Beware of the Sorceress: Perceptions of Otherness in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter and Joanne Harris’ Chocolat

[Abstract] Freud’s psychoanalytical theories of fear of castration and penisenvy transformed woman into not-man, and hence associated her with the concepts of “lacking” and “other”. Taking as a starting point the popularised version of Freud’s theories on the topics of womanhood and motherhood, plus a number of reactions to this patriarchal construction of the feminine from more recent feminist theoreticians, this article explores the concept of alterity in relation to the issues of womanhood and motherhood. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter and Joanne Harris’ Chocolat offer different versions of the notion of alterity, particularly the rejection of single mothers as emblems of otherness: both Hester Prynne and Vianne Rocher arrive in the new community as young women in a society that venerates the authority and wisdom of ageing males. “The Other” is an acknowledged rival without which a community cannot shape its identity, be it seventeenth-century New England or twentiethcentury Lansquenet-sous-Tannes, and both protagonists are thus marked as “other”, either by means of a scarlet letter or by a campaign against chocolate in church sermon

The influence of lifestyles to cope with stress over mental health in pregnant and postpartum women during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic afected daily life routines and lifestyles of pregnant and postpartum women and increased their stress and risk of sufering from mental health problems. The aim of this study was to analyse which sociodemographic variables, COVID-19 exposure variables and lifestyles to cope with stress variables predicted anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms in pregnant and postpartum women during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional design was performed with a sample of 3356 Spanish women participating in the Riseup-PPD-COVID-19 study. These participants completed an online survey composed of measures of anxiety (GAD-7), depression (EPDS), and PTSD related to COVID-19 (Checklist DSM-5), as well as demographics, exposure to COVID-19, and lifestyles to cope with stress. Regarding results, 47.2% showed depression and a third reported anxiety, whereas moderate scores were observed in PTSD symptoms. The most commonly used strategies to cope with stress in the COVID-19 pandemic were talking with friends and family and increasing time with social networks. Better results in mental health were associated with coping strategies such as talking with family and friends or participating in family activities, physical activity, sleeping well at night, eating healthier, and increasing personal care. Furthermore, poor results in mental health were observed in those participants who increased time with screens, ate fast food, reported substance use, and talked more frequently with health professionals. More symptoms were also observed in younger women, primiparous women, and those who reported more exposure to COVID-19. The results underline the need to strengthen the mental health of pregnant and postpartum women

La relación entre la experiencia de la atención sanitaria y la depresión perinatal durante la pandemia COVID-19

Background: The prevalence of peripartum depression (PPD) has increased substantially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. To reduce the probability of contagion, hospitals had to adapt their care protocols, including the care of women in the perinatal period. Method: A cross-sectional study was used in a total sample of 3,356 women, 1,402 in the prenatal period and 1,954 in the postnatal period. They completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale to assess depressive symptoms and the Spanish version of the Coronavirus Perinatal Experiences to assess health experience. Results: The results showed that feeling very well supported by a health professional was associated with a lower risk of PPD. On the other hand, believing it very important to have access to a mental health professional and being concerned about changes in infant care due to COVID-19 were associated with a higher risk of PPD. Conclusion: The results showed the relationship between health experience and the risk of depressive symptoms, highlighting the importance of considering the psychological aspects in the development of measures and protocols for perinatal care.Antecedentes: La prevalencia de la depresión perinatal ha aumentado sustancialmente desde el inicio de la pandemia debido al coronavirus (COVID-19). Para reducir la probabilidad de contagio, los hospitales tuvieron que adaptar sus protocolos asistenciales, incluyendo la atención a las mujeres en el periodo perinatal. Método: Se utilizó un estudio transversal en una muestra total de 3,356 mujeres, 1,402 en el período prenatal y 1,954 en el período postnatal. Cumplimentaron la Escala de Depresión Postnatal de Edimburgo para evaluar los síntomas depresivos y la versión española de la Encuesta sobre Experiencias Perinatales durante el Coronavirus para evaluar la experiencia de la atención sanitaria. Resultados. Los resultados mostraron que sentirse muy bien apoyada por un profesional de la salud se asoció con un menor riesgo de desarrollar depresión perinatal. Por otro lado, creer que es muy importante tener acceso a un profesional de la salud mental y estar preocupada por los cambios en el cuidado del bebé debido al COVID-19 se asociaron con un mayor riesgo de depresión perinatal. Conclusión: Los resultados mostraron la relación entre la experiencia sanitaria y el riesgo de síntomas depresivos, destacando la importancia de considerar los aspectos psicológicos en el desarrollo de medidas y protocolos de atención perinatal

The Relationship between Healthcare Experience and Perinatal Depression during COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: The prevalence of peripartum depression (PPD) has increased substantially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. To reduce the probability of contagion, hospitals had to adapt their care protocols, including the care of women in the perinatal period. Method: A cross-sectional study was used in a total sample of 3,356 women, 1,402 in the prenatal period and 1,954 in the postnatal period. They completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale to assess depressive symptoms and the Spanish version of the Coronavirus Perinatal Experiences to assess health experience. Results: The results showed that feeling very well supported by a health professional was associated with a lower risk of PPD. On the other hand, believing it very important to have access to a mental health professional and being concerned about changes in infant care due to COVID-19 were associated with a higher risk of PPD. Conclusion: The results showed the relationship between health experience and the risk of depressive symptoms, highlighting the importance of considering the psychological aspects in the development of measures and protocols for perinatal care

Changes in Ro-Ro transport tendencies in Santander Port

In recent years the Ro-Ro traffic has undergone major changes being the most significant the heavy loads transport in break bulk or static cargo, in other words, that the transport of bulky and heavy loads in conventional general cargo ships has move to Ro-Ro vessels over rolling platforms. Nowadays due to the high cost and fragility of these goods is needed to be handled with the utmost care. In this article we describe the transformation suffered by this type of maritime traffic and the development in Ro-Ro vessels cargo equipment.Postprint (published version

Gestión de la información para tener éxito en la toma de decisiones en marketing

In a globalized world in continuous change, companies that want to achieve sustainable competitive advantages should be aware that the information is the most valuable strategic resource of the company, as it is the core of decision-making. This review article presents a comparative analysis between the concepts that have a significant impact in the decision-making process for the management of marketing, in current organizations: information system, business intelligence, research market and technological surveillance.For this a search, organization and analysis of documents was carried out that allowed compiling conceptual information through a comparative chart, which summarizes the basic terms and how complement each other to achieve decision-making successful in marketing management by individuals and companies interested therein, with minimal knowledge and little experience in these areas of learning. Throughout the article each of the concepts, following a same thread are described in depth: what is in itself, why it is important in marketing and how to apply it. The most outstanding item product of the article is building a conceptual comparison chart, which aims to differentiate each term and clearly establish the "synergistic" relationship between them for a successful decision making process.En un mundo globalizado en permanente cambio, las empresas que quieren lograr ventajas competitivas sostenibles, deben ser conscientes de que la información es el recurso estratégico más valioso de la compañía, por cuanto es el eje central de la toma de decisiones. Este artículo de revisión presenta un análisis comparativo entre los conceptos que inciden de manera significativa en la toma de decisiones para la gestión del marketing, en las organizaciones actuales: sistema de información, inteligencia de negocios, investigación de mercados y vigilancia tecnológica.Para ello se hizo una búsqueda, organización y análisis de documentos que permitieron, la compilación de información conceptual a través de un cuadro comparativo, que sintetiza los términos básicos y cómo se complementan entre sí para lograr una toma de decisiones exitosa en la gestión del marketing por parte de las personas y empresas interesadas, con conocimientos mínimos y poca experiencia en estas áreas del conocimiento. A lo largo del artículo se describen a profundidad cada uno de los conceptos, siguiendo un mismo hilo conductor: qué es en sí mismo, por qué es importante en el marketing y cómo se aplica.El producto más destacado del artículo es la construcción de un cuadro comparativo conceptual, que tiene como objetivo diferenciar cada termino y establecer claramente la relación “sinérgica” entre los mismos para un exitoso proceso de toma de decisiones.

Análisis de los intersticios del proceso de envejecimiento y la acción narrativa en The Book of Secrets de M.G. Vassanji y By the Sea de Abdulrazak Gurnah

La literatura indoceánica ha integrado la porosidad y fluidez que caracteriza el espacio del Océano Índico en narraciones donde la historia y la memoria, tanto individual como colectiva, se funden para dar voz al silencio infructuoso forjado dentro de una herencia colonial perturbadora. The Book of Secrets (1994) de M.G. Vassanji y By the Sea de Adbulrazak Gurnah ofrecen, mediante la biografía de sus dos protagonistas, Pius Fernandes y Saleh Omar, dos ejemplos perspicaces de la importancia de la narración como medio de supervivencia para seres desarraigados. Teniendo en cuenta que ambos protagonistas son personas mayores, este artículo examina el poder de la narración desde una perspectiva de narrativa gerontológica. Poseídos por el espíritu indoceánico que emana de Las mil y una noches, Pius Fernandes y Saleh Omar emergen cual Scheherezades que encuentran en la capacidad de contar historias la fuente literal y literaria de su supervivencia.La literatura indoceánica ha integrado la porosidad y fluidez que caracteriza el espacio del Océano Índico en narraciones donde la historia y la memoria, tanto individual como colectiva, se funden para dar voz al silencio infructuoso forjado dentro de una herencia colonial perturbadora. The Book of Secrets (1994) de M.G. Vassanji y By the Sea de Adbulrazak Gurnah ofrecen, mediante la biografía de sus dos protagonistas, Pius Fernandes y Saleh Omar, dos ejemplos perspicaces de la importancia de la narración como medio de supervivencia para seres desarraigados. Teniendo en cuenta que ambos protagonistas son personas mayores, este artículo examina el poder de la narración desde una perspectiva de narrativa gerontológica. Poseídos por el espíritu indoceánico que emana de Las mil y una noches, Pius Fernandes y Saleh Omar emergen cual Scheherezades que encuentran en la capacidad de contar historias la fuente literal y literaria de su supervivencia

How the Manila amendments to the STCW code enhance training in maritime safety and security

This paper shows the changes that have occurred to the Manila Amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers Code (STCW 2010 Code). In the School of Maritime Engineering of the University of Cantabria with the degrees in Nautical Engineering and Maritime Transport (Deck Officers), Marine Engineering (Engine Officers) and Maritime Engineering (Naval Engineering), we have taken into consideration all these changes and have adapted them to the academic training of the STCW 2010 Code. We recognize the need to train our maritime protection students (future officers, Captains and Chief Engineers of the Spanish Merchant Marine) with the latest and most effective tools and protocols. Thanks to the Maritime Collaborative Website of the Spanish Navy (ENCOMAR) we can complement and ensure the theoretical and practical training of our students to improve their knowledge on Maritime Security.Postprint (published version