Diagnostik und Therapie von Bluthochdruck durch kontinuierliche Messung und Rückmeldung

Die Entwicklung einer Aufzeichnungs- und Feedbacksoftware mit Koppelung an einen PC ermöglicht die permanente Online-Darstellung des aktuellen Blutdrucks und der Herzfrequenz. Zur Messung verwendet wird die Finapres-2300 Anlage von Ohmeda Medizintechnik, die nach dem Penaz-Verfahren mit stationärer Messung durch Fingermanschette arbeitet. Das ursprünglich für die Intensivmedizin entwickelte Messgerät wurde so eingerichtet, daß neben der Datenaufzeichnung und -speicherung eine Feedback-Kommunikation mit den Patienten hergestellt werden kann. Realisiert wird dies in grafisch animativer, analoger Form nach jedem zweiten Herzschlag über den PC-Monitor. Ein Belohnungssystem, in Form eines Kontostandfensters auf dem Bildschirm, verteilt Pluspunkte für fallende Tendenz und Minuspunkte für steigende Tendenz des diastolischen Drucks. Die Patienten machen hierbei oft erstmalig die Erfahrung, daß sie die Möglichkeit der Einflussnahme auf ihren Blutdruck haben. Darüber hinaus kann das Programm in einigen Fällen von primärer Hypertonie als "Detektor" für eine zugrunde liegende psychische Kernproblematik eingesetzt werden. Es besteht damit die Möglichkeit, diejenigen Situationen oder Lebensbereiche zu entdecken, bei deren geistiger Repräsentation Blutdruck und/oder Puls außergewöhnlich stark ansteigen oder abfallen. Die statistische Auswertung erfolgt automatisch durch Schnittstellen zu den Programmsystemen SPSS/PC+ und Harvard Graphics. Hieraus ergeben sich weitreichende Perspektiven für die Diagnostik der Hypertonie wie auch im gesamten Bereich der Prävention, Therapie und Rehabilitation von kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen.The development of a new screening and feedback software enables continuous representation of blood pressure and heart rate. To this end, the Ohmeda Finapres-2300 equipment working with the Penaz technique and a finger cuff is used. This con-figuration allows simultaneous data recording and analogous feedback communication with the patient. This is realized after every two heart beats graphically on the monitor. A kind of banking account located in an additional window on the screen is used as a token system, increasing with falling tendency of the diastolic pressure and decreasing with rising tendency. With this method patients often discover for the first time that they are able to influence their blood pressure. Furthermore the program can be used for detection of psychological causes for some cases of essential hypertension. Statistical calculations are performed automatically by the software packages SPSS/PC+ and Harvard Graphics. Thus a variety of applications for diagnosis, therapy, prevention, and rehabilitation of cardiovascular diseases is emerging

Wirksamkeit eines spezifisch für Zwangsstörungen entwickelten stationären Gruppentherapiekonzepts bei gleichzeitiger Verhaltenstherapie und pharmakologischer Behandlung

Purpose: The goal of this treatment trial was to investigate the efficacy of an inpatient group therapy program specifically designed for patients suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD, ICD 10, F 42). Methods: In the experimental group (EG; n = 14) the specific group therapy was carried out in addition to individual cognitive-behavioral therapy, the control group (KG; n = 16) received non-specific group therapy in mixed patient-groups in addition to individual therapy. 7 patients (EG = 3, KG = 4) received also Selective Serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Y-BOCS, BDI, and STAI-X1 were performed pre- and post-treatment. Furthermore therapists' ratings and self ratings were taken. Results: At post-treatment both groups showed significant improvement of the symptomatology. For the EG the Y-BOCS mean was reduced from 23.64 to 11.35, for the KG from 23.81 to 12.81. The group comparison showed no significant differences (alpha = 0.05) in clinical measurements, therapists' and self ratings. However, there were significantly more responders (improvement >50%, Y-BOCS) in the EG and treatment duration was shorter by 15 days. Conclusions: Clinical outcome in the EG was not superior. However, the specific group therapy for OCD contributes to an economic and effective treatment

The Rebound Effects of Automation

This contribution argues for a shift in the paradigms by which we assess the impact of automation on work. The suggested theoretical lens provides an explanation for the paradox of rising employment figures despite continuous automation. Capitalist development entails tendencies of rising complexity and acceleration of economic relationships, tendencies that are taken to extremes in digital capitalism. Therefore, we need to acknowledge countertendencies to a substitution of work, framed as three rebound effects of automation: rising complexity of production and the division of labour, work related to the introduction of automation and work needed to mitigate the societal consequences of capitalist development. Using short case studies on work in logistics, industry and care, the implementation of digital technology is shown to be partly motivated by the labour market situation – automation technologies are introduced to mitigate labour shortages. However, the case studies also illustrate the exuberant expectations about the effects of digitalisation in this respect. While the narratives behind the introduction of digital technologies are heavily shaped by the motivation to combat labour shortages, the actual technologies are barely equipped to do so. Conflicts about the (relief from) an excessive burden at work begin to take on centre stage in industrial relations.This work has been funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Germany (BMBF) (grant no.: 16DII131, 16DII132, 16DII133 – “Deutsches Internet-Institut”)

What future for Chinese labour and transnational solidarity?

In this conclusion we argue that class struggle is central to the future of Chinese workers and the improvement of their situation. Technological upgrading in itself will not automatically result in better working conditions. Moreover, we point out that Chinese workers have a number of old and new sources of power to draw on. What is, however, most problematic in this respect is the role of the ACFTU, operating as an official mediator rather than an independent trade union, and the resulting lack of associational power. Hence, informal labour NGOs have an important role to play in supporting social justice for China’s workers

COVID-19 and Global Value Chains: Trigger for a Sound Economic Order?

Can coronavirus trigger a sound economic order? Scepticism is advisable

Digitalization and the geographies of production: Towards reshoring or global fragmentation?

The relationship between digitalization and the governance and geographies of global value chains has not been explored systematically. This contribution discusses how digitalization affects the variables that determine the localization of manufacturing, i.e. the substitution of work through automation, the deepening of the customer-producer relationship, the rationalization of distribution through digitalized logistics networks, and the increased modularization of supply chains through standardization and 'platformisation'. The results of the theoretical exploration defy expectations of a straightforward 'reshoring' of production through the combined effects of automation and benefits through a co-localization of companies within their target markets. Tendencies that would support a stronger integration of production in advanced economies are instead being undercut by ongoing countertrends towards fragmentation. The contradictory tendencies of a geographical integration of manufacturing and target markets on the one hand and geographical fragmentation through sophisticated supply-chain organization on the other will affect the technologically facilitated processes of value chain restructuring in a sector-specific manner

Data and Digital Platforms in Industry: Implication for enterprises strategies and governance

This article explores the position of industrial internet platforms (IIP) in manufacturing value chains. We develop an understanding of the role of data in global value chains (GVCs), referring to literature on intangible assets and theories on platform business models. We use data from a qualitative empirical study based on 45 interviews on platforms active on the German market to answer (1) whether there are tendencies of oligopolization that lead to an accumulation of power on the side of the platforms, and (2) whether it is the platforms that capture most of the gains derived from higher productivity or lower transaction costs. The analysis shows that platforms mainly act as service providers and/or intermediaries that support manufacturing companies in reaping benefits from data. While the relationship between platforms and manufacturers currently corresponds to a symbiosis, a stronger power imbalance could evolve in the future since processes of oligopolization are likely