Application of the EFQM Model to Assess the Readiness and Sustainability of the Implementation of I4.0 in Slovakian Companies

The fourth industrial revolution (I4.0) is expected to increase quality, efficiency, availability, sustainability, the reduction of costs, the demand for energy and environment, and mainly increase the level of occupational health and safety (OHS). New procedures or paradigms of this revolution deflect from already used standards and create an assumption for building the exceptionality of organizations. The main idea of the performed research was to assess how managers in the Slovak industry perceive the readiness of organizations for the implementation of I4.0. The aim of this study, applied in 53 companies, was to assess two areas: the integration level of complex safety into management systems; and the impact of digitalization on OHS. The applied methodology was based on a modified EFQM (European Foundation for Quality Management) exceptionality model. Answers were transformed into numeric figures using a so-called spider web diagram. In the conclusion of this article, there are described interesting differences in the two mentioned areas based on the perception of both top management and the estimation of the readiness degree of the Slovak organizations for I4.0 concept

Ergonomic Assessment of Physical Load in Slovak Industry Using Wearable Technologies

The physical tasks of workers are demanding, particularly when performed long-term in unsuitable working position, with high frequency, heavy load, after injury, with developing damage of health or reduced performance due to advanced age. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) result from overuse or develop over time. Work activities, which are frequent and repetitive, or activities with awkward postures, cause disorders that may be painful during work or at rest. There is a new technology in the market, occupational exoskeletons, which have the prerequisites for minimizing the negative consequences of workload on WMSDs. We provided pilot quantitative measurements of the ergonomic risk at one selected workplace in a Slovak automotive company with four different workers to prove our methodology using wearable wireless multi-sensor systems Captiv and Actigraph. At first, the test was performed in standard conditions without an exoskeleton. The unacceptable physical load was identified in considerable evaluated body areas—neck, hip, and shoulder. Next, the passive chair exoskeleton Chairless Chair 2.0 was used in trials as an ergonomic measure. Our intention was to determine whether an exoskeleton would be an effective tool for optimizing the workload in selected workplaces and whether the proposed unique quantitative measurement system would give reliable and quick results

The differences between patients with panic disorder and healthy controls in psychophysiological stress profile

Antonia Kotianova,1,2 Michal Kotian,2 Milos Slepecky,1,2 Michaela Chupacova,2 Jan Prasko,1,3 Ingrid Tonhajzerova4,51Department of Psychology Sciences, Faculty of Social Science and Health Care, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Nitra, Slovak Republic; 2Psychagogia, Garbiarska, Liptovsky Mikulas, Slovak Republic; 3Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University Palacky Olomouc, University Hospital, Olomouc, Czech Republic; 4Department of Physiology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovak Republic; 5Biomedical Center Martin, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovak RepublicBackground: Alarming somatic symptoms, in particular, cardiovascular symptoms, are the characteristic feature of panic attacks. Increased cardiac mortality and morbidity have been found in these patients. Power spectral analysis of electrocardiogram R–R intervals is known to be a particularly successful tool in the detection of autonomic instabilities in various clinical disorders. Our study aimed to compare patients with panic disorder and healthy controls in heart rate variation (HRV) parameters (very-low-frequency [VLF], low-frequency [LF], and high-frequency [HF] band components of R–R interval) in baseline and during the response to the mental task.Subjects and methods: We assessed psychophysiological variables in 33 patients with panic disorder (10 men, 23 women; mean age 35.9±10.7 years) and 33 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (10 men, 23 women; mean age 35.8±12.1 years). Patients were treatment naïve. Heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, and HRV in basal conditions and after the psychological task were assessed. Power spectrum was computed for VLF (0.003–0.04 Hz), LF (0.04–0.15 Hz), and HF (0.15–0.40 Hz) bands using fast Fourier transformation.Results: In the baseline period, the VLF band was significantly lower in panic disorder group compared to controls (p<0.005). In the period of mental task, the LF/HF ratio was significantly higher in panic disorder patients compared to controls (p<0.05). No significant differences were found in the remaining parameters. There was a significant difference in ΔHF and ΔLF/HF ratio between patients and controls, with Δ increasing in patients and decreasing in controls.Conclusion: These findings revealed that patients suffering from panic disorder were characterized by relative sympathetic dominance (reactivity) in response to mental stress compared with healthy controls. Keywords: panic disorder, heart rate variability, pulse, blood pressure, muscle tension, psychological tas

Which psychological, psychophysiological, and anthropometric factors are connected with life events, depression, and quality of life in patients with cardiovascular disease

Milos Slepecky,1 Antonia Kotianova,1,2 Jan Prasko,1,3 Ivan Majercak,4,5 Erika Gyorgyova,5 Michal Kotian,1,2 Marta Zatkova,1 Marta Popelkova,1 Marie Ociskova,3 Ingrid Tonhajzerova6 1Department of Psychology Sciences, Faculty of Social Science and Health Care, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Nitra, 2Psychagogia, Liptovsky Mikulas, Slovak Republic; 3Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University Palacky Olomouc, University Hospital Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic; 4First Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Josef Safarik University in Kosice, 5Internal Medicine and Cardiology Private Practice, MUDr Ivan Majercak, Kosice, 6Department of Physiology and Biomedical Centre Martin, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia Objective: The aim of the study was to determine psychological, psychophysiological, and anthropometric factors connected with life events, level of depression, and quality of life in people at risk for cardiovascular disease and healthy controls.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving arterial hypertension patients and healthy controls. There were several measurements including physical, anthropological, cardiovascular, and psychophysiological measurements and administration of questionnaires.Results: A total of 99 participants were recruited for this study, 54 healthy controls (mean age: 35.59±13.39 years) and 45 patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) (mean age: 46.33±12.39 years). The healthy controls and the patients with CVD significantly differed in the mean total score of life events, level of depression, quality of life score, temperature, blood pressure (BP), pulse transit time, heart rate, high-frequency total power, heart rate variability total power, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), body fat percentage, fat control, pulse wave velocity, and augmentation index. In healthy subjects, the total score of the life events was not correlated with any cardiovascular or anthropometric factor. A score of depression significantly correlated with the WHtR, augmentation index, body fat percentage, and fat control. The quality of life – visual scale correlated with the body temperature, BP, and percentage of body fat. In the group of the patients with CVD, the score of the life events did not correlate with any measured cardiovascular or anthropometric factor. The level of depression correlated with the augmentation index. The quality of life – visual scale significantly correlated with body temperature, WHtR, and fat control.Conclusion: The patients with CVD reported higher scores of life events, worse quality of life, and a greater level of depressive symptoms than healthy controls. In healthy controls, a higher mean total score of life events significantly negatively correlated with high-frequency total power, and the degree of depression correlated with being overweight. In patients with CVD, a score of depression was linked to being overweight. Keywords: life events, depression, quality of life, heart rate variability, autonomic nervous system, parameters of cardiovascular syste

Coping, schemas, and cardiovascular risks – study protocol

Milos Slepecky,1 Antonia Kotianova,1 Jan Prasko,2 Ivan Majercak,3 Erika Gyorgyova,4 Michal Kotian,1,5 Marta Zatkova,1 Ingrid Tonhajzerova,6,7 Michaela Chupacova,1,5 Marta Popelkova1 1Department of Psychology Sciences, Faculty of Social Science and Health Care, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Nitra, Slovak Republic; 2Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University Palacky Olomouc, University Hospital Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic; 31st Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Josef Safarik University in Košice, 4Internal Medicine and Cardiology Private Practice MUDr Ivan Majercak, Košice, 5Psychagogia, Liptovsky Mikulas, 6Department of Physiology, 7Biomedical Center Martin, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovak Republic Abstract: The aim of this article is to describe the protocol of a trial focusing on the psychological, anthropometric, cardiac, and psychophysiological factors contributing to increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). As background, the article provides a short overview of research literature linking personal traits, maladaptive schemas, and coping styles with CVDs through reactivity of the autonomic nervous system. Keywords: early maladaptive schemas, coping styles, personality traits, dissociation, heart rate variabilit