Goethe – ein tüchtiger Ökonom? : Über das Wechselspiel zwischen "praktisch volkswirthschaftlicher Thätigkeit", Beschäftigung mit Wirtschaftstheorien und Dichtung

Zeit seines Lebens beschäftigte sich Goethe mit ökonomischen Theorien; in seinem dichterischen Werk entwarf er wirtschaftliche Visionen, die das späte 19. und das frühe 20. Jahrhundert übersahen. Seine positive Vision des Kapitalismus ist von einer Sittlichkeit durchdrungen, die extreme Formen des Erwerbsstrebens und der Ausbeutung hemmt. Dagegen steht Goethes Schreckensbild eines uns modern erscheinenden Kapitalismus, wie es im »Faust« beschworen wird

Versuch einer Zwischenbilanz: Die Frankfurter Universität und ihre zwei soziologischen Schulen : Einblicke in die soziologischen Traditionen auch jenseits der Kritischen Theorie

Rezension zu: Felicia Herrschaft und Klaus Lichtblau (Hrsg.) : Soziologie in Frankfurt. Eine Zwischenbilanz ; Wiesbaden 2010, VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften 2010, ISBN: 978-3-531-16399-4, 571 Seiten, 39,95 Euro

Wettbewerb zwischen wirtschaftspolitischen Modellen in Europa

Prinzipien der Wirtschaftsordnung können mit jeweils unterschiedlichen Gestaltungen von juristischen, sozialen, ökologischen und kulturellen Systemen kombiniert werden. Diese Wirtschaftsstile stehen in Konkurrenz zueinander. Allerdings gibt es innerhalb der Europäischen Union die Tendenz, Regeln zu vereinheitlichen und Automatismen in die Wirtschaftspolitik einzuführen. Die Gefahr, dass die Vielfalt der Wirtschaftsstile und der wirtschaftspolitischen Ansätze verloren geht, diskutierten die Autoren im Rahmen einer Panelsitzung, die der Wirtschaftsdienst für die Jahrestagung des Vereins für Socialpolitik 2013 organisiert hat.In 2000 the European Union adopted its motto, of "Unity in diversity". But in fact, economic policy regimes differ among member states and the people are not willing to leave the current path or to vote for painful political actions. In the midst of the present crisis, Europe is at the crossroads. Should people decide on a new constitution which allows more centralisation of powers, or should the principle of subsidiarity be reinforced? Problems in the eurozone intensified the coordination and monitoring of economic policy of the member states. The preconditions for a competition among different economic policy regimes vanish more and more. Institutional competition is not only price (tax) competition, but also quality (yardstick) competition. This is shown using debt brakes as a role model for other member countries of the European Union. But the debt brakes of the German Länder show that it can be problematic to transfer an institution from one country to another without taking into account its institutional environment

Temporary Kirschner Wire Ankle Transfixation and Delayed ORIF: A Staged Operative Treatment for Closed Ankle Fractures with Tibiotalar Dislocations and Soft-Tissue Damage

Abstract : Background and Purpose: : Immediate ORIF (open reduction and internal fixation) is the treatment of choice for displaced ankle fractures. However, definitive treatment may have to be delayed due to compromised soft tissues. The value of temporary Kirschner wire ankle transfixation with staged ORIF for closed displaced ankle fractures with tibiotalar dislocations was determined. Patients and Methods: : In this retrospective case series (1997-2001), 92 patients (mean age 54 years, range 20-86 years) who underwent a staged procedure for isolated and closed displaced ankle fractures with tibiotalar dislocations were studied. Patients were primarily treated by means of immediate closed reduction. For stable fractures and adequate soft tissues a split plaster cast was applied (n = 50). K-wire transfixation was performed for unstable fracture-dislocations and/or critical soft tissues (n = 42). All patients underwent delayed ORIF after recovery of the soft tissues. Results: : In the K-wire group (KWG), local complication rate was 7%. Mean operating time was 30 min (5-65 min). In the plaster cast group (PCG), local complication rate was 10% (p = 0.72, not significant). Three redislocated ankles (6%) had to be transfixed secondarily. A higher grade of soft-tissue injuries in the KWG (p < 0.05) resulted in a longer time interval between primary treatment and staged ORIF (7 vs. 5 days; p < 0.05) and a longer hospital stay (19 vs. 17 days; p < 0.05) for the KWG. Conclusion: : Temporary K-wire ankle transfixation is an effective method for initial treatment of closed displaced ankle fractures with tibiotalar dislocation, if ORIF has to be delayed and immobilization in a split plaster cast is not suitable. Retention is reliable with a low complication rat

Immunostimulation using granulocyte- and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock

Sepsis is associated with failure of multiple organs, including failure of the immune system. The resulting 'sepsis-associated immunosuppression' resembles a state of immunological anergy that is characterized by repeated 'infectious hits', prolonged multiple-organ failure, and death. As a consequence, adjunctive treatment approaches using measures of immunostimulation with colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) were tested in animal experiments and clinical trials. Herein, data from randomized clinical trials will be discussed in the context of a recently published meta-analysis investigating the effects of granulocyte- and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor therapy in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock

"All children are dwarfs": medical discourse and iconography of children's bodies

Ancient medical discourse conveys a mainly negative view of children's bodies. From Hippocrates to Galen, newborn children are defined as imperfect and ugly beings, associating an excessive softness and weakness with various anomalies. Aristotle links their physical disproportions with those of dwarfs and animals. These disproportions induce physiological troubles and mental incapacities. Hot-tempered and moist, children are dominated by their emotions and sensations. Often authors group them with other beings regarded as inferior, such as women, the old, the sick, the insane, the drunk. How are mythical and human children rendered in iconography? Do their characteristics correspond to the medical discourse? The image of children's bodies changes with the passing of time; the miniature adult of archaic Greece gradually turns into the plump toddler of the Hellenistic period. How can we interpret these transformations? Does the evolution of iconography reflect the transformation of society or does it mirror the progress of medical knowledge