Sociološka konceptualizacija medikalizacije trudnoće i poroda: implikacije u Sloveniji

The article examines the medicalization of pregnancy and childbirth and the tendency to humanize or demedicalize childbirth. The concept of childbirth dramatically changed in Western countries over the last century. Pregnancy and childbirth were still considered to be a natural phenomenon at the beginning of the 20th century. In the second half of the 20th century, which coincides with more intense development of gynaecology and obstetrics and the related technology, pregnancy and childbirth became the subject of the jurisdiction of medicine. Medicalization in Peter Conrad’s terms is a process by which non-medical problems become defined as medical, which is also related to the implementation of medical interventions. A descriptive research method was used to perform a literature review related to the medicalization of pregnancy and childbirth. In addition to a general overview of the theme, the review focused on the Slovenian context. Discussions about the medicalization of pregnancy and childbirth and natural childbirth create ambivalence, since technological advances also help to save lives. The feminist critique sees the medicalization of pregnancy and childbirth in the function of control over women\u27s bodies and reproduction. The process of humanization therefore focuses on woman and her ability to make independent decisions related to pregnancy and childbirth. Through the literature review, it is indicated that there is a need for further empirical research to explain more clearly the interweaving of these two perspectives, especially in Slovenia, where such studies are extremely limited.U radu se propituje medikalizacija trudnoće i poroda, a ujedno i težnja za humanizacijom ili demedikalizacijom poroda. Tijekom prošloga stoljeća u zapadnim se zemljama koncept poroda dramatično promijenio. Trudnoću i porod još se na početku 20. stoljeća smatralo prirodnim pojavama. U drugoj polovini 20. stoljeća, istodobno s intenzivnim razvojem ginekologije i opstetricije, te njima srodnih tehnologija, trudnoća i porod našli su se u nadležnosti medicine. Medikalizacija, kako ju definira Peter Conrad, proces je kojim nemedicinski problemi postaju definirani kao medicinski, a povezuje ga se također i s provedbom medicinskih intervencija. Uz opći pregled literature vezane uz medikalizaciju trudnoće i poroda, usredotočuje se i na slovenski kontekst. Rasprave o medikalizaciji trudnoće i poroda te fiziološkog poroda ambivalentne su jer tehnološke inovacije pridonose i spašavanju života. Feministička kritika vidi medikalizaciju trudnoće i poroda u funkciji kontrole nad ženskim tijelom i nad reprodukcijom. Proces humanizacije stoga se usredotočuje na ženu i njezinu sposobnost da donosi samostalne odluke tijekom trudnoće i poroda. Pregled literature pokazao je da postoji potreba za daljnjim empirijskim istraživanjima koja bi jasnije objasnila prepletanje tih dviju perspektiva, pogotovo u Sloveniji, gdje je malo takvih istraživanja

Application of Lean Methods into the Customised Product Development Process of Large Power Transformers

The study conducts research on lean product development (PD) methodology and presents a case study of its practical application into a specific one-of-a-kind development of large power transformers. The demonstrated framework is the result of a 5-year intensive research that led to an extensive transformation of a traditional PD environment into a highly efficient process according to lean principles. Paper explains how lean PD integrates with robust, concurrent and smart design strategies in highly individualized PD business. A generalized framework of PD and design process renovation is presented, comprising three main fields of interest: Process & Tools, People, and Knowledge. A direct consequence of implied renovation are significant savings. Case-study company cut down engineering changes by 32 % in three year test period and experienced performance improvement between 25 % and 83 % across designated process indicators

Simple Modification of Karl-Fischer Titration Method for Determination of Water Content in Colored Samples

The most commonly used technique for water content determination is Karl-Fischer titration with electrometric detection, requiring specialized equipment. When appropriate equipment is not available, the method can be performed through visual detection of a titration endpoint, which does not enable an analysis of colored samples. Here, we developed a method with spectrophotometric detection of a titration endpoint, appropriate for moisture determination of colored samples. The reaction takes place in a sealed 4 ml cuvette. Detection is performed at 520 nm. Titration endpoint is determined from the graph of absorbance plotted against titration volume. The method has appropriate reproducibility (RSD = 4.3%), accuracy, and linearity (R2 = 0.997)