Gold Fish (Carassius auratus) Grows Gradually in a Confined Pot Maintained Carefully in all Corners of this World as Popular Hobby

Gold Fish (Carassius auratus) Grows Gradually in a Confined Pot Maintained Carefully in all Corners of this World as Popular Hobby

Gamanak – The Travel Planner with Social Media Mobile Application

Travelling is an immensely popular hobby for most people nowadays since it allows them to be relieved of their stress and enjoy various activities among friends and family. It is a form of adventure which allows them to discover new places, meet people of various ethnicities, learn new languages and relish the beauty of the world. While all these make traveling sound amazing, planning such a journey can turn out to be a very tiresome task which requires a lot of time and effort. The modern world has many solutions for this and out of them, digital solutions come out on top. Most mobile applications developed to overcome this issue require partial or full subscription payments while the free applications are inefficient. The main purpose of this research was to provide a solution to the aforementioned problem by developing a free mobile application facilitated with electronical word of mouth, digital references, predefined mechanisms of selection and added features such as reminders. Interviews and questionnaires were used as the main research methodology to gather information from the targeted users. The findings of the study indicated that a majority of the target population would prefer to use an application which uses social media and electronic word of mouth to convey travel details. Overall, it will promote the tourist industry in the country especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hordozható kovácsműhely tervezése

A kovácsolás napjainkban egyre jobban visszatérni látszó foglalkozás, mely az információ és az oktató anyagok nagy száma és könnyű hozzáférhetősége miatt ma már nem csak teljes értékű szakmának, de kedvelt hobbitevékenységnek is számít. Elsősorban a hobbikovácsok körében született meg az igény egy olyan szerkezetre, mely egybefoglalja a kovácsoláshoz szükséges alapvető eszközöket, oly módon, hogy ezek együttesen, helytakarékosan, valamint minél egyszerűbben mozgathatók, szállíthatók legyenek. A cikk egy hordozható kovácsműhely vázának néhány tervezési kérdésével foglalkozik.

Detecting Heritage Crime(s): What We Know about Illicit Metal Detecting in England and Wales

Abstract:Metal detecting is a popular hobby in England and Wales, and, since 1997, over 1.3 million finds have been recorded by the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS), a scheme to encourage the voluntary recording of artifacts found by the public. The metal detector can be a useful archaeological tool when used lawfully and responsibly; however, it is also a tool that is used for illicit purposes by individuals and groups wishing to obtain artifacts from archaeological sites on which they have no permission to detect. Information on the number and nature of incidents of illicit metal detecting, however, is difficult to collate owing both to the nature of the crime and to the way it is recorded (or not) by law enforcement authorities. In this article, we examine the strengths and limitations of the available official and unofficial sources on illicit metal detecting in England and Wales and explore the potential they have to tell us about current trends in this form of heritage crime. The first unofficial source is a list of incidents reported to Historic England, which contains basic information on 276 incidents recorded between 2010 and 2017. The second source is the result of a survey of the PAS’s finds liaison officers regarding the extent to which they assisted law enforcement authorities for the years from 2015 to 2017. Both sources were then contrasted with a freedom of information request that was sent to all 49 police forces in the United Kingdom. Although there are some synergies between the unofficial and official sources, the lack of detail in any one dataset makes them of limited use in demonstrating trends in the macro- and micro-scales of time and place. Accordingly, many of the issues highlighted in this article could be resolved by devising a better system for police record keeping of metal detecting offences.

Gezondheid en het houden van hobbyvarkens: een overzicht

Miniatuurvarkens, zoals het Vietnamese hangbuikvarken en de Kunekune, zijn de bekendste hobbyvarkensrassen. Ondanks hun populariteit is de kennis van hun gezondheid en management schaars. Ze hebben een uitstekend reukvermogen en gehoor, beschikken over een goed aanpassingsvermogen en zijn doorgaans gemakkelijk te hanteren. Ze gedijen goed in de thermoneutrale zone. Een goed geventileerde schuilplaats met een recreatiegebied en het opnemen van stro voor manipulatie voorkomen verveling. Drinkwater moet te allen tijde worden verstrekt. Beperkte voeding één of tweemaal daags is optimaal om overgewicht te voorkomen. Agressie kan optreden en is een van de redenen waarom eigenaars het varken niet langer wensen aan te houden. Schurft en zonnebrand zijn de meest voorkomende huidproblemen. Diarree door Escherichia coli kan voor problemen zorgen bij biggen. Castratie wordt aanbevolen om agressief gedrag, het verspreiden van een penetrante geur en het risico op neoplasmata te vermijden. Het wordt bij voorkeur op jonge leeftijd uitgevoerd om chirurgische complicaties te voorkomen. Er wordt aanbevolen om profylaxe tegen vlekziekte en endoparasieten twee keer per jaar uit te voeren. Andere maatregelen zijn onder meer het periodiek inkorten van de slagtanden en het bekappen van de klauwen.

Sex Differences in the Association Between Gaming and Serious Violence Among Predominantly African American Youth.

Video gaming, a remarkably popular hobby in the United States, has been consistently identified as a correlate of aggressive behavior, and this association is not limited to violent video gaming. Prior studies of sex differences in the association between video gaming and aggression have not controlled for other well-known violence correlates (e.g., substance use, community violence exposure, violence attitudes) or focused primarily on high-risk youth. In this study, we used data from an emergency department in Flint, Michigan (N = 409, 59.9% female, 93.4% African American) to identify sex differences in the association between video gaming and serious peer violence. Youth aged 14 to 20 years were recruited from October 2011 to March 2015, and self-administered computerized surveys including measures of demographics, violence perpetration, gaming frequency, substance use, community violence exposure, and violence attitudes. The primary outcome was an indicator of any serious violence perpetration (e.g., choking, burning, weapon violence) in the past 2 months. Using logistic regression, we estimated the association between gaming and serious violence perpetration, and how it varied by sex, while controlling for demographics, substance use, community violence exposure, and violence attitudes. Approximately 36.6% of males and 27.3% of females reported past 2-month serious violence. On adjusted analysis, hours spent gaming was associated with violence among females (odds ratio [OR] = 1.40, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.16, 1.78]), but not males (OR = 1.03, 95% CI = [0.89, 1.19]); in the model including both males and females, the interaction between hours gaming and sex was significant (p < .01). Our findings suggest video gaming is a stronger marker of severe violence perpetration in females than males among at-risk youth. Violence interventions among females may be improved by including content related to video gaming and identifying other prosocial activities for youth as an alternative to video gaming. Additional research is required to clarify the causal process underlying the identified associations, and to determine what aspects of video gaming are risk-enhancing.