Living Beyond Capitalism

In Österreichs Supermärkten werden täglich erhebliche Mengen an Lebensmitteln entsorgt, die aus Gründen der Überproduktion, Überlagerung oder wegen anderweitigen gerinfügigen Mängeln nicht verkauft werden können. Viele dieser Lebensmittel stehen kurz vor dem Ablaufdatum oder haben dieses gerade überschritten, sind noch genießbar und landen dennoch im Abfall. Die kontinuierliche Ausdehnung und Ausdifferenzierung des Produktsortiments kann als konsumgesellschaftiche Entwicklung dafür mitverantwortlich gemacht werden, ebenso wie der von AnbieterInnen und KundInnen gleichermaßen konstruierte Anspruch auf ein stets lücken- und makelloses, ästhetisch vollkommenes und individuellen Bedürfnissen entsprechendes Warenangebot. Die Konsumgesellschaft zeigt sich in diesem Punkt als Erlebnisgesellschaft, deren Erlebnisanspruch sich, wie Gerhard Schulze beschreibt, zusehends auf Lebensmittel überträgt. Supermärkte sind konsumgesellschaftliche Akteure am Massenmarkt und Schauplätze modernen Massenkonsums. Als solche werden sie zur Angriffsfläche für KonsumkritikerInnen, die Großkonzernen vorwerfen, an ausbeuterischen Prozessen mit sozialen und ökologischen Negativfolgen beteiligt zu sein. Sie begreifen Konsum als soziales Handeln, das sich auf andere bezieht und im Falle des Massenkonsums – also des Einkaufs im Supermarkt – die kapitalistische Marktwirtschaft und ihre Folgewirkungen unterstützt. Als Reaktion darauf und in Anbetracht des Wissens über den Umfang der noch essbaren Lebensmittel im Supermarktabfall wenden sie sich als TrägerInnen konsumkritischer Praktiken wie „Dumpster Diving“, „Containern“ oder „GeObben“ gegen das Konsumsystem: Sie holen Nahrungsmittel aus den Mülltonnen der Märkte und essen das, was weggeworfen wird. Die Idee, durch „Mülltonnentauchen“ aus dem System des Massenkonsums auszusteigen, findet ihren philosophischen Halt im Gedankengut des „Freeganismus“. Sein Ideal des „Living beyond Capitalism“ drückt sich in der Absicht aus, durch eine „weitgehende Verweigerung der Teilnahme an einer kapitalistischen Volkswirtschaft [den negativen Einfluss des Einzelnen] auf die Umwelt, die Tierwelt und das menschliche Leben zu verringern“. (www.freegan.at) Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit werden nach einleitenden Abschnitten zum soziologischen Konsumbegriff und zur Konsumgesellschaft die Beweggründe von fünf Wiener Dumpster DiverInnen dargestellt, die in qualitativen Interviews befragt wurden. Darüber hinaus wird das Konzept des „Sozialen Wertstofftransfers“ als institutionalisierte und kooperative Antwort auf das Lebensmittelabfallproblem erläutert.Large amounts of food are discarded everyday in Austrias supermarkets, consisting of items that have been in stock for too long due to reasons of overproduction or have been slightly damaged and can no longer be sold. Many of these goods could still be used, as the product´s expiration date is still valid or the product has only recently expired. Why not “save” those products? Why are they considered “waste” in the first place? The reason for those wasteful practices lies within the structure of our current consumer society which is based on the continuous development of new products and brands in order to meet consumer demands for a range of perfectly manufactured, aesthetic goods that are always offered and even available to meet individual needs. The consumer’s selection of goods – especially food products – that convey a certain aspect of excitement and distinctiveness is what links these structures to Schulzes concept of “Die Erlebnisgesellschaft”. Supermarkets are institutions of modern mass consumption that play a crucial part within consumer society. Considered as such, they play a critical role for critics of consumerism, who blame corporate conglomerates for participating in exploitive processes that cause social and ecological damage. Their perception of shopping – particularly shopping in supermarkets – is that of a social act, directed to others and, through the mechanisms of a capitalist economy, followed by negative impact on humans and nature. In response and as a result of knowing about the waste practice of food stores, certain people oppose consumerism by adopting practices such as “Dumpster Diving“, “Containern“ or “GeObben“: Hence, they search for food in the garbage of supermarkets in order to eat what has been disposed of. Moreover this idea of withdrawing from the capitalist system connects those practices to the philosophy of “Freeganism”, which pursues the ideal of “living beyond capitalism” for ethical reasons. Thus, “Freegans” are described as “people who employ alternative strategies for living based on limited participation in the conventional economy and minimal consumption of resources”. (http://freegan.info) Within a qualitative research project, five Viennese men and women who practice dumpster diving were interviewed. Their interpretations of anti-consumerist methods are compared and discussed in this thesis. In addition, the concept of “Sozialer Wertstofftransfer” which acknowledges the social potential of recyclable resources is reviewed as a possible cooperative reaction to the problem of edible food discarded by supermarkets

Effects of three intravitreal injections of aflibercept on the ocular circulation in eyes with age-related maculopathy

Aims: To investigate changes in ocular perfusion following three consecutive intravitreal injections with aflibercept for treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Methods The study included 20 eyes from 20 Caucasian patients with unilateral nAMD and 20 fellow eyes. All nAMD eyes were treated with standard intravitreal injection of aflibercept (IVA;2 mg). Measurements of ocular perfusion at the optic nerve head (ONH) and the choroid were performed with laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG). Measurements were conducted at baseline, 1 week after the first injection, at the time point of the second and third injection as well as 1 month after the third injection. Results In treated eyes, mean blur rate (the main output parameter of LSFG) in the ONH microvasculature and in the choroid was significantly reduced 1 week after the first IVA treatment. The effect persisted throughout the entire follow-up period (p<0.001). No change in ocular perfusion was observed in fellow eyes. Conclusions: IVA for treatment of nAMD leads to a reduction in perfusion of the ONH and the choroid in the treated eye with no apparent effect on the fellow eye

Semiautomated SD-OCT Measurements of Corneal Sublayer Thickness in Normal and Post-SMILE Eyes

Purpose:To test the reliability of a novel algorithm for measuring corneal epithelial thickness (ET) and stromal thickness of normal eyes and post-small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) corneas with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.Methods:In this prospective observational study, a customized semiautomated software algorithm was developed and applied to measure corneal ET and stromal thickness along the horizontal corneal meridian. Measurements were performed by 2 examiners in a randomized fashion on a sample of 40 eyes with previous SMILE for treatment of myopia and a control group composed of 40 normal eyes. The intrauser repeatability and interuser reproducibility were analyzed by calculating typical indices including the coefficient of variation and intraclass correlation coefficient. Corneal sublayer thickness profiles were compared between normal and post-SMILE eyes.Results:In both groups, coefficients of variation were 3.2% or lower and intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.929 or higher indicating excellent reliability of the measurement method. Central ET was on an average 6 m greater in post-SMILE corneas (58.8 5.4 m) compared with normal eyes (52.8 +/- 4.0 m), with P < 0.01. Also, there was greater interindividual variability in ET in post-SMILE corneas and their horizontal epithelial profile seemed to show a lenticular appearance.Conclusions:Highly favorable indices of measurement reliability were achieved for this novel method of measuring corneal sublayer pachymetry not only in normal eyes but also in eyes with previous SMILE. The corneal ET profile was significantly altered in post-SMILE eyes compared with normal corneas

Artificial Intelligence Algorithms to Diagnose Glaucoma and Detect Glaucoma Progression: Translation to Clinical Practice

Purpose: This concise review aims to explore the potential for the clinical implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) strategies for detecting glaucoma and monitoring glaucoma progression. / Methods: Nonsystematic literature review using the search combinations "Artificial Intelligence," "Deep Learning," "Machine Learning," "Neural Networks," "Bayesian Networks," "Glaucoma Diagnosis," and "Glaucoma Progression." Information on sensitivity and specificity regarding glaucoma diagnosis and progression analysis as well as methodological details were extracted. / Results: Numerous AI strategies provide promising levels of specificity and sensitivity for structural (e.g. optical coherence tomography [OCT] imaging, fundus photography) and functional (visual field [VF] testing) test modalities used for the detection of glaucoma. Area under receiver operating curve (AROC) values of > 0.90 were achieved with every modality. Combining structural and functional inputs has been shown to even more improve the diagnostic ability. Regarding glaucoma progression, AI strategies can detect progression earlier than conventional methods or potentially from one single VF test. / Conclusions: AI algorithms applied to fundus photographs for screening purposes may provide good results using a simple and widely accessible test. However, for patients who are likely to have glaucoma more sophisticated methods should be used including data from OCT and perimetry. Outputs may serve as an adjunct to assist clinical decision making, whereas also enhancing the efficiency, productivity, and quality of the delivery of glaucoma care. Patients with diagnosed glaucoma may benefit from future algorithms to evaluate their risk of progression. Challenges are yet to be overcome, including the external validity of AI strategies, a move from a "black box" toward "explainable AI," and likely regulatory hurdles. However, it is clear that AI can enhance the role of specialist clinicians and will inevitably shape the future of the delivery of glaucoma care to the next generation. / Translational Relevance: The promising levels of diagnostic accuracy reported by AI strategies across the modalities used in clinical practice for glaucoma detection can pave the way for the development of reliable models appropriate for their translation into clinical practice. Future incorporation of AI into healthcare models may help address the current limitations of access and timely management of patients with glaucoma across the world

Challenges in developing a cross-serotype rhinovirus vaccine

A great burden of disease is attributable to human rhinovirus (HRV) infections which are the major cause of the common cold, exacerbations of both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and are associated with asthma development. Despite this there is currently no vaccine for HRV. The first vaccine studies showed some promise in terms of serotype-specific protection against cold symptoms, but antigenic heterogeneity amongst the >150 HRVs has been regarded as a major barrier to effective vaccine development and has resulted in little progress over 50 years. Here we review those vaccine studies conducted to date, discuss the difficulties posed by antigenic heterogeneity and describe some recent advances in generating cross-reactive antibodies and T cell responses using peptide immunogens

historioPLUS / Bilder der Macht Macht der Bilder : Ludwig XIV. als Sonnenkönig in der zeitgenössischen Bildpublizistik

Ludwig XIV. war zwar nicht der einzige Herrscher, der sich mit dem Symbol der Sonne umgab, aber er ist unbestritten der einzige „Sonnenkönig“. Viele Publikationen sind erschienen, die diese Symbolik aufgreifen. Die Analyse ausgewählter Beispiele der zeitgenössischen Bildpublizistik zeigt, dass die Sonnenikonographie Ludwigs aus mehreren Propagemen bestand, die jedoch unterschiedlich interpretiert werden konnten. Die dadurch entwickelte Bildersprache gibt einen Einblick in die Diskurse der Zeit sowie in den „Krieg der Bilder“, der zwischen der pro- und antifranzösischen Seite ausgefochten wurde. Die Arbeit fragt nach der Herkunft der Bildmotive sowie nach den Querverbindungen zwischen den herangezogenen Fallbeispielen.(VLID)362011

Effectiveness of Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty and analysis of factors with possible influence on it

Aktuell liegt der einzige evidente Therapieansatz beim Offenwinkelglaukom in der Senkung des Augeninnendrucks. Neben der medikamentösen und chirurgischen Therapie gilt die Selektive Lasertrabekuloplastik (SLT) als komplikationsarme Option, um dies zu erreichen. In dieser retrospektiven Studie wurde die Effektivität der SLT überprüft und prognostisch relevante Faktoren darauf untersucht. Es wurden 130 Augen (90 Patienten) analysiert. Der Augeninnendruck war bis zu ein Jahr nach der Behandlung signifikant gesenkt. Folgende Variablen zeigten einen signifikant positiven Einfluss auf das Ausmaß der Drucksenkung: hohes Ausgangsdruck-Niveau, geringe Hornhautdicke und hohe Gesamtenergie. Der Augeninnendruck war nur bei Augen mit Pigmentierungsgrad 1 und 2 signifikant gesenkt. Bei der medikamentösen Vorbehandlung zeigten nur Augen, die mit Nicht-Prostaglandin-Augentropfen behandelt worden waren, und Augen, die mit einer Kombinationstherapie aus Prostaglandinanaloga und anderen Wirkstoffen behandelt worden waren, eine signifikante Drucksenkung.Reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) is still the only evidence-based treatment option in glaucoma therapy. Besides pharmacological and surgical approaches, Selective Lasertrabeculoplasty (SLT) is a safe option to achieve this objective. The aim of this retrospective study was to validate SLT’s effectiveness and identify potential influencing factors. A total of 130 eyes (90 patients) with primary open angle glaucoma were analysed IOP was significantly reduced until one year post-procedure. The following parameters showed significant positive influence on pressure reduction: high baseline IOP, low CCT and high energy dosage. IOP was lowered significantly only in eyes with low to moderate pigmentation degree. Regarding the medical pre- treatment, only eyes pre-treated with non-prostaglandin analogues and eyes pre-treated with a combination of prostaglandin analogues (PGA) and non- prostaglandin analogues showed a significant pressure reduction